[najmahParticipant]

Hello everyone. I was recommended this website by my consultant so I’m new here after being diagnosed on 7th April. I knew a little bit about Multiple Myeloma as my mother had it 25 years ago but as I know treatment has come on a lot since then.
I’m female, aged 73 and up to diagnosis have always kept very fit, I run and go to gym classes almost every day. I was finding I had back and hip pain when I ran and did high impact exercise and that’s what prompter me to go to the doctors. She quickly arranged an X-ray, then blood tests followed by an MRI scan and bone marrow biopsy which all confirmed my diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma. It came as a shock but I’m getting my head around it now.
I see my consultant on Tuesday when I will get a date for my treatment to start. He’s already told me it will be a combination of Isatuximab, Bortezomib, lenalidomide, Dexamethasone and infusions of Zometa. I just wondered if anyone on the forum has had the same combination of drugs and if so how have you found it? How have you felt on the treatment and how have you coped with it?
Than you in advance and I look forward (if that’s the right terminology) to becoming part of the community.

[iangrantParticipant]

Hello
I was on the drug treatment you mentioned with a stem cell transplant after six months. I’m still alive and kicking after going into total remission last year. Sadly the numbers have gone up again so I’m on another treatment to see how that goes.
I’ve written a book detailing the treatments mri scans lung function tests et all it’s on kindle with proceeds to myeloma uk and Bournemouth hospital. It’s a humourous view of all the hospital times. “Ian grant admitted to hospital”.
One thing I will say is to be prepared for the amount of hospital time and visits.
Good luck, I said to the x ray lady yesterday it’s only a bit of cancer which made her laugh.
Ian

[najmahParticipant]

Thank you for your reply Ian. Good to know you were on the same treatment but sorry to hear your numbers have gone up. My treatment is due to start on 28th April. (I have to go next Tuesday to see the nurse and watch a video). I’m a patient at the Freeman hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne. I’ll definitely download your book onto my kindle. Thank you.

[najmahParticipant]

Ian, I’ve read the first 5 chapters of your book. It’s brilliant! My husband said he’s going to read it too when he heard me having a good laugh at your descriptions 😂😂

[iangrantParticipant]

Thats great youre enjoying the book. Im hoping to get it out thereto help others realise its not that much of a nightmare.

[martyParticipant]

Hello Najmah I had the same treatment as Ian. My stem cell transplant was done at the Freemans. The staff there are absolutely top notch especially the one’s in the harvest unit. I am on maintenance treatment and in remission at the moment. With the initial treatment it is a shock because you don’t know what will happen but after a period of time I found I got use to it. All the best in your treatment.

[najmahParticipant]

Hi Marty, thanks for your reply. I’m being treated at the Freeman too. I’m not having a stem cell transplant though, my age is against me. I agree the team there are brilliant. We already had experience of that department as my husband completed 6 rounds of chemo there in January for Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. (He’s doing well and is now on immunotherapy, an injection every two months).
Glad to hear you are in remission and doing well.

[Author]

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