Update 1/22/24 

Hi everyone, 

Rob’s multiple myeloma has come back.  

This type of blood cancer is known to relapse, though knowing that doesn’t make it any easier to hear it when it happens.  

So, we are tackling it Keep Pounding Style, Round 2.  

Here is a breakdown of what we learned today.  

1. Rob’s multiple myeloma lambda chains spiked for the third time in a row, doubling each time.  
2. Rob’s symptoms are consistent with a relapse, though we will know soon through imaging if there is anything myeloma related causing his rib pain, or if it is unrelated. Symptoms which have been ongoing for a while include rib pain, similar to the type pain he had right at diagnoses, where the myeloma ate away the rib, and major, ongoing fatigue.  
3. She said 5 years was an incredible run to get out of transplant. We are grateful for it, without a doubt.  

Here is a breakdown of the trial we are looking at. I will explain it plain terms, and then link to the actual trial for those wanting a more detailed explanation.  

1. The trial is a randomized trial. There is no “placebo” in this trial.  

2. The trail has 3 arms. Think of arms as options (‘options’ is my term, not an official term). 😉 

3. Arm 1 of the trial consists of the drugs: Daratumumab, Pomalidomide, and Dexamethasone (DPd) 

Arm 2 of the trial consists of the drugs: Talquetamab and Daratumumab.  

Arm 3 of the trial consists of the drugs: Talquetamab, Daratumumab, and Pomalidomide 

4. The first arm is the standard treatment for multiple myeloma. If the trial was not taking place, this is a treatment he would do. If Rob does not qualify for this trial (there are other clinical requirements other than just abnormal lambda light chain numbers), option 1 is a good treatment plan, according his hematologist oncologist.   

5. The second and third arms are the actual trial. Right now, the trial is a Phase 3 Clinical Trial. Options 2 and 3 have been approved for a 4^th or 5^th line of treatment. The purpose of this trial is to get full approval to use it for a 2^nd line of treatment after relapse.  
6. For more detailed information on all aspects of the trial, you can visit: https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05455320

Rob has an incredible fighting spirit as always. While we both are nervous, we know that in order to stay ahead and fight the cancer, we have to Keep Pounding!  I will give an update after the next labs, chest CT, and PET scan, within the next 2 weeks.  

Finally, I have no idea what is going on with the comment section, as there is a new software with WordPress called JetPack. Unfortunately, not all comments are getting through, and we are getting a ton of spam. To be safe, I am working on setting up a Caring Bridge site, until I figure out a better blog option (or learn how to fix it).  If we do go that route, even if it’s just temporary, I’ll post an update here.  

Thank you for helping us Keep Pounding!!