Side-effects of initial treatment

The different drugs used in myeloma are very powerful and can be quite toxic. While they may be effective in killing the myeloma cells, they can also destroy healthy cells and cause side-effects.

Each drug has its own side-effects but the side-effects you have for any particular drug may be different to the side-effects someone else has with the same drug.

Most side-effects are only short-term and can be managed with supportive treatments and/or by changing doses or schedules. It is important to report any side-effects to your doctor/nurse so that the cause can be determined and the symptoms treated. Your preferences and response to treatment will be taken into consideration when making any changes to your treatment.

Side-effects gradually disappear once the treatment has stopped. The time it takes for side-effects to resolve after stopping treatment will vary from patient to patient.

 Chemotherapy drugs