Most of you probably know that I have been working on several new books about multiple myeloma. 

One year ago, a dear friend of mine passed-away after a long fight against multiple myeloma.  Ever notice how the myeloma usually wins?

The risk of developing a secondary cancer following years of ongoing treatment was a red-hot issue one year ago.

I had the pleasure of listening to a hematological specialist, Dr. Carlos Franco, last evening after I spoke in Atlanta.

Friday I wrote an article about the International Myeloma Foundation’s (IMF) response to the new Revlimid/secondary cancer controversy: 
The International Myeloma Foundation’s Official Statement Concerning Data Linking Long Term/Post Transplant Revlimid Use To Secondary Cancers.

Wednesday, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) hosted a private conference call.

Celgene shares plummet on Revlimid malignancy data

By Toni Clarke – BOSTON – Mon Dec 6, 2010
BOSTON (Reuters) – Celgene Corp (CELG.O) shares fell more than 9 percent on Monday after data was reported that showed an increase in the risk of secondary malignancies in certain patients taking its blood cancer drug, Revlimid, for extended periods of time…

I have received a number of calls and e-mails recently from patients who’s multiple myeloma has become active again while using Revlimid, Velcade, or both.  Here is a short, hopeful response I found addressing this on the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Website:
Treatment Options for Relapsed or Refractory Patients Failing Revlimid and Velcade:

Q&A with Dr. Keith Stewart, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona
What are my current options if I fail Revlimid® (lenalidomide) and Velcade® (bortezomib)?
Fortunately, there are many existing therapies available for the treatment of relapsed and/or refractory myeloma. Conventional chemotherapy drugs that may be effective include Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide), melphalan, and anthracyclines such as doxorubicin or Doxil® (doxorubicin HCL liposome injection). Thalomid® (thalidomide) may still be an option if patients have not received it previously. These drugs may be used in various combinations that may even include trying Velcade or Revlimid again.

I know this isn’t what most multiple myeloma patients want to hear, but the evidence is growing that it is better to stay on some type of maintenance therapy indefinitely.  This applies to those who undergo a stem cell transplant and those who don’t. 

e-CancerMedicalScience/Oncology ran a story about the ESMO 35 Italian study Sunday:

My good friend, fellow multiple myeloma patient, blogger and newest “watch dog” has been critical of several of my latest articles.

Here are the results from a study released this week at a large European Hematology Event in Barcelona, Spain.  I found this on a medical professionals only site, Pharmacy Europe:

My good friend at Millennium, Manisha Pai, forwarded me this press release about the new VISTA/Velcade study results last evening:

Here is an e-mail I recieved Saturday from a new reader, John, who is concerned about the effects chemotherapy treatments may have on males with multiple myeloma:

Here is part of an interesting blog post from a retired oncologist, Dr. Herman Kattlove, titled  “I was wrong – transplants work for multiple myeloma:”

If you get a chance, read this article about another new therapy agent, defibrotide, I read Thursday in The Myeloma Beacon:

I mentioned melphalan as an option for older multiple myeloma patients in yesterdays post.  When used in high doses, melphalan is the most common drug used to kill a patient’s bone marrow prior to a stem cell transplant.  But it has also been used as a maintenance therapy drug against myeloma for decades.  It is contraindicated for use in younger myeloma patients, prior to stem cell harvest for obvious reasons–it is hard on bone marrow and the stem cells created there.  Melphalan also isn’t a new or “sexy” treatment option anymore.  But oncology docs shouldn’t be too quick to dismiss melphalan as a treatment option.  A Spanish study presented at the ASH conference in December revealed melphalan is a more effective partner to Velcade than Thalomid, both as a induction and maintenance therapy.  Oncologists are also finding the “old fashioned” combo of melphalan and prednisone can still be effective, even after novel therapy options like Thalomid, Revlimid and Velcade stop working.

Recent e-mails have reminded me just how many newly diagnosed patients and/or caregivers log-on to this site each and every day.  Keeping this in mind, every week I am going to start a weekly series called “Back to Basics,”  designed to help bring our new readers up to speed.

Cancer Foundation for the World, Inc and Today’s Healthy Living.com both featured stories about this today on their Websites:

Here is part of the summary I found on clinical trials.gov,  from an “out there” international study which is currently recruiting patients: