Beginning Treatment for Multiple Myeloma
- The first step to treating multiple myeloma is called induction therapy, which uses a set of chemotherapy drugs to fight multiple myeloma cells in the bone marrow.
- It is important to investigate whether you are eligible for a stem cell transplant–a non-surgical procedure which uses a patient’s own stem cells.
- The third question to consider is how many and which medications should be included in a treatment plan. Most patients will receive at least three different medications.
Induction Therapy: What and Why
Dr. Matthew Ulrickson of Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center connected with SurvivorNet to discuss the first line of treatment for people battling multiple myeloma: induction therapy. Induction is the initial string of chemotherapy drugs that are used to try to kill off myeloma cells in the bone marrow.RELATED: How Does Induction Therapy for Multiple Myeloma Work?
Read More- control the myeloma
- reverse complications caused by the disease
- decrease the chances of early death
- be tolerated without major side effects
- not prevent stem cell collection
Am I Eligible for a Stem Cell Transplant?
Dr. Ulrickson also noted that when considering possible induction therapy paths, one of the first questions you should ask your doctor is whether or not you are eligible for a stem cell transplant. This process does not require surgery, and it is "autologous," meaning that the patient's own stem cells are used for the transplant.RELATED: What is a Stem Cell Transplant for Multiple Myeloma?
Dr. Ulrickson encourages people to advocate for themselves and make sure they are seeking out multiple opinions. According to Dr. Ulrickson, "More patients are eligible for transplant than many hematologists and oncologists believe, so it's important to make sure that you talk to somebody experienced in transplants to get their opinion."
Planning Induction Therapy
After a patient learns if they are eligible for a stem cell transplant, the conversation around their treatment focuses in on the question of how many medications should be included in their therapy.
The most common combination of drugs used in the U.S. for induction therapy for otherwise healthy people who are eligible for a stem cell transplant includes:
- Bortezomib (brand name: Velcade)
- Lenalidomide (brand name: Revlimid)
- Low-dose dexamethasone
- Darzalex (Daratumumab), commonly used for patients who are eligible for quadruplet therapy to include the 3 drugs above.
Other common three or more drug regimens include:
- Bortezomib, cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), and dexamethasone
- A quadruplet to include bortezomib, lenalidomide, daratumumab, and dexamethasone.
"Yes, you may have some symptoms that need management, but our goal is to get you back to as much of full life as possible. And that should be the goal," Dr. Ulrickson told SurvivorNet.
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