Revlimid

Revlimid is an oral medicine for certain patients with multiple myeloma. It works in multiple ways within the bone marrow to stop or slow the growth of cancerous myeloma cells. It contains the medicine lenalioomide.

In case you have forgotten multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells in your blood. Plasma cells are white blood cells that make antibodies, which help your immune system recognize and fight infections. Plasma cells collect in the bone marrow - the soft, spongy inner core of the bones. They then travel into the bloodstream, where they circulate throughout the body. Myeloma is also called "multiple myeloma" because it typically affects multiple sites within the bone.

In multiple myeloma, cells that give rise to plasma cells are damaged and produce genetically damaged (malignant) plasma cells called myeloma cells. Myeloma cells collect in the bone marrow and continue to divide uncontrollably. The type of antibody produced by these myeloma cells is called M-protein. An abnormal increase in M-protein is commonly known as an M-spike.

Unfortunately, M-protein is not effective in fighting infection. As a result, the myeloma cells crowd out healthy plasma cells and take away an important weapon the body has against disease. Myeloma cells can cause damage to the bones and kidneys.

The possible serious side effects of Revlimid are birth defects (good thing Gram does not plan to get pregnant), low white blood cells and platelets and blood clots in veins and lungs. Since Gram has already had blood clots the doctors held off on using Revlimid as a treatment ... but since the other treatment is not working its time to try Revlimid. She will continue to get the Lovenox shots which are blood thinners to avoid the risk of blood clots. She will have weekly blood draws to make sure that her blood counts do not get too low.

Other minor side effects include constipation, rash, muscle cramp, diarrhea, fatigue, insomnia and a few other ones. Fun huh?