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Anyone Have A ASCT And Not Achieve Remission? What Did You Do Next?

A MyMyelomaTeam Member asked a question 💭
Mundelein, IL
June 25
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A MyMyelomaTeam Member

I'm 6 years post SCT and have never received remission. I've just learned to share the same space as the cancer and tried to live the best life I can.

June 25
A MyMyelomaTeam Member

I had a Autologous SCT in May 2023 after having my induction therapy of RVD for 5 months. My SCT did not get me into remission as we had hoped, but it did greatly reduce my numbers from where they were. My oncologist said they feel good about being able to control and keep my cancer stabilized and thus have me on maintenance of 10mg of Revlimid daily. So far my numbers have only gone up ever so slightly and according to my oncologist everything else seems pretty stable. So I’m staying on the Revlimid 10mg for now. I go every few weeks for a blood draw and a B12 shot and see my oncologist PA once a month and my actual oncologist once every two months.

June 25
A MyMyelomaTeam Member

Hi Sharon, I'm sorry to hear this news. So I had my SCT in Dec 2022 and relapsed Oct 2023. I was very disappointed and second guessed the SCT. After getting over the shock and fighting with my oncologist to prove to him that I relapsed, I had a biopsy. The new biopsy number was 44% plasma. After the SCT it was 3%. My initial biopsy was 22%. So it returned aggressively but my M-Spike only reached 0.9. There was lots of talk about Car-T and bispecific antibodies. I want to find a more traditional therapy and I just completed my second cycle of Empliciti and Pomalyst. I have reacted very well and my M-Spike dropped to 0.2. I met with my oncologist today and he agreed that we should stay on this therapy for as long as its working and consider more advanced treatments later. So I hope this is something I can be on for years to come.
It also seems like SCT are not being recommended anymore because they have no effect on lifespan. The new measurement is lifespan and not remission. And it appears more traditional treatments have the statistics to prove increased lifespan.
It really is a life long battle.
Good luck, I pray you handle the disappointment and find a new treatment plan that works for you.

June 26
A MyMyelomaTeam Member

If an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) does not lead to remission, there are several next steps that can be considered:

1. Restarting Original Therapy: If the initial therapy led to remission for at least six months to a year, it might be restarted. This approach has about a 50% success rate in achieving remission Show Full Answer

If an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) does not lead to remission, there are several next steps that can be considered:

1. Restarting Original Therapy: If the initial therapy led to remission for at least six months to a year, it might be restarted. This approach has about a 50% success rate in achieving remission again.

2. Another ASCT: If the first ASCT provided several years of remission, another ASCT might be recommended. The pros and cons of this procedure will be discussed with your hematologist-oncologist.

3. Proteasome Inhibitors: These drugs can be used to target and destroy myeloma cells.

4. Clinical Trials: Participating in clinical trials can provide access to novel treatments that are not yet FDA-approved but show promise.

5. Other Treatment Options: Depending on your previous treatments, age, and overall health, other options like high-dose chemotherapy or different drug combinations might be considered.

Always discuss with your healthcare team to determine the best course of action for your specific situation.

June 25
A MyMyelomaTeam Member

I did not achieve remission after the ASCT, but my noumbers did improve quite a bit.

July 2

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