Weighing the Side Effects of Myeloma Treatment
Yolanda Brunson-Sarrabo:
How do you guys class minor side effects versus like the big ones?
Dr. Rodriguez:
Your question is a very valid question about side effects and toxicities, whenever we're doing clinical trials part of the... one of the main objectives of the clinical trials is, is the drug effective? But at the same time the other very important question that we're trying to answer is, is this drug safe? So, as the studies are ongoing any side effect or any symptom that a patient has while they're on treatment or while they're on study we document, whether it be a headache, whether it be nausea whether it be you seeing purple elephants or whether you got run over by a truck. Any of those things get documented as a side effect or as a potential side effect of the drug. Even it has nothing to do with the drug itself like being run over by a truck.
Now, at the end of the study we clump all the symptoms to try to determine what percentage of the patients treated had a specific symptom like a headache, or low platelets or keratopathy or the osteonecrosis of the jaw. We also grade the side effects based on the severity and we use a grading system of 1, 2, 3, and 4. Three and four being the more serious and sometimes even life threatening side effects and grades one and two being some mild symptoms that can be easily managed with medications or some recommendations by the doctor. But the percentage that is given whenever somebody... let's say if you're going to start chemotherapy, we consent you for the chemotherapy and we'll go over all the side effects of the drug that you're going to be getting. Within those side effects we tend to focus on the most common side effects, and we also tend to emphasize the most serious side effects. But that doesn't mean that you're going to get those most common side effects or those most serious side effects, because in the end you are an individual you're not a statistic and the odds of you getting a side effect are 50-50, you either have it or you don't.
So for example you mentioned osteonecrosis of the jaw. It is a very small number of patients that take bisphosphonates that develop osteonecrosis of the jaw compared to the whole population of patients that get it, but if you get it you get it and that's the reason why you have to be monitoring... being monitored by a doctor and making sure that you are talking to your doctor about any side effect that you might be having.
Please remember the opinions expressed on Patient Power are not necessarily the views of our sponsors, contributors, partners 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.
Recommended Programs: