When a Blood Cancer Smolders …

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center offers clinical trials and support programs for patients facing dangerous blood cancers.

Not all blood cancers announce their arrival with pain, fatigue, or other noticeable symptoms. Sometimes, the results of a routine laboratory test can indicate a dangerous problem that turns your life upside down. That happened to Jennifer Stone three years ago when the discovery of abnormal proteins in her blood indicated smoldering multiple myeloma – a precancerous condition of the plasma cells that could potentially be deadly.

After that emotionally devastating lab report, Stone wasted no time in going to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of UHealth – the University of Miami Health System, where follow-up blood testing and bone marrow scans confirmed the diagnosis of smoldering multiple myeloma. 

“I was very nervous to find out that I was at high risk for active myeloma, but it was comforting to know that there are effective treatments for this disease,” says Stone, a Coral Gables, Fla., resident. “I also think that ‘smoldering’ is an awful name for a condition that could lead to a dangerous cancer.”

For nearly two years, Dickran Kazandjian, M.D., a Sylvester myeloma specialist, monitored Stone’s condition before inviting her to enroll in a ground-breaking clinical trial that uses immunotherapy to treat this precancerous disorder.

“Jennifer is an outstanding patient and amazing person,” says Dr. Kazandjian, professor of clinical medicine; associate director of Sylvester Myeloma Institute and assistant director of Interventional Clinical Research for Sylvester. “She had the courage and trust to be the first patient enrolled in our smoldering myeloma trial. It paid off, and after a few months, she went into a deep, robust remission that appears to be long-lasting.”

Myeloma: A bone cancer disease

Myeloma, often called multiple myeloma, is caused by the overproduction of plasma cells in the bone marrow. The cancer is most common in adults over age 50. A family history of the disease is one of the risk factors. In some cases, bone pain can be a sign of smoldering multiple myeloma, along with the abnormal proteins being produced in the bone marrow.

“If you have abnormal proteins in your lab results, it’s important to be checked by a myeloma specialist,” says Dr. Kazandjian. “Many times patients are seen by non-experts and are either over- or under-diagnosed, creating mental stress and anxiety along with the physical issues.”

Worried about myeloma?

If you are worried about smoldering multiple myeloma or other types of blood cancers, Sindy Gutierrez, M.S.N., A.P.R.N., inpatient/research nurse practitioner at Sylvester Myeloma Institute, has some advice:

• Don’t panic about your initial laboratory tests results. “Get follow-up testing to see if this is a trend or simply a one-time thing,” she says. “Speak to a knowledgeable specialist who can explain what’s going on.”
• Talk about your feelings. Everyone is nervous when a cancer is diagnosed. Talking with family and friends may help, but don’t hesitate to reach out to Sylvester’s support services team, which includes therapists who counsel cancer patients and families every day.
• Stay active. Getting plenty of physical activity is one of the best ways to maintain good health. “That’s particularly important for smoldering multiple myeloma, since you want to be in the best possible condition if treatment is needed in the future,” Gutierrez says.
• Maintain a healthy diet. Good nutrition provides your body with a foundation for fighting off myeloma or other types of cancer. As part of its portfolio of cancer support services, Sylvester has a nutritionist dedicated to helping myeloma patients at all stages of their care and treatment.
• Don’t ignore any new aches or pains. “Let your team know right away,” Gutierrez says. “The earlier a cancer is diagnosed the better the outcome, as a general rule.”

Leading-edge care and support

As South Florida’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated center, Sylvester offers leading-edge care, including clinical trials and more than 20 FDA-approved treatments for myeloma patients at different stages of the disease.

“We use a team-based, individualized approach to tailor treatment and early intervention strategies,” says C. Ola Landgren, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine; chief of the Division of Myeloma; director of the Sylvester Myeloma Institute; and the Paul J. DiMare Endowed Chair in Immunotherapy. “For myeloma, our trials offer approaches that may improve on standard options, choices to those who have none, and better diagnostics to optimize a patient’s treatment strategy.” 

For patients like Stone with smoldering multiple myeloma, Sylvester continues to offer enrollment in an open clinical trial involving immunotherapy and ongoing follow-up care. “By reducing the risk of progression to active myeloma, this innovative therapy is almost like preventive cancer care,” says Gutierrez. “And that’s just one of the many exciting things happening to support our patients at Sylvester Myeloma Institute.”

Richard Westlund is a contributor for Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Tags: Blood cancer treatment options, Clinical trials for myeloma, Dr. Dickran Kazandjian, Dr. Ola Landgren, Immunotherapy for blood cancer, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center