The miracle drug for myeloma also known as multiple myeloma is Darzalex or daratumumab, which is a laboratory made monoclonal antibody that is designed to function like a naturally occurring antibody and it works by targeting a specific single protein on the surface of the myeloma cells, which is called targeted therapy.
Darzalex also enlists your immune system cells to help attack and kill the myeloma cells.
The most successful treatment for multiple myeloma is a combination induction therapy, with usually a 3 to 4 drug regimen, which includes the use of Darzalex "daratumumab" followed by an autologous stem cell transplant.
This approach in treating multiple myeloma involves agents like lenalidomide and bortezomib as well as dexamethasone, which induces deep and long lasting remissions for multiple myeloma.
The initial treatment or induction for multiple myeloma often uses a quadruplet 4 drug regimen, like KRd (carfilzomib, lenalidomide, dexamethasone), along with a monoclonal antibody like isatuxiab or daratumumab, to get the deepest initial response.
And autologous stem cell transplants are considered the gold standard for eligible people, which involves the use of high dose chemotherapy of melphalan to destroy the cancer cells, followed by replacing the destroyed cancer cells with the persons own saved stem cells.
And newer approaches for multiple myeloma treatment also involves CAR T-cell therapy, and monoclonal antibodies that are used for both the initial and relapse scenarios to target the cancer cells, which usually leads to better outcomes.
And ongoing, low dose medication is also commonly used after the transplant to prevent relapse.
The treatment for multiple myeloma makes you feel extremely fatigued, can cause nausea, diarrhea and an increased susceptibility to infections due to having a weakened a immune system.
People who are treated for multiple myeloma cancer often experience nerve pain, which peripheral neuropathy, hair loss as well as chemo brain.
And the steroids, which are a common component of multiple myeloma treatment, can cause mood swings, insomnia and fluid retention.
The intense fatigue from multiple myeloma treatment, may not improve with rest.
You may also experience vomiting and constipation and have problems sleeping, mouth sores, and pain and tingling and numbness in the feet and hands with multiple myeloma.
The treatment for multiple myeloma often involves a combination of targeted therapies, immunomodulatory agents like lenalidomide, proteasome inhibitors like bortezomib, steroids and also autologous stem cell transplants.
Multiple myeloma cancer is a cancer of the bone marrow plasma cells, which cause abnormal protein buildup of M protein, which results in bone lesions, kidney damage, anemia and immune system suppression.
Multiple myeloma cancer is considered to be incurable, although multiple myeloma is also highly treatable, especially when caught early.
New therapies for multiple myeloma improve your prognosis significantly and allow you to live active lives.
Common symptoms of multiple myeloma are bone pain, especially in the back or the ribs, fatigue, frequent infections and high calcium levels.
The exact cause of multiple myeloma is not know, although multiple myeloma also involves genetic mutations in the plasma cells, which cause them to grow uncontrollably.
Risk factors for multiple myeloma include being male, being over age 65, being of African American heritage, being obese and having a family history of multiple myeloma.
Multiple myeloma often develops from a precursor condition that is called monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.
Multiple myeloma is often diagnosed through blood and urine tests to check for M protein, along with bone marrow biopsies and imaging tests like MRI, CT and PET scans to assess for bone damage.
The treatment for multiple myeloma often involves a combination of targeted therapies, immunomodulatory agents like lenalidomide, proteasome inhibitors like bortezomib, steroids and also autologous stem cell transplants.