I met with the Emory doctor yesterday to get the results of my 100 day testing, and got some great news! There was no sign of myeloma in the PET scan, blood tests or bone marrow biopsy. This is called Stringent Complete Remission and is the best possible scenario. This happens in about 1/3 of people who have a stem cell transplant. Based on this response, if I did not do any additional treatment, I would have an average of 4 years in remission. However, with maintenance treatment, I would have an average of 10 years in remission.

 

At this point, I definitely want to move forward with the maintenance treatment. The normal treatment is a lower dose of Revlimid, which is the oral chemo that I was on before the transplant. However, there is also a clinical trial at Emory that I qualify for. With the trial, I would either receive the Revlimid or a different antibody treatment. I haven't decided for sure, but am considering the clinical trial.

 

The other good news is that I have been released from all restrictions. I will still be careful where I go and when I am around people. The doctor wants me to get my COVID, flu and RSV shots, but I won't get my childhood vaccines until a year post-transplant. I will also stay on the antibiotics for another 3 months and will stay on the anti-virals for the rest of my life. I am definitely ready for some semblance of normal, but it is weird to think about going out in the world again after being so careful for so long!