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    Spring Survey 2012

    Can Patients Reduce Their Risk for Developing Multiple Myeloma?

    Program: State-of-the-Art Therapies for Multiple Myeloma
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    Andrew Schorr:

    Where are we headed now, Dr. Bensinger? You're at a research organization too as well as you see lots of patients. Where are we headed with this, and what are we learning about the disease? What's the Holy Grail of what you're trying to figure out that could be could make a huge difference?

    Dr. Bensinger:

    Ooh, that's a very tall question. I can say we're continuing to make progress with these new drug combinations. We're continuing to evaluate the role of transplants, both autologous stem cell transplants but also transplants from donors, allogeneic stem cell transplants, which also I believe have a place in the management of patients with myeloma.

    Andrew Schorr:

    Now, one last e-mail question. Jennifer from Atlanta, Georgia wrote in, "Is there anything a person can do to reduce the risk of developing myeloma?"

    Dr. Bensinger:

    Well, that's a very good question but unfortunately we don't really know the cause of myeloma, and so without knowing what the cause is we're really unable to define any way that a patient or a person could avoid developing this disease.

    Andrew Schorr:

    Now, I know that one signal to me that the face of myeloma is changing and I know it varies by patient for sure, but as you know here in Seattle the new pitching coach for the Seattle Mariners is going to be Mel Stottlemyre who's been living with myeloma for a while. He has great baseball expertise, and I think it's a tremendous vote of confidence that the Mariners say, you're our guy for a rigorous schedule and Mel Stottlemyre says, Yes, I'm living with myeloma, and I feel up to it.

    Dr. Bensinger:

    That's really quite remarkable.

    Andrew Schorr:

    Yeah, I really think it's neat. So you're encouraged. I want to go back to Una.

    So Una, I want to hear what you feel about the future. What's your outlook? You're just 48, diagnosed with something you never heard of. Got connected with a guy like Dr. Bensinger, a wonderful specialist at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. How do you feel about your future?

    Una:

    I am encouraged. There is just so much development and research being done, and, as Dr. Bensinger has just outlined, so many success stories and improvements that have been made. And we're not there yet, but I'm still confident that with all the work and all the research that's been done with the dedication and the qualified people who are working on this that great things will happen in my lifetime.

    Andrew Schorr:

    Well, Una, we wish you all the best with your life and good health and hopefully go on many healthy backpack trips with no complications.

    Una:

    Thank you.

    Dr. Bensinger:

    Such a great patient.

    Andrew Schorr:

    Yeah, isn't she?

    Dr. William Bensinger, so what people should take away from this is you're encouraged, you have more to work with. It makes sense to consult with a myeloma specialist because there's more to look at, more to talk about and certainly consider whether a clinical trial might be appropriate for you because it could be where medicine is headed.

    Dr. Bensinger:

    Yes.

    Andrew Schorr:

    Okay. Yaay, I get an A from the professor. All right.

    I'm delighted we can do these webcasts sponsored by the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. And for those of you who are really interested in the latest connection with cancer specialists, this is what we do every two weeks on the SCCA website Patient Power programs. We welcome your suggestion any time.

    On February 13th we're going to do a new program with Dr. Joachim Deeg, and it's going to be on state-of-the-art therapies for another serious condition, myelodysplastic syndrome. So that's February 13th.

    And all of our replays are on the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance website.

    Dr. William Bensinger from the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, thank you so much for being with us today.

    Dr. Bensinger:

    It's a pleasure.

    Andrew Schorr:

    And, Una, thank you.

    Una:

    Thank you very much.

    Andrew Schorr:

    Okay. In Seattle, this is what we do. Andrew Schorr wishing you the best of the health. And remember knowledge can be some of the best medicine of all.

    Please remember the opinions expressed on Patient Power are not necessarily the views of Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, its medical staff or Patient Power. Our discussions are not a substitute for seeking medical advice or care from your own doctor. That’s how you’ll get care that’s most appropriate for you.

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