Thanks, Dr. Weinstein. These are my laymen's details. He was diagnosed around Februrary 2014 and he did do a course of Velcade and steroids in March, April, May 2014. His percent of plasma cells in bone marrow I think at the time was 5% (too low for myeloma?). He started dialysis on June 5, 2014. His M number s(65 down to 35?) were cut in half by end of treatment, so there was a response. During his Velcade treatment he had a resistant pneumonia and had that strong antibiotic (vancomycin?). They discontinued Velcade when he went on dialysis saying they were probably not helping him. He quickly dropped about 10 pounds of weight when they started dialysis (210 to 200 and now down to about 180ish; he is 6'2. ).
On dialysis he is doing well. They have cut his time on the machine to 3 1/2 hours and his weight is holding steady at about 80.3 when he gets there and leaves with 79.5 (it was 83/84 down to 80). His urine output seems to be increasing. I am not sure what his BUN/Creatinine numbers are but his private physician said they were improving. His creatine never did go very high. He is 73 and in otherwise good health. No diabetes. His blood pressure is finally now under control with minimal medication (for years it was really high and not in control and no one could figure out why). His only complaints are back and shoulder pain, though his skeletal X-rays a year ago showed little bone issues except where he has had injuries/arthritis.
He is slated to go back to oncologist/hematologist in August. I'm just wondering if it would be good to go to a specialist in MIDD for the follow up?
Hope this helps. Thank you. Anne Streeter (I come from a family of doctors and nurses, and got my doctorate in health communication, so I hope I haven't totally messed up this information!).