Velcade and dexamethasone

eln1
eln1 Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Multiple Myeloma #1
Hi all, after both, a stem cell transplant failure and thalidomide treatment failure, my new oncologist have decided to start me on Velcade to see if that gets my MM in remission. I’ll be also getting a low dose of dexamethasone (He said about 4mg) but we didn’t talk about the frequency of taking dexamethasone at the time. I would like to know if any of the readers have been in a similar treatment and can share any fact or experience on that treatment. Are 4mg of Dexamethasone too high or two low doses? Were you taking Dexamethasone only on the weeks you were getting the Velcade injections (two weeks on and one week off; cycles) Also what other medications where you taking along with the Velcade/dex treatment? Maybe to counteract some side effects. I use to take dexamethasome alone and that put my MM in a partial remission just before my stem cell transplant was started. My legs were really swollen but I couldn’t say if that was due to water retention or blood clots. Would I need a blood thinner at a low dose of dexamethasone. What else would I need according to your experience with the Velcade/dex treatment? I have also a very pronounced anemia with very low hemoglobin and red cell count. I read Velcade will even decrease both of them. What can I do to get some help to overcome this situation? Any advice or fact that at your discretion you can share would be highly appreciated. Ed

Comments

  • AuthorUnknown
    AuthorUnknown Member Posts: 1,537 Member
    #2
    Hello,

    I encourage you to contact the American Cancer Society's National Cancer Information Center. Cancer Information Specialists are available 24 hours a day and can assist you with your questions. They can be reached at 1-800-227-2345.

    Take care and be well,

    Dana
    CSN Dana
  • bopwham
    bopwham Member Posts: 1
    #3
    Greetings eln1, Here's my experience with tx. Last September I started a trial of Thalidomide and Valcade. It was suppose to be 8 cycles. Thalidomide 150mg every night and Valcade twice a week. 3 weeks on , one off. Neuropathy got so bad I stopped after 7 cycles. Partial response. Actually, things started climbing after cycle 7. Then went on dexa. 40 mg, 4 days on, 4 off for 4 cycles. Great response. Just finished a cycle of 40 mg, 4 on, 12 off, 4 on and done. I have blood work done this week, so hopefully the results are still good. I'm stage IIa. Only SE were poor sleep, emotional lability and (I didn't mind) excess energy. So, are you sure your dr didn't mean 40 mg? Let me know. I wish you all the best!
  • mygen
    mygen Member Posts: 9
    #4
    bopwham said:

    Greetings eln1, Here's my experience with tx. Last September I started a trial of Thalidomide and Valcade. It was suppose to be 8 cycles. Thalidomide 150mg every night and Valcade twice a week. 3 weeks on , one off. Neuropathy got so bad I stopped after 7 cycles. Partial response. Actually, things started climbing after cycle 7. Then went on dexa. 40 mg, 4 days on, 4 off for 4 cycles. Great response. Just finished a cycle of 40 mg, 4 on, 12 off, 4 on and done. I have blood work done this week, so hopefully the results are still good. I'm stage IIa. Only SE were poor sleep, emotional lability and (I didn't mind) excess energy. So, are you sure your dr didn't mean 40 mg? Let me know. I wish you all the best!

    Hi. I saw your response. I was wondering about your Neuropathy, my Mom has MM and Amaloids. Her neuropathy is so bad she's about to give in. Do you have anything that helped?

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