Relapsed and refractory myeloma

What is a relapse?

A relapse is when myeloma returns or becomes active again after a period of successful treatment.

What causes a relapse?

Currently treatment for myeloma can not get rid of it completely and permanently. There will come a time when it starts to become active again; this may happen in months or years so it is important that patients are regularly monitored to ensure that any relapse is caught as early as possible.

How is relapsing myeloma treated?

Doctors don’t always rush into re-treating at the first sign of the myeloma becoming active; the management of any relapse will be looked at on an individual basis.

There are many treatment options available to bring myeloma that has returned back under control. Velcade® is the drug given most commonly when myeloma relapses for the first time. This is how Velcade® is approved for use in the NHS, and so doctors prefer to use Velcade® at this point in treatment as it can be more difficult to get access to it at later stages. Revlimid® would be considered at subsequent relapses.