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Multiple Myeloma Relapsed- 3 Year Remission Post ASCT- Thoughts?
Hi David- I just found out my myeloma is back- my multiple myeloma relapsed. My M-protein has reappeared after a 3 year remission. Just had a CT scan and waiting for the results to see if there’s bone involvement.
Hi David- I’M feeling a bit overwhelmed as I have gone the natural route and thought I had things under control but my MM came back just as my onc. said it would. Not sure what way to turn now.
The treatment plan they are proposing looks awful. They would be using Revlimid this time along with immunotherapy and two steroids and other drugs for side effects. Last thing I wanna do to my body but afraid I will give him because of fear.
As I have an aggressive form it spreads very quickly so don’t have too much time to figure things out.
I’m considering heavy dose Cannabis for a few months after speaking to a woman in Vancouver who had healed her own cancer plus many others and is very well-known.
Very expensive though and not too much money to play with. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Lucy
Hi Lucy,
Regarding your situation, I will breakdown your email below to reply.
1) “The M protein has reappeared after three years of remission”
Two things- what is your current M-spike? Where was it in remission and what is the relapsed m-spike now? In my experience, many oncologists react to an increase in numbers that I consider to be mild. In other words, if your m-spike was 0, you were in complete remission for three years, and “my m-spike reappeared” to, say, something less than 1 (.1-.9), I would say that your relapse was mild. And therefore your next round of therapy can be relatively mild as well.
And a 3 year remission is pretty good so I will credit non-toxic therapies a bit.
2) “Feeling a bit overwhelmed…Not sure what way to turn now.”
Your call of course but I can research your original induction therapy, offer you options accordingly. My experience is that hospitals offer what they know. MM survivors have many options these days. BTW, you are allowed to feel overwhelmed…but I think you’ll feel better knowing you have choices.
3) “They would be using Revlimid this time along with immunotherapy and two steroids and other drugs for side effects.”
Again, MM survivors have lots of conventional therapies, combinations to choose from. It’s possible that you may go with what your oncologist is recommending but you may want to learn about other therapies- I’m not saying the combo linked below is for you, I’m saying there is lots going on out there.
4) ” I’m considering heavy dose Cannabis for a few months after speaking to a woman in Vancouver..”
As you can read from the top study linked and excerpted below, CBD/THC is cytotoxic to MM (kills mm) and CBD enhances the cytotoxicity of carfilzomib and revlimid. CBD may increase the therapy options you consider.
5) “Any ideas you have would be greatly appreciated.”
To summarize, depending on your current state based on your most recent blood work, you may have many different combinations to consider- combinations of conventional therapies as well as integrative therapies.
I think you should sign-up for a MM consult, send me your most recent blood, urine and imaging studies, outline for me your original therapies (induction, autologous stem cell transplant, etc.) and i will present you with options.
Let me know, thanks.
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
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Cannabinoids synergize with carfilzomib, reducing multiple myeloma cells viability and migration
” Herein, we also found that the CBD and THC combination is able to reduce expression of the β5i subunit as well as to act in synergy with CFZ to increase MM cell death and inhibits cell migration. In summary, these results proved that this combination exerts strong anti-myeloma activities…”
Efficiency and Tolerability of Induction and Consolidation Therapy with Arsenic Trioxide/Bortezomib/Ascorbic Acid/Dexamethasone (ABCD) Regimen Compared to Bortezomib/Dexamethasone (BD) Regimen in Newly Diagnosed Myeloma Patients
“Results: The response rates (above VGPR) were 74.1% and 32.8% in the ABCD- and BD-treated groups, respectively (P = 0.000). Compared to BD regimen, ABCD regimen significantly improved PFS (P = 0.026) and OS (P = 0.000) in newly diagnosed patients.
Patients with a high tumor burden, low or standard risk, and without auto-HSCT seemed to especially benefit compared to the same group with BD regimen. ABCD also showed better tolerability with lower bone marrow suppression (P = 0.026). Furthermore, complete response or near CR after induction therapy was a good prognostic factor for ABCD-associated OS and PFS.
Conclusion: ABCD is an effective and tolerable regimen compared with BD regimen in newly diagnosed myeloma patients. ABCD regimen could be an economical, effective, and tolerable choice in low- and standard-risk patients.”