Multiple Myeloma: Miami
SurvivorNet has collaborated with survivors and physicians to provide patients in Miami, Florida, with helpful information and support during their multiple myeloma journey. We hope these resources make it easier to connect with people in your neighborhood who can help.
Living With Multiple Myeloma: Embracing 'Plan B'
Cancer is never a part of the plan. But a diagnosis certainly does not have to mean your dreams are over. Just ask multiple myeloma survivor Paul Pebley. When Pebley was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, he had never even heard of the disease. So once the clarifying word "cancer" met his ears, he was utterly shocked. Th... Read More
- When going through multiple myeloma treatment, there are a number of issues patients experience, which tend to go by the acronym CRAB.
- C for hypercalcemia; R is for renal failure; A is for anemia; and B is for bone destruction.
- Doctors treat each of these differently, typically with calcitonin, bisphosphonates and fluids, as well as supportive care.
Managing Side Effects of Multiple Myeloma in Miami
- When going through multiple myeloma treatment, there are a number of issues patients experience, which tend to go by the acronym CRAB.
- C for hypercalcemia; R is for renal failure; A is for anemia; and B is for bone destruction.
- Doctors treat each of these differently, typically with calcitonin, bisphosphonates and fluids, as well as supportive care.
- Induction therapy is the first line of treatment that newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients will receive.
- Achieving the “deepest remission possible” is the goal of this round of treatment.
- Doctors will typically prescribe a three-drug combination during the induction therapy phase, however, some doctors believe a four-drug combo is the way to go.
Receiving Induction Therapy for Multiple Myeloma in Miami
- Induction therapy is the first line of treatment that newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients will receive.
- Achieving the “deepest remission possible” is the goal of this round of treatment.
- Doctors will typically prescribe a three-drug combination during the induction therapy phase, however, some doctors believe a four-drug combo is the way to go.
- After the induction phase of multiple myeloma treatment, a stem cell transplant is typically the next step.
- This procedure is usually done without the disease returning, or before it does, because myeloma will ultimately come back.
- The autologous stem cell transplant is when your own healthy stem cells are removed from your bone marrow prior to chemotherapy and then are re-inserted, or put back, into your bone marrow following therapy.
What You Need to Know About Stem Cell Transplant in Miami
- After the induction phase of multiple myeloma treatment, a stem cell transplant is typically the next step.
- This procedure is usually done without the disease returning, or before it does, because myeloma will ultimately come back.
- The autologous stem cell transplant is when your own healthy stem cells are removed from your bone marrow prior to chemotherapy and then are re-inserted, or put back, into your bone marrow following therapy.
- Once you have been through the initial treatment for multiple myeloma, the next step in order to make sure the cancer does not return is called maintenance therapy.
- The standard of care for multiple myeloma maintenance therapy is immunotherapy drug lenalidomide (brand name: Revlimid).
- The maintenance therapy phase has proven effective in keeping multiple myeloma at bay for long stretches of time.
Managing Multiple Myeloma Maintenance Therapy in Miami
- Once you have been through the initial treatment for multiple myeloma, the next step in order to make sure the cancer does not return is called maintenance therapy.
- The standard of care for multiple myeloma maintenance therapy is immunotherapy drug lenalidomide (brand name: Revlimid).
- The maintenance therapy phase has proven effective in keeping multiple myeloma at bay for long stretches of time.
- Multiple myeloma is an incurable cancer, which means that at some point during a patient's life, the disease will return.
- When the cancer comes back, patients should know they have options when it comes to treating relapsed multiple myeloma.
- Treatments include drug regimens similar to those given during the induction phase.
Managing a Multiple Myeloma Relapse in Miami
- Multiple myeloma is an incurable cancer, which means that at some point during a patient’s life, the disease will return.
- When the cancer comes back, patients should know they have options when it comes to treating relapsed multiple myeloma.
- Treatments include drug regimens similar to those given during the induction phase.
- Treatment options for multiple myeloma are constantly evolving, with many new therapies currently in the developmental stages.
- CAR T-cell therapy is one exciting new treatment that shows great promise for multiple myeloma patients.
- Other promising treatments for multiple myeloma include allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies.
New Advancements For Treating Multiple Myeloma in Miami
- Treatment options for multiple myeloma are constantly evolving, with many new therapies currently in the developmental stages.
- CAR T-cell therapy is one exciting new treatment that shows great promise for multiple myeloma patients.
- Other promising treatments for multiple myeloma include allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies.
Learning Your Options
If you have been recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma, you may be feeling a range of emotions, from fear to confusion. You're also probably wondering what your next steps should be. Dr. James Hoffman of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami talks to SurvivorNet about the importance of... Read More