I have been diagnosed with Stage 3 Multiple myeloma

[Turbo Beast]

Dammit man, stay strong! And.... thanks for the wideband and no weld gasket

[AdamVR4]

Saw this semi-related story and thought it was interesting:

Woman?s cancer killed by measles virus in unprecedented trial

How you feelin' Chris?

[Ninja Performance]

Saw this semi-related story and thought it was interesting:

Woman?s cancer killed by measles virus in unprecedented trial

How you feelin' Chris?

It's cool they are trying radical treatments. It almost killed her and was tried on only 2 people, of which the other was not helped. If clinical trials did start for this therapy they would start at stage 1 if that showed good results, then stage 2, then stage 3 trails, then if they all show promise (this takes 5-10 years) they apply for FDA approval. New things keep popping up. Its great they keep trying new things though. One day there will be a cure for it. And can't find that without trying radical treatment.

They tried this new radical therapy on this woman because, as with most MM patients, she had run out of options. So she had nothing to lose. The big issue with MM is that you use therapy #1, it works, the MM mutates and becomes Refractory meaning resistant to that therapy. The patient then goes to therapy #2, mutates, rinse repeat. After so many years, you have been thru all the therapies available and you are were this woman was at. Nothing left to try but radical untested therapies.

But from untested radical therapies come hope for a cure.

Currently I am on chemo, and most likely will be for the foreseeable future. I am on chemo for 3 weeks, off 1. rinse repeat. It had really started creeping back fast once the bone marrow transplant failed 10 months post transplant. I have not had my SPEP done (syrum protein electropherysis) to check if it has started working this go around. But I am only on my 2nd 3 on 1 off cycle so I will be tested end of this cycle to see if the chemo I am on is working.

We do know from previous and now current genetic testing (FISH test) that my MM has mutated, it is different than it was when I was diagnosed. The bone marrow transplant killed most of it off and it mutated to save itself. We are hoping the mutation hasn't made me refractory to the Revlimid I am using this go around.

I have my days. Good and bad. Being on chemo isn't fun, but I have seen others with many types of cancer have a much rougher time than I am having. I can't complain too much.

-Chris

[Ninja Performance]

My blood tests results from last week are in.
My Mspike has dropped from 0.9 to 0.6 with only 2 chemo cycles - 3 weeks on chemo, 1 week off, 3 weeks on chemo 1 week off.
This is great news as my Multiple Myeloma did mutate genetically, as it often does, after my bone marrow transplant. This makes it become resistant to the chemo you knocked it down with and you have to move to a different chemo. And you eventually run out of options.
But the same chemo (Revlimid along with dexamethasone) I started on when I was diagnosed back August 2011 is still working. I have yet to become resistant to my first original chemo.
I will continue on the highest dose, 25mg, until it either hits zero or plateaus, then try a lower dose to see if it will stay in check.

-Chris

[Flash Gordon]

I've been praying for you daily for nearly 3 years now. That in itself is a miracle!

Glad you continue making strides towards defeating this terrible disease

My blood tests results from last week are in.
My Mspike has dropped from 0.9 to 0.6 with only 2 chemo cycles - 3 weeks on chemo, 1 week off, 3 weeks on chemo 1 week off.
This is great news as my Multiple Myeloma did mutate genetically, as it often does, after my bone marrow transplant. This makes it become resistant to the chemo you knocked it down with and you have to move to a different chemo. And you eventually run out of options.
But the same chemo (Revlimid along with dexamethasone) I started on when I was diagnosed back August 2011 is still working. I have yet to become resistant to my first original chemo.
I will continue on the highest dose, 25mg, until it either hits zero or plateaus, then try a lower dose to see if it will stay in check.

-Chris

[hyper3000gt]

have you considered hydrogen peroxide therapy? hydrogen peroxide is basically our body natural way to kill off cancer cells but generally it can't make enough of it or our antibodies simply don't recognize the cancer to attack it with peroxide but you can get the therapy.

there is also vitamin b17 as an alternative treatment as well.

good luck

[atarirx]

have you considered hydrogen peroxide therapy? hydrogen peroxide is basically our body natural way to kill off cancer cells but generally it can't make enough of it or our antibodies simply don't recognize the cancer to attack it with peroxide but you can get the therapy.

Please please PLEASE do not attempt hydrogen peroxide therapy unless you are out of options and are using a very reputable oncologist. Yes, it has theoretical benefits, but evidence is sparse and the risk of serious injury or death is not worth the risk in my opinion. Plus, most of the research focused on treating solid tumors in treatment naive patients, not myelomas, so unfortunately it is unlikely to be of any benefit to you.

The American Cancer Society has a pretty strong warning against H2O2:
Oxygen Therapy

[hyper3000gt]

Please please PLEASE do not attempt hydrogen peroxide therapy unless you are out of options and are using a very reputable oncologist. Yes, it has theoretical benefits, but evidence is sparse and the risk of serious injury or death is not worth the risk in my opinion. Plus, most of the research focused on treating solid tumors in treatment naive patients, not myelomas, so unfortunately it is unlikely to be of any benefit to you.

The American Cancer Society has a pretty strong warning against H2O2:
Oxygen Therapy

I think it really depends on the dose and percentage of H202 you use on how safe it is, generally the low dose's are very well tolerated and I do know one person that was cured from it. but for sure research it's use in your particular type of cancer, I should have said this in my first post.

like everything it comes with risks many chemo therapies are also very toxic to the body something els one has to consider.

also the American cancer society tends to shun at any alternative treatment for the simple fact it doesn't bring in huge dollars to doctors and big pharma.

if you want a totally safe thing you can do that's natural up all your vegetables and fruits and lower meat consumption I know this has slowed cancer's progression in many people.

there is also a fruit called a guanabana that has shown certain anti cancer properties as well.

as always good luck fellow gto enthusiast

[Ninja Performance]

Just a little update, and to let everyone know I am still around Fighting LULz....

Since there is no cure it's a matter of being on continuous Chemo. I am on Chemo for 3 weeks, get a week off, then rinse, repeat. Currently my numbers are pretty good so I will just continue on the Chemo I am on.

-Chris

[DocWalt]

Thanks for the good update, Chris!