jm's Adventure with Multiple Myeloma: Fonseca Rafael MD

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Showing posts with label Fonseca Rafael MD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fonseca Rafael MD. Show all posts

Saturday, November 24, 2012

2nd Opinion Mayo Clinic Scottsdale Summary - November 20 2012



Mayo Clinic in Arizona
                                CLINICAL NOTES
Patient Name:  Malkiewicz, Judith Ms. Service Date:  11/20/2012
Medical Record Number:  76943760
DOB:  December 08, 1950
Age:  61
Service:  Hematology
Facility Name:  MCA
Provider Name:  Rafael Fonseca, M.D.
Visit Type: Consultation
CHIEF COMPLAINT / REASON FOR VISIT:
I am seeing Ms. Malkiewicz in consultation this afternoon for a second opinion regarding further management of multiple myeloma.
HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS:
Ms. Malkiewicz is a delightful 61-year-old woman who has a history of multiple myeloma who has received multiple treatments and comes here for further treatment recommendations.
Past Myeloma History: Ms. Malkiewicz was diagnosed with IgG kappa multiple myeloma on May 24, 2011. At that time, the patient was obtaining a routine physical examination which revealed anemia. A bone marrow showed that she had 80% plasmacytosis with the presence of a t4,14 translocation and deletion of chromosome 13. She had an M-spike of 3.0. The patient received induction therapy with the VRD regimen. She started on June 13, 2011, and did three-and-a-half cycles. Interestingly, the patient had no evidence of lytic bone lesions as is commonly seen in patients with a t4,14 translocation. She also had no evidence of hypercalcemia and had normal renal function. The patient subsequently received treatment at the University of Colorado Hospital with a four-day course of VDT-PACE chemotherapy. The thought behind this was that the patient was showing evidence of a cytogenetic progression with gains of chromosome 1q21. The patient collected stem cells and underwent an autologous stem cell transplant on September 13, 2011. The patient was said to be in a stringent complete response by a bone marrow donor 50 days post her transplant November 2, 2011. At the time, she had an M-spike of 0.1. The patient had a TriFusion Hickman catheter and developed deep venous thrombosis in her atrial appendage as well as the venous system. She had both removed and was placed on low-molecular-weight heparin. Maintenance chemotherapy post the first stem-cell transplant. The patient received treatment with Velcade, dexamethasone, and Revlimid, and also was started on treatment with zoledronic acid which she first received in January of 2011. The patient spent 7 months in Colorado and finally returned home to Mackay, Idaho.
By February of 2011, the patient had a rise in M-spike at 0.59 and was seen back at the University of Colorado Hospital. A biopsy confirmed that she had 50% plasmacytosis with the bone marrow donor in March of 2012. The patient was treated again with VDT-PACE chemotherapy in March of 2012 and received the second cycle in April of the same year. At this point, she had 1% plasmacytosis although she had persistence of genetic changes with 1q21 and t4,14. The patient underwent a second autologous stem-cell transplant May 11, 2012, with beam-induction chemotherapy. The patient returned back home on day 28. Follow up on day 55 on July 12, 2012, showed an M-spike of less than 0.1. The patient, however, still showed abnormal cytogenetics with t4,14 and 1q21 amplification. The patient started, again, chemotherapy with Velcade and dexamethasone on August 20, 2012. The patient did develop peripheral neuropathy which extended at least up to her knees and sometimes she had symptoms up to her groin region. Subsequently, the patient had vorinostat (Zolinza) added to her regimen. The patient did have quite significant toxicity and had to stop the medication. She was also concerned that she had a mild rise in her creatinine which she attributed to the Zolinza. The patient had a repeat bone marrow biopsy done on October 17, 2012. At this point, the patient showed a 60% plasmacytosis. Patient then started with carfilzomib, dexamethasone, and Revlimid at 10 mg on October 30, 2012. The patient comes here for additional recommendations for treatment.
ALLERGIES:
Patient has multiple allergic reactions:
1. Cephalosporin antibiotics which gave her hives. Okay to take penicillin.
2. Quinolones. Severe dizziness and jitteriness.
3. Propofol, cardiac arrhythmias.
4. Latex, skin rash.
5. Tape, severe adhesive allergy.
6. Miconazole, rash and swelling.
7. Clotrimazole, rash and swelling.
8. Vicodin, GI upset.
9. Zyrtec, extreme dizziness.
10. Neurontin, facial and body swelling, prolonged sedation.
11. Benadryl, prolonged sedation.
12. Wools, trees, grasses, and evergreens.
PAST MEDICAL/SURGICAL HISTORY:
Medical History:
1. Myeloma as above.
2. Pneumonia.
3. Hypothyroidism.
4. Elevated cholesterol.
5. Deep venous thrombosis as mentioned before.
6. Peptic ulcer disease.
Surgical History:
1. Fracture of the left humerus in 2002.
2. Sinus surgery times three in 1990s and 2007.
3. Hysterectomy 1978.
4. Right knee times two in 1978 and 2002.
5. Femoral hernia 1978.
SOCIAL HISTORY:
Tobacco: Never.
Alcohol: None.
Recreational drug use: None.
Referring Physician: Dr. Clay Smith from the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, Colorado, and Dr. Phatama Padavanija who is at St. Luke's Mountain States Tumor Institute. This is in Twin Falls, Idaho.
FAMILY HISTORY:
Father is alive with heart disease and spinal stenosis at the age of 88 and 91. Mother died at the age of 80 from heart disease, diabetes, and she passed away from lung cancer. The patient has one brother who is alive with high cholesterol and Meniere's disease. One sister who is alive with high cholesterol, and also otosclerosis. She has no children.
REVIEW OF SYSTEMS:
As above.
PHYSICAL EXAM:
Not done during this visit.
IMPRESSION/REPORT/PLAN:
I spent the best part of our visit, 70 minutes, talking about the current status and options for treatment for Ms. Malkiewicz. I believe she still has a few options available for her treatment but at this point I have recommended that she continues in treatment with one more cycle of carfilzomib, Revlimid, and dexamethasone. Unfortunately, it seems like there is a discordance between the level of her protein markers in her blood and the amount of plasmacytosis that she has exhibited. This points toward either a nonsecretor or hyposecretory myeloma. I have told her that I would like for her to complete two cycles and then we can gauge her results. Recently, she has had some drop in her platelet count and her white count so it would be important to know rather soon if she is responding to the treatment or not.
This might only be possibly assessed by repeating a bone marrow examination because her M-spike is currently 0.3 and she has not had elevated serum free light chains. The patient agreed to have laboratory draws done during this visit.
Given the nature of Ms. Malkiewicz's myeloma, I see that she is most afflicted because of the cytopenias at this point. She is at very low risk for renal damage because of a low serum free light chain and she also has no evidence of bone disease. Accordingly even if we had a difficult time controlling her plasmacytosis, she has the possibility of perhaps enjoying some quality time if we could support her with an aggressive transfusion strategy. I told her that I would recommend that she receive both packed red cells and platelet transfusions as needed.
Other options for Ms. Malkiewicz would include clinical trials although that might be difficult for her given that she would have to relocate to the treatment center and she lives in a small, rural community. Another option might be the use of pomalidomide which hopefully will be available in the beginning of 2013.
I believe Ms. Malkiewicz and her sister, who accompanied her during this visit, had ample opportunity to ask questions and they were addressed.


