The Darzalex isn't Working- Dom has a Broken Collar Bone

Hi gang-  it's been pretty rough around here.  After 7 Darzalex infusions, they had to stop so that he could get radiation on his hip and both rib cages.

We LOVE his Radiology Oncologist, Dr. M.  This guy actually called Dom personally the other day and talked for about 15 minutes.  We've only had 2 other doctors do that.

The last time that we spoke to him, I said "Doc!  When he was diagnosed 10 years ago, it was a breeze.  Thalidomide, total body radiation and a stem cell transplant.  He was in complete remission for 8 years!"

Dr. M. said, "Dom-  you beat the odds, man.  You're 10 years older.  The cancer and the treatment are kicking your ass."

Sure enough.  Saturday morning he couldn't lift his left arm.  Horrible pain.  He stayed in bed the entire weekend.  We called Dr. M on Monday.  He ordered a CT Scan for Tuesday.

He called Tuesday afternoon to say that the Darzalex wasn't working and the cancer caused a BROKEN Collar Bone!

Dom was measured for radiation yesterday and had his first of 5 radiation treatments today.  He'll finish up on Wed.

Then they have to figure out what to do for him.  He had originally told them "NO MORE CHEMO".  Thus the Immunotherapy Darzalex.  We were SO hopeful.

I guess that they'll try chemo again.  Dom doesn't want to end up back in a wheelchair, as it is, he's walking with 2 canes.

So, gang-  If you can find it in your heart, please say a prayer.

The Latest on Dom

These were Dom's latest numbers 2/27 at Tulane.   The second set is from Slidell Cancer Center on 2/7.  The numbers in parentheses are from November 2018.

WBC:  7.3   6.5  (8.3 three months ago)

RBC:   4.1   3.9   (3.71)

HTC:    38.7    39.4  (36.3)

PLATELETS:   170   154  (188)

KAPPA Light Chains:   10,5   11.4  (16.5)

LAMBDA Light Chains:   176.5   119.9  (36.4)

RATIO:   0.6    0.10  (0.45)

M-Spike:    1.7   1.3  (Not Observed)

Dr. Safah at the Tulane Cancer Center in NOLA saw us last Wednesday.  She took blood.  Had us follow up today with our Slidell Oncologist.

He's ordering a full body CT Scan with no contrast and a bone marrow biopsy.  Hopefully next week.

Dom is a hurtin' little cowboy.  Ribs, back, shoulder, neck.  You name it.

So... after the CT results come in, they've decided to put Dom on DARZALEX.  It's not chemo.  It's an IMMUNOTHERAPY.

I joined a Facebook Group for Darzalex support, and the members have been SUPER helpful.  Most of them rave about the drug! 

So, we're feeling very positive.

The docs are laying the groundwork for insurance, then full-speed-ahead. 

Thanks for the continued prayers and good vibes, gang.

Dr. Thompson on the Future of Treatment in Multiple Myeloma -

Michael A. Thompson, MD, PhD, medical director, precision medicine, Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic, Aurora Health Care, discusses the future of treatment in multiple myeloma.

Immunotherapy may be beneficial in patients with later stages of multiple myeloma, says Thompson. Combinations with checkpoint inhibitors are currently being explored.

For patients with early disease that have a high risk of progressing from smoldering myeloma to myeloma, a combination of induction, consolidation, and maintenance may be curative, adds Thompson. -

LINK TO VIDEO