Beacon NewsFlashes – September 24, 2012
GF-15 May Prevent Myeloma Growth By Disrupting Cell Division – Results from a recent German preclinical study show that the compound GF–15 disrupts the division of myeloma cells and triggers their...
View ArticlePersonal Perspective: Former Nurse Battles MGUS And Other Immune Disorders...
Brenda Driver, a 59-year old former nurse from California, was diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) in August last year. She took the diagnosis as a blessing in...
View ArticleNew Agents In Combination With Revlimid Show Promise For Relapsed /...
Treatment strategies that combine Revlimid with newer types of anti-tumor agents may be effective for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, according to myeloma experts who reviewed results from...
View ArticleManhattan Tales: Intermission
This past spring, much of the northeastern United States had an unusual hot spell. In New York City, the spring trees and shrubs burst into bloom in March, a month ahead of time. I spent most of that...
View ArticleKepivance May Increase The Tolerability Of Higher Doses Of Melphalan For...
The results of a Phase 1 study show that Kepivance reduces the severity of melphalan-related mouth ulcers in multiple myeloma patients. Due to better tolerability, the melphalan dosage could be safely...
View ArticleBeacon NewsFlashes – October 1, 2012
Subcutaneous Velcade Receives Approval In Europe For Multiple Myeloma – Janssen-Cilag, the company that markets Velcade (bortezomib) in Europe, announced on Friday that the European Medicines Agency...
View ArticleSean’s Burgundy Thread: A Letter To Myself
I have to admit that I am not exactly an expert on the science of multiple myeloma. One area that I do have some expertise in, however, is what I have ‘felt’ during my intense, four-year battle royale...
View ArticleSmoldering Myeloma Patients With High Percentage Of Plasma Cells In The Blood...
Results from a recent retrospective study suggest that smoldering myeloma patients with a high percentage of plasma cells in the blood are more likely to progress to active myeloma within two years of...
View ArticlePomalidomide FDA Advisory Committee Meeting Canceled
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has canceled the November advisory committee meeting during which Celgene’s application to have pomalidomide approved as a new multiple myeloma treatment was...
View ArticlePat’s Place: Fourteen Months And Still No Go!
It has been fourteen months since my autologous stem cell transplant. Although I’m in remission (Thank God!), several challenging residual issues remain. I can remember hearing from other transplant...
View ArticleVelcade-Cyclophosphamide-Dexamethasone Combination May Be Effective In...
Results from a small, retrospective study indicate that combination therapy with Velcade, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone may be effective in newly diagnosed myeloma patients with kidney damage....
View ArticleBig Sis In Burgundy: Approaching Deana’s New Birthday
Continuing my trend of writing from exotic locations (and I mean that a bit tongue-in-cheek), I am on Long Island today, mixing some business and some pleasure. The best part of this trip is staying...
View ArticleArnie’s Rebounding World: The Donor Transplant Day 60
It is now day 60 following my donor (allogeneic) stem cell transplant, and I wanted to give an update on how it has gone and what is in store. As with an autologous (self) stem cell transplant,...
View ArticleThalidomide May Delay Disease Progression In Patients With Smoldering Myeloma
Results from a recently completed Phase 3 trial suggest that thalidomide may delay disease progression in patients with smoldering myeloma. Specifically, patients in the trial who received thalidomide...
View ArticleNorthern Lights: A Look Into The Bone Marrow
I recently noticed that one of the most active discussions in the Myeloma Beacon forums is one about experiences with bone marrow biopsies. I haven’t read of anyone who really was neutral to having...
View ArticleStudy Favors PET-CT Scans Over Whole-Body MRI In Determining Response To...
Results of a recent German study suggest that PET-CT scans may be more reliable than whole-body MRI in determining the remission status of multiple myeloma patients after stem cell transplantation. The...
View ArticleBeacon NewsFlashes – October 15, 2012
Myeloma Patients May Be At Higher Risk For Restless Legs Syndrome – Results from a recent Turkish study show that restless legs syndrome occurs more frequently in multiple myeloma patients than in...
View ArticleStem Cell Transplants May Increase Risk Of Heart Disease
Results from a large, retrospective study conducted at City of Hope National Medical Center indicate that patients who receive stem cell transplants are at a higher risk of developing heart disease...
View ArticleVelcade and Thalidomide May Increase Risk For Abnormal Lung Function In...
The results of a recent retrospective study suggest that treatment with Velcade or thalidomide may increase multiple myeloma patients’ risk of developing abnormal lung function. Specifically, patients...
View ArticleME vs. MM: Dreamweaver
I recently had one of the vivid dreams I’ve tended to experience ever since being on chemotherapy for multiple myeloma. I have so many different drugs flowing through me at any given time that I can’t...
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