Ask your doctor what kind of maintenance chemo you will be doing following the transplants and to explain the benefits in view of the newer immunomodulatory drugs.

Chemo drugs before the transplant are: Bortezomib, Thilidomide, dex and melphalan.The second transplant will start 4 months after the first and those chemo drugs are: Dex, brotezomib, gemcitabine, carmustine and melphalan. After the 2nd transplant there is a consolidation phase where I may recive the following drugs: Dex, thalidomide, cisplatin, coxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and etoposide. These are given if you don't have adverse issues. And, of course, years one and two includes all the follow-up testing. I have 18 pages to review because the tandem transplant can fall under a study and I can participate in that study. If I don't participate the transplant still follows the study protocol.

i am confused.. not uncommon for me..but why are you having 2 transplants 4 months apart? my husband goes in July for his sct..

I have the option for a "tandem transplant" where you have two transplants that are four months apart. I believe I will opt for the single transplant as enough stem cells will be harvested so some will go into storage for another transplant perhaps years down the road. I've read the risks and have given it careful consideration but I was hoping somebody here may have had the tandem transplant so I would know how they came thru it! I will do the single in July, too. I've completed the Rev/Dex/Zometa for four rounds and had good blood tests and biopsy outcomes. I believe the transplant doctor wanted me to be more aggressive with the transplant, plus he has a tandem transplant study under way.

SuzieQ,

I was hoping someone here would respond re the tandem transplant, but perhaps it is very new. I hope you have enough information to help you make a decision on where to go from here. Do keep us updated and I will keep you in my thoughts.

Kris xx

My brother-in-law will have his tandem transplant in July - 6 months after his first transplant at Northwestern in Chicago. Since he received a partial response after the first, she recommended the 2nd transplant. If he would have achieved a Very Good Partial Response or Complete Response, it would not be necessary for the 2nd. After that he will be on maintenance therapy - Revlimid 10 mgs. He is 56 and other than the MM is in good health. Hope this helps.

Thanks for your reply! Hoping to have an answer from somebody that has already completed the tandem. The tandem option shown to me is under a phase 2 study. I have chosen to have the single and enough cells will be collected so down the road I can do another. I'm 59, diagnosed in late December and had good outcome with Rev/Dex/Zometa. Have been off everthing except Zometa for a little over a month to get ready for the transplant which will be in July! I so appreciate this website and all the input from so many of you! Have a good weekend one and all; especially to all the caregivers!!

Hi Suzie,
I only had l sct and achieved a vgpr. I was given the option of a 2nd sct or to go on Rev. mtce. I chose the mtce. program.
The doc told me most patients react the same way as to side effects from the first sct to the 2 nd sct.

fritz

Hi Suzie..my husband will be having the sct in July also..Good luck to you.