Can Experts Treat Two Cancers at the Same Time?
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Published on June 13, 2018
If a second cancer arises in the midst of multiple myeloma treatment, do researchers have the tools to treat them simultaneously? What is the treatment plan for patients with multiple cancers? On site in Chicago at the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting, noted myeloma expert Dr. James Berenson explains why patients may develop second cancers, treatment options available and potential risks. How common is it to have multiple cancers? Dr. Berenson also gives examples of cancer development and treatment strategy based on patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and myeloma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and myeloma. Watch now to learn more.
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Transcript | Can Experts Treat Two Cancers at the Same Time?
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Andrew Schorr:
Now, some patients have more than one condition, actually Nancy wrote in, and she has ALL as well as myeloma. How do you deal with that, and we had somebody else with CLL and myeloma. So how do you kind of unpack this?
Dr. Berenson:
Well, CLL and myeloma, I have a fair number of patients with both, which is kind of interesting, and CLL with those folks is really no big deal for me to treat. And usually the drugs that work in CLL work in myeloma and vice versa, including drugs like our new kid on the block, venetoclax (Venclexta). So that's not as difficult.
ALL can be more troubling, and unfortunately ALL can be a result of therapies. So we know that some of the transplant procedures, immunomodulatory agents, those drugs can clearly heighten the risk of ALL.
Andrew Schorr:
Wow. Okay. Back to the CLL situation, somebody wrote in, Jean, so you can treat both simultaneously?
Dr. Berenson:
Oh, yes.
Andrew Schorr:
Okay. ALL, more…
Dr. Berenson:
…it's more complicated.
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.
