Life After Treatment for Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is one of those types of cancer that originate from the plasma cells in the body, pretty much arising from the immune system. While treatments have considerably improved-which prolongs survival for many patients-for many, the end of treatment may not necessarily mean the end of their journey with this disease.

The rest of life after treatments is also burdened, but only with a few challenges that may involve long-term effects, being in guard against the prospect of recurrence, and lifestyle changes where necessary. This article describes what one may expect after multiple myeloma treatment and how one could cope with this new stage of life.

Posttreatment Surveillance: Staying on Top of Your Health

Follow-up care after treatment for multiple myeloma becomes a big part of life. Relapse rates are relatively high with multiple myeloma-so even though you are in remission, all follow-up appointments should be kept. Your health care team will most likely advise regular blood tests, bone marrow biopsies, and imaging scans. These tests monitor the status of your disease for early warning signs that your multiple myeloma might be returning.

It generally involves follow-up but is not limited to the following:

Blood tests monitoring M-proteins or light chains; sometimes, these provide details about your activity on multiple myeloma.

Imaging studies in the finding out about bone damage or tumor activities: these may include X-rays, MRIs, and PET scans.

Bone marrow biopsies: these tell if the cancer has recurred in your bone marrow.

These visits are very important and should be attended even if you feel well. Treatment works much better if relapse is caught early.

Coping with Long-Term Side Effects

Life after the treatment for multiple myeloma is lived through long-term and late-onset side effects. Side effects vary upon the type of treatments-one or more of chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, immunotherapy, or radiation therapy-and range from mild and short-term to long-lasting.In that case, Lenalidomide is a better treatment option with less side effects. Yet, the cost of lenalidomide may be a burden for some patients.

Following are some of the long-term effects generally faced:

Fatigue: The most common chronic effect a person would experience is fatigue, that is finding himself exhausted for a long period of time even at rest. Energy may take many months or few years to regain completely.

Fractured bones or osteoporosis: Myeloma is a disease of the bones, and treatments using steroids thin out the bones; hence, probable late effects may well include bone pain, fractures, or osteoporosis. Neuropathy: Where some chemotherapy drugs destroy nerves, numbness, tingling, or pain commonly occurs in hands and feet, and quality of life or being ambulatory may be affected.

Cognitive changes: These are changes in cognition or sometimes as referred to, "chemo brain," a cognitive impairment such as problems in memory or a difficulty in concentrating sometimes months after treatment.

Risk of infection: Suppression of one's immune system means that a person easily becomes prone to infections and thus can never afford to be careless in terms of hygiene and health precautions.

This is a very good time for them to be in touch with the healthcare team if the after-effects of the treatments do continue on. They may have a few suggestions as far as treatments go including physical therapy for limitations in mobility, medications to alleviate neuropathy, and improvement supplements for bone health.

Emotional and Mental Health post-Treatment

It was all very confusing on an emotional level, as these feelings do coincide with those of relief and joy, which also characteristically alternate with anxiety and fear of recurrence, or even the feelings of loss one experiences when coming away from frequent support with his or her medical team.

Of course, these feelings of "survivor's guilt" can be shared-particularly in those instances when one has watched others suffer or even lose their life to multiple myeloma. In contrast, fear of recurrence can be a monumental mental burden.

Here are some ways of coping with them:

Counseling or therapy: Talking to a mental health professional will help manage one's mood. Cognitive behavior therapy will enable him to overcome anxiety and depression.

Support groups: For one's psychosocial wellbeing, it is always good to have personal contact with others who have passed through some of the things you are going through. Many groups like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society have support groups available for survivors of multiple myeloma.

Other resourceful activities that can help you in building awareness and skills of relaxation include yoga, meditation or deep breathing exercises to help you deal with your stress and build an emotional high.

Seek help when you need it. Minding your mental and emotional health is as important as caring for your physical self.

Healthy Lifestyle Changes to Help You Stay Healthy in Long Term

The following health lifestyle modification can be considered subsequent to the treatment to help recover and thereby reducing the complications to improve survival:

Nutrition: Of course, the human body does need nutrition. A diet high in fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains will eventually heal your body. In case, for certain reasons, you are not eating properly, or if any weight-related issues do arise, then you will have to consult a dietician for proper nutrition. The intake of calcium and Vitamin-D-rich foodstuffs is badly needed for bones.

Exercises: The routine exercises dispel fatigue, strengthen the bones, and keep the cardio system working. Most doctors recommend low-intensity exercises after the treatment, such as walking, swimming, and yoga. Remember that a time will come when you will revert to your work and recover your stamina.

Sleep: This is a restorative activity. You can establish a pattern for sleep in cases of disturbed or poor sleep patterns, or discuss the options of treatment with your health professional.

Your immunity is blunt, and a little caution will go a long way in helping you avoid or minimize infection. This includes personal hygiene, staying away from congestion during cold and flu seasons, and keeping updated about vaccination.

Managing the Risk of Relapse

The relapse among the greater number of patients with multiple myeloma does take place when on modern treatments. Certainly, remission may be huge success, but for most of these patients it would mean to live under the threats of recurrence. Those factors that may be associated with a risk about the relapse could include such as: the extent of tumor burden at diagnosis, response to the therapy, and overall health status of the patient.

Risk management regarding relapse :

This at times is a result of monitoring. Maintenance therapy: Other treatments, so-called maintenance therapy, may at times be necessary to prevent malignancy for as long as possible. These may also involve lower doses of chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

Healthy lifestyle practice: Resuming good nutrition and exercise besides avoidance of infections will also keep your immunity at the best level to avoid recurrence.

Be aware of signs and symptoms that could represent recurrence of multiple myeloma. Communicate all concerns to your health care team in a timely manner.

Re-establishing Relationships and Social Connections

This may be heavy on relations at both levels: personal and professional, since at times friends and family just cannot understand what one has gone through, and you may get alienated. It is now time to rediscover your real self, and you should be close enough to others in view of social contact.

Anything, really, in which making one's needs known is an excellent way to get them across to others around them. Perhaps this can be in relation to emotional support, simply being heard, or a little more practical in relation to daily things. The needs might be expressed in such a way so as to establish one's understanding.

Social activities: These amuse and lighten your mood yet consume your time. Do things that you find pleasant and that make you feel things are getting back to normal but without feeling obliged to accept every invitation if you're feeling tired or overwhelmed.

Look to the Future

Actually, living after treatment for multiple myeloma requires adjustment, and one also needs reevaluation during this process in order to find a reason to live or to be happy. In fact, meaning about life can only be regained by many survivors through activity pursuit, time with loved ones, or support regarding cancer awareness.

Dwell on what's significant in your life. Write those things that you accomplish-even if they seem insignificant-and don't beat yourself over a snag that happens along the way. You can face whatever tomorrow brings with hope and more bounce because of your healthcare team, family, and fellow survivors.

Conclusion

Lifestyle changes and follow-up, added to side effect management, are just part of living after treatment for multiple myeloma. Of course, not every day would go that easy. But once one gets a pretty good idea of what to expect from them, then one is in a better position to take full charge of one's health and well-being. Equipped with the proper strategies, one can survive and thrive, grow in strength, find support while transitioning into this new phase of life.