A Second Cancer
It’s been a long time since I posted anything. Recently I was diagnosed with a second primary cancer. I’ve had surgery and am well on the way to recovery. My hematologist and the head and neck cancer specialist agreed it wasn’t necessary for me to undergo aggressive surgery for this cancer, so I didn’t have … (Source: beth's myeloma blog)
Source: beth's myeloma blog - May 4, 2023 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Beth Tags: Cancer Source Type: blogs
Participate in Research
GRYT Health is looking for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients to share their experience. Participants will be asked to complete two virtual research engagements: a 10-minute survey and a 90-minute interview. If you are interested in learning more about this research and/or participating, please visit our study webpage HERE or contact us at projects@grythealth.com. (Source: beth's myeloma blog)
Source: beth's myeloma blog - April 25, 2023 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Beth Tags: Life Source Type: blogs
Cy-Car-D
Right now, I’m getting cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), carfilzomib (Kyprolis), and dexamethasone every week. I’m tolerating it very well. Even though I had it in 2019 and eventually relapsed, it’s working for me. After this, I’m hoping to try TAK-573 in a clinical trial. Abstract Background TAK-573, a humanized, anti-CD38, IgG4, monoclonal antibody genetically fused to two … (Source: beth's myeloma blog)
Source: beth's myeloma blog - November 3, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Beth Tags: carfilzomib cyclophosphamide dexamethasone TAK-573 Source Type: blogs
Kyphoplasty
I forgot to post an update after the kyphoplasty. It wasn’t as much fun as I thought it would be! Since I’ve been getting Zometa for years, my bones are very hard. The neurosurgeon wasn’t used to seeing this with myeloma patients, whose bones are usually a lot softer than mine are. I remembered that, … (Source: beth's myeloma blog)
Source: beth's myeloma blog - September 9, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Beth Tags: Myeloma kyphoplasty radiofrequency ablation Source Type: blogs
Relapse and future plans
It’s been a while since I wrote. I began relapsing during the talquetamab/daratumumab/pomalidomide trial. I participated for about a year. The drugs worked for a good while – from June, 2021 until May, 2022. Here are graphs of the free light chains (ratio and free lambda) I have an appointment on September 20th to discuss … (Source: beth's myeloma blog)
Source: beth's myeloma blog - September 8, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Beth Tags: carfilzomib cyclophosphamide Cytoxan Darzalex pomalidomide Talquetamab Source Type: blogs
L5 Compression Fracture
Starting some weeks back, I was experiencing lower back pain. It wasn’t getting better. It was getting worse! I report anything out of the ordinary to the research team (I’m in a phase I clinical trial), and had been doing so with regard to this ailment. Since the pain was only getting worse over time, … (Source: beth's myeloma blog)
Source: beth's myeloma blog - July 25, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Beth Tags: Myeloma CT Scan fluoroscopy fracture PET Scan Spinal Compression Fracture Source Type: blogs
Back to getting talquetamab every week
I was getting talquetamab every other week for what seemed like a short while. I think it might have been two cycles. The talq dose was triple the dose I had been receiving every week. I had pretty severe headaches on the increased dose. I tried to hang in there, but it was bad enough … (Source: beth's myeloma blog)
Source: beth's myeloma blog - April 23, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Beth Tags: Talquetamab Source Type: blogs
Evusheld significantly protected against symptomatic COVID-19
Astra Zeneca says “Evusheld significantly protected against symptomatic COVID-19 for at least six months in PROVENT Phase III trial in high-risk populations.” https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2022/evusheld-significantly-protected-against-symptomatic-covid-19-for-at-least-six-months-in-provent-phase-iii-trial-in-high-risk-populations1.html I’m glad I received the injections. I’ve read that we will probably continue injections every 6 months while needed. I’ll be getting my next vaccine booster on Monday. I was told to … (Source: beth's myeloma blog)
