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The Term “Side Effects” Doesn’t Do Justice to the Physical Damage Done By An Autologous Stem Cell Transplant for Multiple Myeloma
I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, in early 1994. I underwent an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) as therapy for in December of 1995. I knew that there would be side effects- hair loss (alopecia), nausea, etc, you know, the usual side effects. It didn’t occur to me that my body’s chemistry would be changed forever. Multiple myeloma stem cell transplant lowers the body’s testosterone.
I’ve been coaching myeloma patients for years. I have learned that most MM patients need toxic chemotherapy or radiation from time to time to manage their incurable bone cancer. But I have also learned that too much toxicity can be very damaging to the human body.
I have also learned that there are a host of evidence-based, non-toxic therapies that are cytotoxic to multiple myeloma.
An autologous stem cell transplant is aggressive, high dose chemotherapy. An ASCT does NOT increase overall MM patient survival. An ASCT increases PFS (progression-free survival). Please confirm this important distinction with your oncologist.
My belief is that newly diagnosed MM patients can choose many different therapy options. It is essential however, that MM patients understand the risk of short, long-term and last stage side effects.
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Dropping levels of this male hormone can cause more than sexual problems. It can also affect your mood, weight, and concentration.
“In some labs, the normal levels (determined by a simple blood test) of a man’s testosterone will measure 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter. However, it’s important to confirm low levels of testosterone since many men will have normal levels on repeated testing due to fluctuations of the hormone.”
I had prostate cancer the year before last and opted to get radiation treatment and prior to that had hormone treatment (Lupron) administered. The combination of those steps lowered my PSA to almost zero reducing my prostate cancer existence. Unfortunately, I also have MGUS which I get checked every 6 months. It is advancing slowly. I am 62 and really want to do whatever I can to slow its advancement. I have heard that getting testosterone treatments could be helpful in slowing the advancement of my MGUS. But I have also read it could bring my prostate cancer back. A bit of a conundrum. Obviously, I need the testosterone for MANY reasons. Any thoughts or wisdom for me????
