Chemo and Multiple Sclerosis

I had my first round of chemo for Multiple Sclerosis in lieu of disease-modifying shots (in my case, Rebif). I am very excited about treating my MS with chemotherapy because:

- No more shots three times per week (which means no more feeling awful the next day and my body will have a chance to heal from all of the bruises)
- Chemo is only once every three months
- Chemo provides a greater opportunity to repair prior damage from Multiple Sclerosis

The day I had chemo I was walking on water (partially because I had some steroids at the same time). The next two days were not so great. I only experienced partial nausea so it was bearable. We'll have to see how the next 10 days go. It would be great to not have problems with my white blood cell counts and not lose my hair.

There is no doubt that chemo is a much stronger way to treat my Multiple Sclerosis but I am believing that is just the thing I need to positively impact my disease progression.

Multiple Sclerosis and Novantrone

I went to a new neurologist recently for my MS. I am currently taking Rebif and I have been for three years to help with the multiple sclerosis. I asked the doctor if I should be doing anything different and what are other people similar to me doing to treat their multiple sclerosis.

He said that he has a lot of patients on Novantrone which is a chemotherapy drug used to treat cancer. The dosage is significantly smaller for multiple sclerosis patients and therefore so are the side effects. It is also the only drug that has been approved by the FDA to treat secondary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis.

I thought it was great that my new doctor suggested I look up info on Novantrone and consult a cancer doctor for their perspective (since these doctors work so much closer with the chemotherapy drugs).

I am not sure what I think yet about this drug but I am eagerly exploring it -- it may be an option for me.