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Multiple Myeloma relapse after autologous stem cell transplant is to be expected. The issue is to understand your next therapy steps…
Cancer Coach- My name is Frank. My dad was diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) with in 2012 at the age of 65. In 2013 he had a stem cell transplant and been perfect until now. I believe my dad is experiencing a multiple myeloma relapse after his autologous stem cell transplant.
A few months ago his paraprotein level went up to 9 and then 3 months later back to 0. 10 week ago it went up to 7 and now it is on 14. His doctors say they can not do any treatment until paraprotein level reaches 60
Can the paraprotein level go down itself without any treatment? Is there anyway to bring paraprotein level down?? kind regards- Frank
Hi Frank-
I am sorry to learn of your dad’s MM diagnosis. Just to confirm I interpret your comment that your dad was “perfect” after his SCT to mean that your dad responded well to his high-dose chemotherapy and reached complete remission (no m-spike).
Also to confirm, you are saying that your dad has relapsed after approximately 4 years of remission. I’m guessing that when you say paraprotein you are refering not to his “m-spike” but the “abnormal plasma cells”in your dad’s blood.
If I am summarizing your situation above I can offer several suggestions. First of all, when you say that your doctors “can not do any treatment until paraprotein level reaches 60” my guess is that the doctors are talking about more chemotherapy for your dad. They are probably being conservative knowing that your dad has already undergone an auto stem cell transplant. Meaning his body has already had a lot of toxicity.
Your dad can undergo lesser doses of singlets, doublets or triplets of chemo when your oncologist thinks that your dad has come out of complete remission. For example, your dad can undergo Revlimid and Dex. as therapy in an effort to reach another remission. Because you dad responded well to his ASCT there is reason to believe he will respond well to another round and this round does not have to be a ASCT/high-dose chemotherapy.
Please watch the video below to learn more about the evidence-based, integrative therapies to combat treatment side effects and enhance your chemotherapy.
