Treatment-Related Toxicities in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

In this segment, Elizabeth Bohannon discusses the treatment-related adverse effects that had the greatest impact on her daily life throughout her relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma journey. She describes significant fatigue and hair loss with high-dose cyclophosphamide, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms that affected her willingness to leave home, take walks, or eat at restaurants. Elizabeth also highlights the difficulty of recognizing when symptoms such as fever may represent an expected treatment reaction versus when urgent medical attention is needed. She then reflects on her experience with talquetamab, describing substantial fatigue, changes in saliva and taste, difficulty eating, skin reactions, and nail changes. She explains how these effects affected activities she previously enjoyed, including cooking and dining out, and emphasizes the difference between understanding potential adverse effects before treatment and experiencing them firsthand. The segment highlights the importance of discussing treatment-related symptoms openly and developing practical strategies to preserve daily functioning and quality of life.