Multiple myeloma

FormerMember over 4 years ago

1 reply
50 subscribers
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Hi everyone am new here, my partner was diagnosed with MM in April this this year. Total shock went into hospital with an infection and kidney failure and the end of April a diagnosis of cancer. He started treatment in May, tablet Lenalidamide, dexamethazone and other drugs for side effects. Three week on then a week rest, this will be continuous. The steroid, wow, he doesn't sleep, never stops eating and some mood swings. His chemo has been stopped twice due to infections. We are really worried he has been off his chemo now for three weeks. Do they have stages of MM ?? Have started to ramble now so will leave it at that, would love to hear how others cope with the infections.

FormerMember over 4 years ago

Hi Mully,

Welcome to the former although I am really sorry to read that your partner has been diagnosed with MM. I am sorry to read that they are struggling with infections, unfortunately this is quite common with MM because both the cancer itself and its treatment weakens the immune system. It is sometimes really difficult to control the infections as they can appear even when seemingly there was no opportunity to get one. The most important thing I think is to try to drive down the myeloma markers as much as possible, as that will give the body as much chance as possible to fight these infections. Bumps in the road are entirely normal in MM so I wouldn’t worry about him losing a few weeks of treatment, hopefully the infection will subside soon and he can get back into treatment and keep those myeloma cells under control.

In terms of stages, there are 3 in myeloma, but I am not sure that they mean very much as they can do in many other cancers, the most important thing in MM is the response to treatment, so I am really hoping that your partner can knock the infection on the head really soon and get back onto putting those myeloma cells back into their box.

All the very best

Greg

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