ovarian cancer Stages and Treatment

 TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR MUlTIPLE MYELOMA 

There is no single treatment for all patients with myeloma; what works for some patients may not work for others. This is why each case must be assessed individually.

The choice of  Myeloma treatment depends on certain factors, including:

• physical examination and diagnostic test results (blood, urine and bone density test);
• the stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis;
• prognostic indicators (factors doctors use to estimate how myeloma will affect the patient, and the patient's response to treatment);
• the age and general state of health of the patient;
• the symptoms experienced, such as bone pain and broken bones;
• complications associated with the disease (kidney disease, anemia, infections, etc.);
• the patient's response to previous treatments (if any);
• emerging new treatments offered through clinical trials.

That being said, the treatments all have certain objectives in common, namely:

controlling myeloma (preventing the production of abnormal plasma cells);

strengthen bones and prevent fractures;

increase hemoglobin levels and reduce fatigue.

reduce the risk of infection;

improve the patient's well-being and quality of life.

Currently, the standard treatments for myeloma are :

• Observation
• Radiotherapy
• Chemotherapies such as melphalan (Alkeran®), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®), doxorubicin (Adriamycin®), liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil®) and vincristine (Oncovin®)
• High-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation
• Corticosteroids like dexamethazone or prednisone, often in combination with chemotherapy
• Immunomodulating agents (IMiDs) such as thalidomide (Thalomid®), lenalidomide (Revlimid®) and pomalidomide (Pomalyst®)
• Proteasome inhibitors (PIs), such as bortezomib (Velcade®), carfilzomib (Kyprolis®), and ixazomib (Ninlaro®)
• Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) such as daratumumab (Darzalex®)
• Treatments or drugs are commonly used in different combinations. For example, lenalidomide and dexamethasone or melphalan and prednisone with bortezomib. Several new therapeutic treatments are becoming available. For more information about new and emerging treatments, visit the Myeloma Research section .
• Receiving high-dose chemotherapy followed by stem cell transplant
• It is normal to feel anxious about receiving a stem cell transplant. Watch the video below to learn more about other patients' journeys and see what options are available to you.