Multiple Myeloma Forums - Home

Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment & Relief

Last Updated on Wednesday, 17 June 2009 03:10 Written by Administrator Saturday, 13 June 2009 15:52

Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment

Written by: Don Wright

It's here, perhaps. Maybe. I hope not. In the past few days I have felt a tingling sensation in the very tips of both thumbs, becoming much stronger when I touch the skin there. Nothing in the fingers yet. But in bed last night I noticed a numbness in the sole of my left foot; not so much the toes as the ball of the foot and nothing in the right foot yet.

That's all so far. Not enough to affirmatively declare that peripheral neuropathy (PN) is upon me, but enough to be a little scared. PN can be very painful and, when body parts go numb, rather disabling as well. It usually begins in the sensory nervous system, but can even progress to the motor nerves, resulting in partial paralysis. It is to be avoided if possible, and in my opinion it should be accepted as a necessary consequence of treatment only if all other avenues of treatment have been exhausted.

In Myeloma patients PN can be caused by at least three different things:

Myeloma-specific chemo drugs such as thalidomide. I'm not taking thalidomide any more, but am taking CC-4047, a thalidomide derivative.
Dexamethasone (DEX), which I am taking, and which (I believe) can cause symptoms of diabetes, one of which is PN.
The myeloma itself, especially if protein or light-chain counts are high. Mine are not, as of two weeks ago.

I have another Mayo appointment in two weeks, when this subject will get some genuine medical attention. Furthermore, by that time, I will have a better idea whether or not I really do have PN.

In the meantime I'm trying to learn about it, and do whatever I can to mitigate the problem. Happily for me, the leaders of the Minneapolis Myeloma Support Group handed out a sheet of information on PN treatment at yesterday's monthly meeting.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute:

That sheet, it turns out, was a printout of a web page which was transcribed from a paper handout at Dana-Farber. A myeloma survivor (Beth I think) has posted that handout HERE on the website MMSupport.net, which also has lots of other good information about myeloma and treatment. To summarize the sheet:

Multi-B vitamins with B1, B6, B12, folic acid, and the other B-vitamins. Dosages: B6 100-200 mg, folic acid 1-2 mg.
Vitamin E 400 IU daily.
Fish oils with the omega-3 acids EPA and DHA.
Evening primrose oil capsules.
Flax seed oil.
Amino acids. No further description.
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) 200 mg twice daily, within 2 hours of a meal.
Acetyl L-carnitime 500 mg twice daily, within 2 hours of a meal.

Read full article at publishers website

Write comment (0 Comments)

Moab Century Tour 2009

Last Updated on Tuesday, 09 June 2009 23:54 Written by Administrator Sunday, 07 June 2009 23:27

Dear Members of the Myeloma forums,

I’ve made a commitment to cycle the Moab Century Tour (102 miles!) on September 19th of this year. Why? Because I got mail from Team In Training, then I attended an Info Meeting and after that I‘ve decided to join The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training program. My mother was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2007 and she passed away in 2008. The devastation, heartache and pain cancer brings to this world is almost unbearable, but I’ve decided that I can make a difference.

Team In Training is a nationwide non-profit organization that is dedicated to the eradiation of blood cancers including all forms of Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma. Team In Training brings together a team of dedicated coaches, enthusiastic mentors and local team members to help me reach my goal. Now I need your help.

I made a personal commitment to raise $ 2,400.00 prior to the Moab CenturyTour on September 19th.

TNT

Please use the link in this email to donate online quickly and securely pluslearn more about my progress. You will receive a confirmation of your donation (which is 100 % tax deductible) by email and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation.

Please visit our website!

Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. More than 823,000 Americans and many more worldwide are battling these blood cancers. I am hoping that my participation in Team In Training will help bring them hope and support.

Completing a 102 miles bike ride takes a great deal of time and dedication. Over the course of my 19 week training schedule, I will bike more than 1880 miles. I am not taking these simple numbers lightly I am fully aware of the challenge ahead. The reality is that biking 102 miles is NOTHING compared to the mental and physical challenge individuals with cancer face on a daily basis.

On behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (www.lls.org), thank you very much for your support.

I greatly appreciate your generosity.

Thanks,

Jutta

Write comment (0 Comments)

Study Shows Acute Kidney Failure Can Be Reversed By Velcade-Dexamethasone-Doxorubicin In Multiple Myeloma

Last Updated on Wednesday, 17 June 2009 03:12 Written by Administrator Wednesday, 17 June 2009 02:56

The Myeloma Beacon

A recent Phase 2 study, presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) meeting, showed that a regimen of Velcade (bortezomib), dexamethasone (Decadron), and doxorubicin (Adriamycin), or VDD, resulted in improved kidney impairment in multiple myeloma patients.

Multiple myeloma patients often face kidney complications including acute light chain induced renal failure (ARF). ARF is a serious complication that can lead to permanent kidney dysfunction and reliance on continual hemodialysis. A normal kidney produces urine for excretion but reabsorbs proteins so they do not leave the body. Anti-myeloma therapy that prevents the release of proteins in the urine can reverse acute kidney failure.

Kidney

The study evaluated the effectiveness of a combination regimen, VDD, in restoring kidney function and controlling the frequency of tumors in multiple myeloma patients. The study was designed with 72 patients (median age 66 years), 81 percent of whom were newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Patients exhibited acute kidney failure due to the release of proteins in the urine. They were treated with VDD in 21-day cycles.

Read full article at publishers website

Write comment (0 Comments)

Doctors Tame One Of Cancer's Deadliest Forms

Last Updated on Saturday, 06 June 2009 18:00 Written by Administrator Sunday, 31 May 2009 14:39

The chances of surviving cancer have been increasing in recent years. One of the most dramatic success stories in cancer care involves a little-known cancer called multiple myeloma that had been among the deadliest types of the disease.

Myeloma is a painful bone marrow cancer that affects white blood cells that make antibodies. When these cells become malignant, they crowd out other bone marrow cells. That weakens bones so much that patients can break a bone just stepping off a curb.

Hardy Jones

Hardy Jones, a documentary filmmaker and recreational surfer, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma when he was almost 60. He knew something was wrong when he lost his usual energy.

"I just couldn't get that stoked feeling, no matter what I did," Jones says. "I was just always draggin'." He could barely trudge up the hill from his favorite surfing beach, carrying his surfboard and wet suit.

His doctor ran some tests and mentioned that Jones might have cancer. While waiting for the results, Jones started reading up on possibilities. Some were scary.

Read full article at publishers website

Write comment (0 Comments)

Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Therapy With Velcade-Revlimid Or Velcade-Thalomid in New Multiple Myeloma Patients (ASCO 2009)

Last Updated on Saturday, 06 June 2009 18:52 Written by Administrator Wednesday, 27 May 2009 01:23

The Myeloma Beacon

A retrospective study conducted at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas will be presented at the 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting. Published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the study examined the effects of autologous stem cell transplantation after combination drug therapy in 95 newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients and found that transplantation improved patients’ responses.

Prior to autologous stem cell transplantation, patients in the study were treated with a combination regimen of Velcade (bortezomib), Revlimid (lenalidomide), and dexamethasone (Decadron) (VRD); or with a combination of Velcade, thalidomide (Thalomid), and dexamethasone (VTD). All patients were conditioned with melphalan (Alkeran) therapy.

Patients’ responses were measured based on the International Myeloma Working Group response criteria. The criteria response categories include complete response, very good partial response, and partial response.

Nineteen out of the 95 patients received VRD therapy prior to autologous stem cell transplantation. Of those 19 patients, two patients achieved a complete response, eight patients achieved a very good partial response, and nine patients achieved a partial response.

Read full article at publishers website

Write comment (0 Comments)

Phase 3 Study Shows High Response Rates For Four-Drug Combination (ASCO 2009)

Last Updated on Saturday, 06 June 2009 18:56 Written by Administrator Wednesday, 27 May 2009 01:20

The Myeloma Beacon

On May 31 at the 45th meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), researchers from Italy will report the results for a Phase 3 study currently comparing the combination Velcade (bortezomib)–melphalan (Alkeran)–prednisone–thalidomide (Thalomid) (VMPT) to Velcade-melphalan-prednisone (VMP) for the treatment of elderly, newly diagnosed myeloma patients.

Overall, the very good partial response rate for patients treated with VMPT was 55 percent, compared to 45 percent for those treated with VMP. After a median follow-up time of 14.5 months, the three-year progression-free survival was 74 percent in the VMPT group and 70 percent in the VMP group. The three-year overall survival was similar between the two groups – 88 percent for those treated with VMPT, and 87 percent for those treated with VMP.

This clinical trial for newly diagnosed patients came after the same four-drug combination was shown to induce a high percentage of complete responses in relapsed and refractory patients. In a Phase 1/2 trial, the complete response rate was 17 percent and the very good partial response rate was 27 percent.

Read full article at publishers website

Write comment (0 Comments)