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

2nd Opinion - Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Arizona - November 20 2012

Jani and I arrived early at the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale Arizona for my 1:40 PM appointment with Rafael Fonseca, MD, Chair, Department of Medicine, Consultant , Hematology/Oncology.

We walked around a bit and checked in on the 3rd floor. We didn't have to wait long before they took us back for vital signs, weight and height. Then, they put us in an exam room like we have never seen before - carpet and a sofa!
Rafael Fonseca came in moments later and greeted us warmly. He spent just over an hour with us and was very responsive to our questions. He had reviewed my chart from the University of Colorado Hospital and was familiar with me "on paper".
He said he was in agreement with all of the prior treatments I've had, except maybe the 2 cycles of vorinostat (Zolinza). In short, he felt that my treatments since diagnosis had been right out of the 2012 multiple myeloma care guide (if there were such a thing).

I will always have the 4:14 and 1q21 cytogenetics and it is just a matter of trying to control the quantity in my bone marrow. 

My current treatment with carfilzomib (Kyprolis) with Revlimid and Dex is appropriate for now. He thinks I should increase the carfilzomib dosage in the 2nd Cycle to 27 metered square from 20 as planned on 27 Nov 2012 at St. Luke's Hospital MSTI in Twin Falls, Idaho.

He would like to repeat a bone marrow biopsy after 2 cycles to see if it is working. He had them draw an SPEP on me today, but my blood isn't as reflective as my bone marrow which I already knew. They use conscious sedation and OnControl driver for bone marrow biopsies here (wish it wasn't 2 flights and 12 hours away)!

He is NOT concerned with my creatinine and GRF (kidney function blood tests) and does not think I have a problem in that arena. I can take Lasix as needed.

He sees no reason not to get an implanted intravenous port even with my prior atrial thrombus history.

He also thinks I should get my partially done root canal fixed as soon as possible even if my platelets are low, so I can get back on Aredia.

Another chemotherapy agent that might work if the carfilzomib is not working would be
cytoxan in pill form once a week with the intravenous carfilzomib.

It would be important to support me with blood and platelet transfusions as necessary and to not worry about that.

Clinical trials are not really for me since I would have to relocate and I am not willing to do that.

Pomalidomide may be out in February 2013 and Dr. Foncesa has had good success with it in clinical trials here at the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale.

Also melphalan in pill form could be considered.

He does not think that an allo stem cell transplant (one from a matched donor) would be helpful and would be too dangerous for me.

Overall, it was an excellent and informative meeting with Dr. Foncesa who said he was willing to follow me, but I didn't need to come back to the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale for the tests and treatments unless I wanted to - I'd always be welcome to come back.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

2nd Opinion Scheduling - October 31 2012

I had a call from the secretary at the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale Arizona - Hematology/Oncology today. She wants to schedule my 2nd Opinion appointment with Dr. Rafael Foncesa who works with abnormal cytogenetics and relapsed multiple myeloma. I'll need to talk to Jani to help set the dates and travel plans since she will go with me.

  • Clinical significance of chromosomal abnormalities in myeloma. Dr. Fonseca is studying the clinical, biologic and prognostic implications of specific chromosomal and genetic abnormalities for patients with myeloma. Ultimately, Dr. Fonseca and his colleagues believe that the accurate knowledge of the abnormalities underlying myeloma will allow for better management and treatment of patients. For instance, they have described the negative impact on prognosis of some genetic aberrations and better outcome with others.
    Further, Dr. Fonseca's lab has shown different pathology and clinical features of myeloma based on this genetic characterization. His lab was the first to show the clinical implications of the high-risk genetic translocations, including the t(4;14) and t(14;16). This information is now included in what the myeloma community calls high-risk myeloma. Many medical centers do not proceed to autologous stem cell transplants for patients with high-risk myeloma. Dr. Fonseca's studies have been converted into a clinical test available from Mayo Medical Laboratories. His lab was the first, in conjunction with Leif Bergsagel, M.D., to show the genetic basis of NF-kB upregulation in myeloma.

I faxed my allergy list and current medication list to the pharmacy in the Hematology/Oncology Department, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale this afternoon.