2018-03-26T14:49:00
(BPT) – This article is sponsored advertising content from Amgen, Inc.
Those who have faced a cancer diagnosis know the experience can be overwhelming. It can present several challenges and prompt countless questions from both patients and their loved ones. But for many patients diagnosed with one incurable form of blood cancer, their first question is, “What is multiple myeloma?”
Multiple myeloma is a life-threatening blood cancer of the plasma cells, a type of white blood cell originating in the bone marrow that helps fight infection. Myeloma cells are cancerous plasma cells that multiply too quickly.
March is Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month, a time to take charge in the fight against multiple myeloma and bring attention to this rare blood disease that accounts for approximately one percent of all cancers globally. Although rare, multiple myeloma is increasingly becoming more prevalent in the U.S. due to a growing number of diagnoses.
Robert Lasco is one of those patients. “In my mind everything was racing,” Lasco recalled, when he learned of his multiple myeloma diagnosis, “I know several friends and family members who have dealt with different types of cancer, but I had never heard of multiple myeloma.”
While most patients respond to initial therapy, nearly all patients eventually relapse or become refractory (non-responsive) to treatment. For this reason, patients with multiple myeloma often need multiple therapies during their journey with the disease, and Lasco was no exception.
After receiving a stem cell transplant Lasco experienced a relapse. “At that point, I decided I needed to take charge of my disease and began reading everything I could about multiple myeloma and my treatment options,” Lasco explained. “After discussing with my doctor, we decided KYPROLIS® (carfilzomib) would be the best option for me.”
KYPROLIS is a prescription medication used to treat patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received one to three previous treatments. KYPROLIS is approved for use in combination with dexamethasone or with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone, which are other medicines used to treat multiple myeloma. According to results from two large Phase 3 clinical trials, KYPROLIS plus dexamethasone (Kd) and KYPROLIS, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (KRd) each reduced the risk of death by 21 percent in relapsed multiple myeloma patients versus two different widely used treatment combinations (bortezomib plus dexamethasone and lenalidomide plus dexamethasone, respectively), resulting in patients living around 7.6 and 7.9 months longer, respectively.
Lasco was prescribed KRd by his doctor. Once back in remission, he was able to continue his advocacy work. He and his wife formed the Multiple Myeloma Education Fund, a nonprofit organization, aimed at building awareness of multiple myeloma.
“My experience with multiple myeloma has caused me to become very passionate about awareness and educating other people about this disease,” Lasco remarked. “You don’t have to walk with multiple myeloma by yourself. Take charge of your disease and ask for help when you need it.”
To take action and learn more about multiple myeloma during the month of March visit mam.myeloma.org.
If you would like to learn more about KYPROLIS, visit www.KYPROLIS.com.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
KYPROLIS® (carfilzomib) can cause serious side effects:
- Heart problems: KYPROLIS can cause heart problems or worsen pre-existing heart conditions. Death due to cardiac arrest has occurred within one day of KYPROLIS administration. Before starting KYPROLIS, you should have a full medical work-up (including blood pressure and fluid management). You should be closely monitored during treatment.
- Kidney problems: There have been reports of sudden kidney failure in patients receiving KYPROLIS. Your kidney function should be closely monitored during treatment.
- Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS): Cases of TLS have been reported in patients receiving KYPROLIS, including fatalities. You should be closely monitored during treatment for any signs of TLS.
- Lung damage: Cases of lung damage have been reported in patients receiving KYPROLIS, including fatal cases.
- Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs): There have been reports of pulmonary hypertension in patients receiving KYPROLIS.
- Lung complications: Shortness of breath was reported in patients receiving KYPROLIS. Your lung function should be closely monitored during treatment.
- High blood pressure: Cases of high blood pressure, including fatal cases, have been reported in patients receiving KYPROLIS. Your blood pressure should be closely monitored during treatment.
- Blood clots: There have been reports of blood clots in patients receiving KYPROLIS. If you are at high risk for blood clots, your doctor can recommend ways to lower the risk.
- If you are using KYPROLIS in combination with dexamethasone or with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone, your doctor should assess and may prescribe another medicine to help lower your risk for blood clots.
- If you are using birth control pills or other medical forms of birth control associated with a risk of blood clots, talk to your doctor and consider a different method of birth control during treatment with KYPROLIS in combination with dexamethasone or with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone.
- Infusion reactions: Symptoms of infusion reactions included fever, chills, joint pain, muscle pain, facial flushing and/or swelling, vomiting, weakness, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, fainting, chest tightness, and chest pain. These symptoms can occur immediately following infusion or up to 24 hours after administration of KYPROLIS. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.
- Severe bleeding problems: Fatal or serious cases of bleeding problems have been reported in patients receiving KYPROLIS. Your doctor should monitor your signs and symptoms of blood loss.
- Very low platelet count: Low platelet levels can cause unusual bruising and bleeding. You should have regular blood tests to check your platelet count during treatment.
- Liver problems: Cases of liver failure, including fatal cases, have been reported in patients receiving KYPROLIS. Your liver function should be closely monitored during treatment.
- Blood problems: Cases of a blood disease called thrombotic microangiopathy, including thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome (TTP/HUS), including fatal cases, have been reported in patients who received KYPROLIS. Your doctor should monitor your signs and symptoms.
- Brain problems: A nerve disease called Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES), formerly called Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS), has been reported in patients receiving KYPROLIS. It can cause seizure, headache, lack of energy, confusion, blindness, altered consciousness, and other visual and nerve disturbances, along with high blood pressure. Your doctor should monitor your signs and symptoms.
- KYPROLIS should not be combined with melphalan and prednisone: Newly diagnosed transplant ineligible multiple myeloma patients have shown an increased risk of serious and fatal side effects when using KYPROLIS in combination with melphalan and prednisone.
- Possible fetal harm: KYPROLIS can cause harm to a fetus (unborn baby) when given to a pregnant woman. Women should avoid becoming pregnant during treatment with KYPROLIS. Men should avoid fathering a child during treatment with KYPROLIS. KYPROLIS can cause harm to a fetus if used during pregnancy or if you or your partner become pregnant during treatment with KYPROLIS.
You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:
- Shortness of breath
- Prolonged, unusual or excessive bleeding
- Yellowing of the skin and/or eyes (jaundice)
- Headaches, confusion, seizures, or loss of sight
- Pregnancy (women should not receive KYPROLIS if they are pregnant or breastfeeding)
- Any other side effect that bothers you or does not go away
What are the possible side effects of KYPROLIS?
- The most common side effects occurring in at least 20% of patients receiving KYPROLIS in the combination therapy trials are: low red blood cell count, low white blood cell count, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, tiredness (fatigue), low platelets, fever, sleeplessness (insomnia), muscle spasm, cough, upper airway (respiratory tract) infection, and decreased potassium levels.
These are not all the possible side effects of KYPROLIS. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
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