My dad has mutiple myeloma?

Question

i was wondering why u can not be offtered bone marrow trannsplant over 50, im in australia too unsure if thats everywhere?

Answer 1

HI,

There is a lot of information on Myeloma at:

www.myeloma.org

With MM, you do not usually do a bone marrow transplant:
the standard of treatment is a stem cell transplant (SCT) - self donor.

While it sound like the same thing it is a very different procedure.

but this is usually done after you have had some other treatments such as Thalidomide, Rev or Velcade (on web site).

Make sure he is seeing a Myeloma Specialist - there have been 3 significant studies published in the last 3 months that show better treatment options (such at the Mayo guidelines and the ASH proceeding on Myeloma)

You can email the IMF for contacts in your territory; again they are at www.myeloma.org.

Cut off in the US is dependent on the "factors" for the person; usually "over 65" - I know at least 20 people that have had a SCT after 50 and are doing fine.

For the record - bone marrow transplants have almost nothing to do with the bones, and there are a lot of drug to support the immune system and they "take" most of the time.

Good luck,

Jewells
38 months and still here

Answer 2

Bone marrow transplants will not be performed on patients over 50 because of high probability of complications due to their shut-down immune system.

Answer 3

perhaps people over 50 don't have strong enough bones to tolerate a bone marrow transplant

Answer 4

because in people of that age, the marrow won't take and the expensive transplant will have been for nothing.