We happen to be blessed with two of the world’s top Oncologists specializing in Multiple Myeloma (MM) – right here in our area (NJ). Around these parts, used to be when you were first told the word “cancer” you immediately thought, “I have to get into New York City.” Such is no longer necessarily the case. We have met with both of them and are currently being treated by one – we’ll call him Dr. S.
These two Oncs are respected friends and non-competitive collaborative colleagues who share challenges and triumphs. And they agree on most all aspects of the appropriate course of treatment for my case: a combination of chemotherapy followed by an auto stem cell transplant.
And both agree that by the time I confront the inevitable relapse period (5, 7, 10, 15 years ???) research could have any host of improved treatments, or even possibly a cure. That’s not “Rosen-colored glasses” tainting my perspective, but a realistic assessment of the meteoric advances in the science of cancer treatment (as relates specifically to MM; but beyond as well - Google “Immuno-Oncology” for more information on this expanding line of research).
However they have philosophical differences on the Stem cell transplant protocol. One believes in a tandem transplant (two back-to-back over a 4-6 month period) followed by NO maintenance. The other has seen no evidence in his similar 20 years of experience to change his approach of a single transplant and then maintenance drugs.
So for the moment, we’re going with the less taxing single auto-transplant. Once that process is complete (possibly Jan 2018), Dr. S. and his Med Team will continue to monitor my physiology for any need to adjust my post-transplant maintenance program.
