Long-Term Therapy of Pamidronate and Thalidomide: Keeps Multiple Myeloma at Bay
Multiple myeloma (MM) is the overgrowth of abnormal cells in the bone marrow leading to the painful destruction of the bone.Multiple myeloma has no known cure and diagnosis of such a condition means a watch and wait approach: high-dose chemotherapy followed by repeated treatments with each relapse of the cancer.
Phew…I cringe by just the thought…
However, a team of international researchers from France, Switzerland, and Belgium have explored a new approach of providing patients with continuous therapy to keep this kind of cancer at bay.
In this study, pamidronate, a drug often used early in the treatment of multiple myeloma to help protect against bone damage, was for the first time studied as a maintenance therapy.
Its use alone was compared against its combination with thalidomide, a drug known to inhibit the growth of myeloma cells. A third set of patients in the study did not receive any maintenance therapy, the current standard of care in this disease.
The findings will be published in the November 15, 2006, issue of Blood, the official journal of the American Society of Hematology.
Read the full press release.
Tags: multiple-myeloma, pamidronate, thalidomideRelated Stories
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1 opinion for Long-Term Therapy of Pamidronate and Thalidomide: Keeps Multiple Myeloma at Bay
Jim Bauer
Jan 30, 2008 at 5:42 am
I have been diagnosed by dr. VanderJagt in Ottawa General Hospital with multiple myeloma. I have been on treatment with Melphalan and Prednisone and it seems that it helps in a way that the blood count is good and the protein down. Now dr. VanderJagt likes to start with Thalidomide if he gets the permission of the government. I am also on the monthly Pamidronate . The idea of Thalidomide makes me feel very insecure and if I had nothing to loose i would go for it, but now it feels more like an experiment.
We heard also from other sources aboout Iscador which is made from Mistletoe in europe and seems to help and maintain the situation in multiple myeloma.
If I am the first one to write , so be it, but it might be a good idea to venture out in alternative medication without the mean side effects drugs can have.
If possible I like to hear your idean and input about my suggestion. Thank you Jim
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