Hi Liz & Kev,

My consultant thought I might get between 3 to 5 years from my SCT based on an excellent response to my frontline treatment but I relapsed after 10 months… so I can both sympathise and empathise with Kev… it knocked us both back and like Kev I had a quiet period of 2 to 3 weeks until my survival mode kicked in and I readied…[Read more]

As I understand it Pancytopenia is either a hereditary condition or one brought about by treatment, mainly chemotherapy or related treatments. I have had a serious blood problem since early childhood… my treatments and medicines have been varied and sometimes exotic and along with Leukemia, Sickle-Cell Anaemia, and Sideroblastic Anaemia,…[Read more]

Hi Min, its lovely to hear from you. Mum passed 6 months ago today. Still findign it hard but keeping busy trying to move on with life without mum. Its very hard but the family are looking out for each other and we try to get out together.
We have put a verse in the memory book in our cemetary and we try to remember the good times with mum before…[Read more]

Dear Carol, I am so sorry for your loss. We lost our mum to myeloma in november last year. We are finding it very hard without her,but we try to think of mum before myeloma when she was well. We do not want to remember her when she was fighting this awful cancer. mum fought for 2 and a half years. She was well at the beginning but near the end…[Read more]

Hi Eva and all,

I thought this article might be of relevance and interest.:-)

Dai.

[b]The Myeloma Beacon
May 29, 2012 10:12 am

Forum Highlight – Beacon readers have been discussing the hypothesis that cancer stem cells are the cause of multiple myeloma persistence and relapse. [/b]

[i][b]Day Of Rest Between Melphalan And Stem…[Read more]

Hi Antoinette
Like the others say there is life beyond MM but there is a journey to go through. I was diagnosed in 2009 when I was 45. I was smouldering for 18 months then became anemic too, but with no other symptoms. I have gone through the chemo and stem cell transplant in Barts (who were amazing) and am now on the other side. Everyone is…[Read more]

Hi Liz and Kev

Well am sorry to read about Kev's results, I hope and am sure they will soon sort it out and Kev is back to strenth, am sure you will but I have to say it so "Stay strong" and Fit hope its a short blip in the road of MM

Love
Tom "Onwards and Upwards" xx

Hi Deborah,

I have inadvertently given some wrong advice… I said:

?Velcade is a cousin of Thalidomide and like Thalidomide it can cause Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) although reports of Velcade via Subcut lessen this effect.'

Ellen from Myeloma Uk has put me right with:

[quote]This isn't strictly true and Thalidomide and Velcade are…[Read more]

Hi Deborah
Welcome to the site,I think Dai has summed Velcade up.
My husband had 6 cycles and found it better than having CTD but he had a few problems with the first line treatment.It does depend on your mothers age how many injection she has in one week,the older patients (80) seem to have one injection.My husband is 67 and he had 2 injections…[Read more]

Hi Deborah,

You say that your Mum had Thalidomide based chemotherapy a couple of years ago… I assume this was her frontline treatment? Most likely CDT (Cyclophosphamide – Dexamethasone – Thalidomide) or one of the variants. Did she then have a SCT (Stem Cell Transplant) or was she considered too old? (Normally not offered if over 70 or…[Read more]

Hi Karen
Your posting got mixed up in the dates. So sorry you have to join us but this is a wonderful site for help, support, understanding and encouragement. I'm on the other side of treatment now. It was not a walk in the park but it's certainly manageable. It sounds like they have caught yours early as they did with me. It is a complete…[Read more]

Dear Carol

I am so sorry for your loss its hard for me to imagine what you are going through at the moment and am sure you will enjoy life again just a new way with new challenges.

Hugs for you

Tom xx

Hi Deborah

I cant add to this one am afraid just wanted to welcome you and your Mum into the group but some one will pop in and sort out your Q.

All the best in the road to remission for your Mum

Tom "Onwards and Upwards" xx

Hi Keith

Well this is another new one for me? aint a clue what it is nor what causes it?

Hope its soon sorted out Keith I bet your well fed up with all this stuff. Keep strong and fight the begger like I know you will

Tom "Onwards and Upwards"

Dear Carol
I am so sorry for your loss,you do not mention if you have children,if you have they will give you the strength you need at this time.

I think you have to ask yourself would you wish him back in such pain,do not grieve for him,but grieve for yourself,he is at peace and now you have to find your own peace.You have not had much time…[Read more]

Hi Eva and Sue

Just for info I had my transplant the day after my Melphalan.

I was told to eat as much as i could before and after the SCT as I would not want to eat after it. I also suffered a lot from the wretching wanting to be sick but wasn't sick but the anti sickness pills help a great deal. I also could not drink enough water so asked…[Read more]

Hi Dai
you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink!!!!you name it I have tried it,he understands how important it is,the least mention of a drink,and I am badgering the kitchen or off to the shop.he said he feels like knocking back a pint,but cannot do it,small cold sips is his limit.
All the thing he is lacking are on drips,plus…[Read more]

Hi Eva & Sue & Eve,

Recalling a conversation with one of the registrars regarding the SCT processes and the Mephalan/Cell returns in particular… I was told that the Mephalan is 'scoured' as soon as the medics think it has done its job… that is, by the time the cells are returned the Mephalan has done its job and has been thoroughly washed…[Read more]

Hi Eva and Sue

As you know slim is in the middle of his SCT.
He went in on a Sunday, only 50% of chemo given on Monday,the next day was a rest day,them harvest fed back.he is not recovering very quickly a bit at a time,he has had his own platelets plus some more plus injections of growth factor.His platelets stood at 7.5 last time I…[Read more]