CancerCompass message board discussion started by harleynightrider on 7/5/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25755,0.htm Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma stage two in April 2007 and was immediately given thalidamide and 40 dex.I continued this dosage until I complained about the effect the dex was causing after the four day cycle. I was then told to take the dex once a week only with the thalidamide. Following this change I was told the thalidamide/dex wasn't working so they put me on revlamid and dex for two cycles and again was told this wasn't working either and was started on velcade which is where I am presently. I am told that I've gone from a 2.8 to a 3.2 "M Spike" and now am at a 3.0 since I've been given the velcade. I am scheduled to start autologus stem cell transplant the 22 of this month but will not be allowed unless my "M Spike" is down and I am moving toward remission. How dramatic is changing from a 3.2 to a 3.0 "M Spike"? Forgive but do people without cancer have a "M Spike" ? The nurse told me that unless I respond to the chemo meds that I will not be allowed the stem cell and there would be no use to continue giving me the cancer fighting drugs. I am starting to feel like it's all to no avail. If anyone has an input into my plight I would appreciate hearing from you. harleynightrider Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Harley please do not give up. You are responding but not quickly.  There is much more that can be done.  The M spike, i was told must be near zero to do the stem cell transplant as you don't want to put back in diseased cells.   You can even get a second opinion.  Here is a website that offers info on some addtional natural reasearch on MM and just taking the natural supplement Resveratrol inhibits MM growth. You can find it many places.http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/65/21/994  On 7/5/2008 harleynightrider wrote:I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma stage two in April 2007 and was immediately given thalidamide and 40 dex.I continued this dosage until I complained about the effect the dex was causing after the four day cycle. I was then told to take the dex once a week only with the thalidamide. Following this change I was told the thalidamide/dex wasn't working so they put me on revlamid and dex for two cycles and again was told this wasn't working either and was started on velcade which is where I am presently. I am told that I've gone from a 2.8 to a 3.2 "M Spike" and now am at a 3.0 since I've been given the velcade. I am scheduled to start autologus stem cell transplant the 22 of this month but will not be allowed unless my "M Spike" is down and I am moving toward remission. How dramatic is changing from a 3.2 to a 3.0 "M Spike"? Forgive but do people without cancer have a "M Spike" ? The nurse told me that unless I respond to the chemo meds that I will not be allowed the stem cell and there would be no use to continue giving me the cancer fighting drugs. I am starting to feel like it's all to no avail. If anyone has an input into my plight I would appreciate hearing from you.  mmsurvivor Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Good Evening Harley;I am told that I've gone from a 2.8 to a 3.2 "M Spike" and now am at a 3.0 since I've been given the velcade. I am scheduled to start autologus stem cell transplant the 22 of this month but will not be allowed unless my "M Spike" is down and I am moving toward remission. This is solid advice! The lower the number prior to the SCT the better.How dramatic is changing from a 3.2 to a 3.0 "M Spike"? Everyone of us is individual and will respond to the chemo differently. But keep in mind, the lower then number the better. The first SCT is the best you're going to get.Forgive, but do people without cancer have an "M Spike" ? Very good question! The answer is no. I can only add that MM patients have an abnormally high level of protein in their blood. Which the M-spike registers.The nurse told me that unless I respond to the chemo meds that I will not be allowed the stem cell and there would be no use to continue giving me the cancer fighting drugs. Fighting this disease is more than just depending on the Drs. and the meds. Yes, the meds are important and necessary, however, your diet, exercise and mental attitude are equally (if not more) important. Get your pH level to 7.325 by controlling what you eat. Get your blood oxygenated by exercising regularly. Get the heart rate elevated. And try to control your stress levels and keep a positive attitude. We will win this battle! We just need to keep trying.I am starting to feel like it's all to no avail. If anyone has an input into my plight I would appreciate hearing from you.From what I'm reading all the Drs. are saying is to try and get your numbers alittle lower before they give you a SCT. Not your death knell! Change what you eat, get out and walk in the morning and evening, get a puppy (man's favorite stress reducer) and stay focused on the goal: your survival to share another day with those around you who love you and will be crushed upon your demise. This competition is far from over! But take comfort in the fact that we are now starting to live longer and the Drs. are very close to making this a TREATABLE disease!Best wishes and take care;Kevin  K. C. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 7/7/2008 K. C. wrote:Good Evening Harley;I am told that I've gone from a 2.8 to a 3.2 "M Spike" and now am at a 3.0 since I've been given the velcade. I am scheduled to start autologus stem cell transplant the 22 of this month but will not be allowed unless my "M Spike" is down and I am moving toward remission. This is solid advice! The lower the number prior to the SCT the better.How dramatic is changing from a 3.2 to a 3.0 "M Spike"? Everyone of us is individual and will respond to the chemo differently. But keep in mind, the lower then number the better. The first SCT is the best you're going to get.Forgive, but do people without cancer have an "M Spike" ? Very good question! The answer is no. I can only add that MM patients have an abnormally high level of protein in their blood. Which the M-spike registers.The nurse told me that unless I respond to the chemo meds that I will not be allowed the stem cell and there would be no use to continue giving me the cancer fighting drugs. Fighting this disease is more than just depending on the Drs. and the meds. Yes, the meds are important and necessary, however, your diet, exercise and mental attitude are equally (if not more) important. Get your pH level to 7.325 by controlling what you eat. Get your blood oxygenated by exercising regularly. Get the heart rate elevated. And try to control your stress levels and keep a positive attitude. We will win this battle! We just need to keep trying.I am starting to feel like it's all to no avail. If anyone has an input into my plight I would appreciate hearing from you.From what I'm reading all the Drs. are saying is to try and get your numbers alittle lower before they give you a SCT. Not your death knell! Change what you eat, get out and walk in the morning and evening, get a puppy (man's favorite stress reducer) and stay focused on the goal: your survival to share another day with those around you who love you and will be crushed upon your demise. This competition is far from over! But take comfort in the fact that we are now starting to live longer and the Drs. are very close to making this a TREATABLE disease!Best wishes and take care;Kevin Thank you Kevin for taking your time to respond with some very informative information. Have you any idea where I can locate a diet plan for someone with this disease?Thank YouBill harleynightrider Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Good Evening Bill;Have you any idea where I can locate a diet plan for someone with this disease?It's pretty common knowledge that cancer loves sugar and thrives in an acidic environment.GOOGLE: alkaline foods and acidic foods. Eat more of the former and less of the latter. Get a urine test strip kit. Test your urine every morning. You'll see the results. Keep the color in the green.Also, on the cover page of this site there is a diet section. Read over it. I will try to find out the name of a super book, that I loaned away, later today. It's very informative.Take care;Kevin K. C. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT