Navigating the complexities of multiple myeloma treatment can be overwhelming for patients and their families. With various treatment options available, it is important to make an informed decision in order to manage their disease effectively. Whether you have been recently diagnosed or are exploring new treatment options, understanding the different options can help you make the best choice for your specific situation.
When a patient has multiple myeloma, the oncologist and the rest of their healthcare team will create a treatment plan personalized to their unique needs. When deciding which treatments to offer, the oncologist will consider the following factors:
While there is no cure for multiple myeloma, the treatment can help reduce symptoms, slow its progression, or put the disease into remission. For multiple myeloma, remission means that most or all signs and symptoms disappear.
In many cases, patients may not need multiple myeloma treatment right away. If they are not experiencing symptoms, the oncologist can continue to monitor the progression of the myeloma through blood and urine tests, looking for signs of the myeloma worsening. This stage of multiple myeloma is known as "smoldering myeloma."
In contrast, when this disease causes symptoms, treatment often begins with medicine. Multiple myeloma treatment can help control complications, relieve pain, and slow the growth of the myeloma cells. Common treatments include:
One of the most common treatments for multiple myeloma is chemotherapy. It works by killing rapidly dividing cancerous plasma cells. While effective, chemotherapy can also affect healthy cells and is known for side effects, such as:
In some cases, chemotherapy can be used with other treatments to improve its effectiveness.
When combined with high-dose chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant — also known as a bone marrow transplant — replaces diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow. Before this procedure, the oncologist will collect blood-forming stem cells from the patient's blood. After receiving high doses of chemotherapy to destroy the disease bone marrow, the stem cells are put back into the patient's body. These cells will travel to the bones and rebuild the bone marrow.
The patient can use bone marrow from their own cells; this procedure is known as an autologous bone marrow transplant. However, there are cases when they may be unable to undergo this process. A healthy donor can donate their stem cells in an allogeneic bone marrow transplant. It is important to keep in mind that not everyone is a candidate for a stem cell transplant, which depends on the patient's overall health and the stage of their multiple myeloma.
Targeted therapies are designed to specifically attack specific chemicals in the cancer cells without harming normal cells. By blocking these chemicals, targeted multiple myeloma treatments cause the cancerous cells to die. This type of multiple myeloma treatment includes drugs like proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents. Targeted therapy can be effective in patients with specific genetic profiles, which offers a more personalized approach to multiple myeloma treatment.
Immunotherapy is a multiple myeloma treatment that helps the patient's immune system kill cancer cells. This disease spreads by allowing cancer cells to hide from the immune system. Immunotherapy helps the immune system find and eliminate cancer cells before they spread to other parts of the body.
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, also known as CAR-T cell therapy, involves training the patient's immune system cells to target and fight against multiple myeloma. This treatment starts with extracting certain white blood cells, including T cells, from their bloodstream. These cells are then taken to a laboratory where they are modified to produce specific receptors. These receptors enable the cells to identify a particular marker on the surface of the myeloma cells.
Finally, the cells are put back into the patient's body. As a result, the modified cells can now find and destroy the multiple myeloma cells.
The Lindenberg Cancer & Hematology Center aims to ensure each patient gets a multiple myeloma treatment plan that specifically fits their needs. We will work with you to develop a treatment plan that aligns with your goals. Call our Marlton office to learn more about our treatment options or to schedule an appointment.
Request an appointment here: https://lindenbergcancer.com or call Lindenberg Cancer & Hematology Center at (856) 475-0876 for an appointment in our Marlton office.
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