Cancer Support

Multiple Myeloma is an expensive disease. It is "treatable" - some people survive 20 years or more - but it is not curable. The drugs which have been developed to manage it are expensive. The retail price of Thalidomide is over $5000/month and the newer drugs are even worse. Revlimid is closer to $8000/mo. So the $5000/yr you may pay through a Medicare part D plan or your group plan doesn't sound too bad. Some people achieve remission through drugs alone, which could take awhile. Others only stay on drugs for a few months and then go the stem cell transplant route. Some oncologists are very aggressive with treatments, throwing everything but the kitchen sink at it all at once. Others believe that an approach that emphasizes quality of life is better - less is more. There's something to be said for each approach. So, I'd suggest getting second opinions, getting advice from an oncologist that specializes in MM and choosing one that uses an approach that you are comfortable with.

There's a group at www.acor.org listserv for myeloma patients and caregivers that you may find useful. Decorum is quite different than at the DemocraticUnderground. But there's lots of folks who have been where you are at. And we all agree that Myeloma sucks.