[sherunsforcakeParticipant]

Hello,  this is my first post and today has been a been a very steep/worrying learning curve.

My Dad was diagnosed with myeloma this morning – he’s 76 and is about to have more tests.  I’ve not seen any information about how this is managed for older patients (70+), can anyone provide perspective or information?  We won’t see the consultant again for 2 weeks, so am feeling in limbo.

Thank you

[andygParticipant]

Hi.

Welcome to the forum. There’s a lot that will be taken into account by the medics as to how they manage your dads treatment if they do treat him at all. They have a set criteria they work to and if your dad doesn’t fall into this category they will just monitor him. However if there is a need for treatment then your dads current fitness and health will be taken into account as to how they treat him. Quality of life is a major factor in treatments as some of the drugs are quite harsh. Generally the younger and fitter you are the harder they hit the myeloma and the harsher the drugs are.

I do hope the tests show that your dad is in the pre treatment stage, smouldering, and only needs monitoring. People can smoulder for a long time.

Every day is a gift.

Andy xx

[mhnevillParticipant]

Hi

Welcome to the Forum from me too. The diagnosis of MM is hard as most of us had never heard of it and the fact that there is no “cure” is disconcerting.

I am just on 70, having been diagnosed over four years ago. I have always taken the line of having as little treatment as possible. After a year I had six rounds of CDT which brought my Paraprotein down to undetectable. I now just have a four weekly infusion of ZOMETA to strengthen my bones.

I guess treatment will rather depend how your Dad’s Myeloma presents itself I.e. Whether by bone problems or fatigue and infections. Everyone is different.

I would just say, be hopeful, there is life after a Myeloma diagnosis and things are moving forward at quite a pace.

Very best wishes to you and your Dad.

Mavis

[sherunsforcakeParticipant]

Thanks Mavis and Andy, I really appreciate your advice and comments.

We saw the consultant again today and Dad has been told that he has a 53% kappa protein level – which has increased from 34% in December.  As he’s 76 he will be starting a lower level chemo/less aggressive dose starting next week .  His age precludes him from the higher doses.  The consultant was so good and answered all our questions and Dad was happier after the discussion.
Dad is struggling, so it’s a relief treatment will start soon and everything xed this help him.

xx

[andygParticipant]

Hi.

Be aware when your dad has his first treatment it still could knock him back a bit even at a low dose. It takes the body time to get use to the drugs. Keep a diary from day one detailing what he took and how it made him feel. It’ll help the medics and will help your dad as he’ll know what to expect through his treatment cycles.

Keep his fluid intake up 2-3 litres per day and monitor his temperature regularly anything over 37.4 for more than two hours needs to be reported to your dads medics ASAP.

Don’t be afraid to ask ANY questions on here or of your dads medical team no matter how daft or trivial you may think it is. We are here to help if possible.

Every day is a gift.

Andy xx

[sherunsforcakeParticipant]

Thanks Andy, your advice is really appreciated.  It’s all completely new to us so we really don’t know what to expect at all.  It’s great that this forum exists to help and support people affected by Myeloma.

xx

 

[jillsParticipant]

Hi,

Just to echo what everyone has already said, the treatment will be managed according to what is bearable for your Dad without ruining his quality of life. My Mum was diagnosed age 77 and has had several different rounds of treatment over the last seven years (she is now 85) all of which have worked to a greater or lesser extent in keeping things under control. But also enabling her to carry on doing the things she wants to. The only thing I would say is that when she was first diagnosed she was quite depressed for a while, this lifted once she realised that the treatment was effective for her.
As Andy says keep a note of how your Dad feels on the various tablets – if he has any side effects they can be reduced and managed.

All the best,

Jillx

[sherunsforcakeParticipant]

Thanks Jill, that’s great news about your mum. Really hope Dad has the same experience. It’s a bit tricky for us as he lives with Mum, who is very disabled with MS and also has severe dementia, so he have a lot of support but it will make the chemo very tough for him.

[Author]

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