Source: beth's myeloma blog - April 22, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Beth Tags: Evusheld Source Type: blogs
Evusheld
I’ve had two doses of Evusheld during the last month or so. After my initial injections, there was an advisory from the CDC to get a second set of injections. It’s thought one dose isn’t effective enough. Evusheld is Astra-Zeneca’s pre-exposure prophylaxis for covid. I keep reading that people seem to be unaware of its existence, and … (Source: beth's myeloma blog)
Source: beth's myeloma blog - March 31, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Beth Tags: Life Myeloma Evusheld Source Type: blogs
Almost through cycle 8 of talquetamab / daratumumab / pomalidomide trial
I’m nearly finished with cycle 8. For those of you who’ve asked, the side effects have remained the same throughout for me. the situation with my nails has improved, though! They’re not peeling away from the bottom of the nail anymore. Still, I have issues at the tops of the nails. I have to keep …
The post Almost through cycle 8 of talquetamab / daratumumab / pomalidomide trial appeared first on Beth Morgan Multiple Myeloma Treatment Blog. (Source: beth's myeloma blog)
Source: beth's myeloma blog - December 23, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Beth Tags: BiTE daratumumab pomalidomide Pomalyst Talquetamab compazine masks Zofran Source Type: blogs
End of Cycle 5 – Talquetamab and Daratumumab plus Pomalyst
During cycle 5, the study team was given some freedom to adjust my dose of dexamethasone. We could do anything, from eliminating it completely to decreasing it. For 3 cycles, I was having 40 mg of dex a week. Dex is rough. If you have taken 40 mg of dex for any amount of time, …
The post End of Cycle 5 – Talquetamab and Daratumumab plus Pomalyst appeared first on Beth Morgan Multiple Myeloma Treatment Blog. (Source: beth's myeloma blog)
Source: beth's myeloma blog - October 7, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Beth Tags: Talquetamab CRS cytoxan release syndrome dexamethasone Source Type: blogs
Cycle 4 of talquetamab and daratumumab
I’m in cycle 4 now. I still go every week for treatment, but here’s something to look forward to: At the end of cycle 6, I’ll have a PET scan. If everything looks good on the PET scan, my treatment schedule will change to every other week. My Pomalyst dose has been decreased to 2 …
The post Cycle 4 of talquetamab and daratumumab appeared first on Beth Morgan Multiple Myeloma Treatment Blog. (Source: beth's myeloma blog)
Source: beth's myeloma blog - August 31, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Beth Tags: BiTE daratumumab Pomalyst Talquetamab PET Scan Source Type: blogs
Another Bone Marrow Biopsy
I had another bone marrow biopsy last month. My nephew took this picture of the samples being prepared for the lab. The dish near the top of the image looks like a tiny little crime scene.
The post Another Bone Marrow Biopsy appeared first on Beth Morgan Multiple Myeloma Treatment Blog. (Source: beth's myeloma blog)
Source: beth's myeloma blog - August 31, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Beth Tags: Bone Marrow Biopsy Myeloma Talquetamab Source Type: blogs
Nail Problems
Why does this happen with talquetamab? A short time after my first few doses of talquetamab, I noticed that the skin on my fingers was peeling and the nails appeared to be separating from the beds of the nails. It’s been a drawn-out process, and not every nail has been affected in the same way. …
The post Nail Problems appeared first on Beth Morgan Multiple Myeloma Treatment Blog. (Source: beth's myeloma blog)
Source: beth's myeloma blog - July 27, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Beth Tags: BiTE Talquetamab CD3 GPRC5D Source Type: blogs
Dose Reductions
This’ll be quick. My talquetamab and Pomalyst doses have been reduced due to the effects on my pancreas. I started a few weeks ago on 4 mg of Pom. Now I’m taking 3 mg. Talquetamab was administered at 400 micrograms/kg, and now I’ll be getting 135. I was feeling as though I’d had a punch …
The post Dose Reductions appeared first on Beth Morgan Multiple Myeloma Treatment Blog. (Source: beth's myeloma blog)
Source: beth's myeloma blog - July 9, 2021 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Beth Tags: pomalidomide Pomalyst Talquetamab Zometa Source Type: blogs
