Chemotherapy and Dialysis: Looking for others who have had both

Hi, I went thru chemo and radiation with severe kidney disease. I faired pretty well although the nephropathy is horrible. Putting your feet in ice water may prevent Nephropathy. I wish someone had told me this before I had chemo. My chemo was almost 5 years ago. My Kidneys are failing now. Karen

@kbirk Thank you! Reading about putting my feet in ice water really gave me the shivers! They figure the neuropathy is from a combination of the chemo [Revlimid] and the myeloma itself attaching to some nerves. Are your kidney issues a result of the chemo?
Ginger

I have had this Kd for 51 years. When I went into chemo my creat was 2.5 today 5 years later it's 5.92. If I hadn't gotten the Cancer I think I could have lived a long life even with the Kidney disease

Hi
I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2016 after finding sky high creatinine (17). I had experienced acute kidney pain just prior. Immediately given end stage renal failure status and sent to dialysis along with revlimid drug. After a few months they were going to prep me for home dialysis when my numbers radically improved and quit trips to dialysis lab. Shortly after I was approved for stem cell transplant at Seattle Cancer Care. Currently I'm on rev/dex/Kyprolis in remission. Car-t probably on deck at some point hopefully far in future. Stay strong and be well.

@oregonami58 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I have read your posts and can relate!

I was on Revlimid and dexamethasone from Aug 2021 until last month. We are trying an experiment now, and only doing Ninlaro [since Nov 2024] and dex. I have been on peritoneal dialysis since Sept 2022, the kidney issues are not from myeloma.

Unfortunately I cannot get a stem cell transplant, not kidney transplant, and live my life now with these two conditions. My medical care is centered n Eugene [Oregon].

Thank you for sharing your story. Keep in touch, and be well!
Ginger

Ok so you are down the road from me here in Bend. I get my weekly infusion at St Charles medical center.
At some point in the future whe revlimid becomes less effective I will be eligible for car-t. Will that be an option for you?
I hope your new treatment plan has great results. Keep staying strong!

@oregonami58 I am glad you will be eligible to car-t. Have you figured where you will go? Knight Cancer in Seattle or OHSU perhaps? Unfortunately, I am not a good candidate for either stem cell or Car-T. This definitely gave me pause, and changed my mindset. Knowing I am living with these two conditions that are my present and future realities, it is to embrace each day as a gift.

Yes, staying strong is my goal. and hoping it is yours, also!
Ginger

Hello. I am searching for direction and came across this. My dad is experiencing a gradual decline in his eGFR. He has had CKD for a long time, but we are now creeping into dialysis territory. Two weeks ago it as at 17 and we will get most recent report back Tuesday. Unfortunately, we have also recently found out he has kidney cancer. We have his first oncology appointment on June 16. I don't know if he will make it that long before his eGFR gets so low we have to intervene. His nephrologist and oncologist are at two different hospitals. Any advice or experience on how to handle this would be greatly appreciated.

@mmmartin Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

You don't mention the root cause of your father's CKD. Has the eGFR trend downwards been dramatic more recently? I hope the nephrologist has already approached your dad with information on dialysis and the different modalities, what to expect, etc.

I would suggest the following: Ask the nephrologist to get a background letter over to the oncologist, explaining your dad's current situation, before that June 16 appointment. That way information is hopefully already at hand. Ask for cooperation and communication between the two clinics, to coordinate care.

In my experience, my nephrologist and oncologist communicate via emails back and forth as needed, being in two different practices and records management systems. We all work together to coordinate the best plan for my treatment, which may not be the same for the next person. You don't mention your dad's age, your general location, or details about his kidney cancer. Unfortunately these days we need to be our own advocates, to make sure the care we receive is the best for us as a patient.

Please let me know if this has been any help to you, and if you have more questions?
Ginger

Oh I’m so grateful for the response. I feel very alone in this. He has had CKD for a decade at least. So did my grandmother. I am not sure we really know why. The cancer was found incidentally last month when he was admitted to the hospital for a UTI. His baseline eGFR has been in the mid to low 20s for a long time. But the UTI plunged him to a 9. They released him when it got to 20, but it isn’t holding steady. So I am unsure what to do between now and the oncology appointment.