Learning about treatment options
Although there is no cure for multiple myeloma, treatment can still help manage the disease. Getting a diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but here's the good news: if you or someone you care about is facing this today, there are more treatment options than ever before. Many new medicines have been approved in recent years.
A doctor who specializes in treating cancer (oncologist) or a doctor specializing in treating blood disorders (hematologist) will talk to you about available treatment options.
Some treatment options you discuss may include:
Cereblon-Targeting Therapies
Includes CELMoDs and IMiDs
These treatments work on a protein in your cells called cereblon to boost your immune system's ability to fight multiple myeloma
can be taken at home
is a pill
taken in combination with other treatments that may require administration at a clinic
Chemotherapy
Treatment with drugs meant to destroy or help fight cancer cells.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing
Antibody drug conjugate (ADC)
ADC is a “targeted chemotherapy.” They find the cancer cell and then directly release the toxic chemotherapy
requires travel to clinic
can be an infusion, injection, or a pill
taken in combination with other treatments
Immunotherapies (IMiDs)
Includes immunomodulatory treatments
Treatments that work with your own immune system to find and fight cancer cells.
can be taken at home
is a pill
taken in combination, or alone, with other treatments that may require administration at a clinic
Stem Cell Transplant
A medical procedure that may be used as a treatment for multiple myeloma. It replaces your unhealthy stem cells (cells from which other types of cells develop) with healthy stem cells.
requires hospital stay
requires regular blood tests
will need a caregiver
Steroids
Steroids can help relieve inflammation in your body. Inflammation happens when your immune cells are moving to the threatened area of the body to fight off the threat.
can be taken at home
can be an infusion, injection, or a pill
taken in combination with other treatments that may require administration at a clinic
Targeted Therapies
Treatments that focus on specific features present in cancer cells and attack them. In many cases, these treatments are used together with other medicines.
may be taken at home or clinic
can be a pill, injection, or infusion
taken in combination, or alone, with other treatments that may require administration at a clinic
T Cell Therapies
Includes CAR T cell therapies and bispecific antibodies
CAR T cell therapy
CAR T cell therapy uses your own immune cells, which are modified in a lab to recognize and target cancer cells and then put back into your body to help fight cancer.
Bispecific antibody
Bispecific antibodies are a type of antibody made in a lab. They have 2 arms—one grabs the immune cell and the other the cancer cell.
requires travel to clinic and may require hospital stay
can be an injection or infusion*
will need caregiver support
CAR T can be given alone and bispecific antibodies can be used in combination with other treatments or alone
All these medicines come with known side effects. Please talk to your doctor about potential side effects and any necessary monitoring.
*depending on the prescribed T cell therapy
