In many cases of cancer treatment (or other maladies), a risk-benefit analysis is necessary to figure out whether a certain course of action is worth taking, or if the risks are too high. Outside of medical questions, we do this in our everyday lives without realizing it, because everything we do has some kind of risk.
In the recent past, steroids got a bad rap when abused by athletes, and for their perception of contributing to aggression - the proverbial "Roid Rage." In the world of treating certain cancers (such as my MM), they can offer both positive and negative factors - a sort of Jekyll and Hyde drug - and therefore require the aforementioned risk-benefit analysis.
On the Jekyll/benefit side: dexamethasone and the other steroids are useful in myeloma treatment because they can stop helpful white blood cells from traveling to areas where cancerous myeloma cells are causing damage. This decreases the amount of swelling or inflammation in those areas and relieves associated pain and pressure. These prescribed steroids are not the same as what is misused by athletes, so there is a real distinction between the two.
On the Hyde side (not deadly, but ironically opposed), steroids can sometimes lower the body's ability to fight infection. My multiple myeloma cells are less able than normal plasma cells to make antibodies to fight infections. And across the board, I also have defects in other areas that make it harder to mount an immune response. So essentially I am adding drugs to my already-compromised immune system which can further exacerbate that condition.
All of this sounds kinda dangerous and scary and crazy, but I have been living with it for nearly 5 years. The rewards of using a variety of different steroids to address a variety of different treatment needs within my system significantly outweigh any of the potential risks. And my Onc team delicately prescribes and carefully monitors the reactions of my body to each given steroid utilization so as to avoid any issues such as mood swings, trouble sleeping, stomach upset or ulcers, osteoporosis (weaker bones), or higher blood pressure.
Fueled by steroids (they tend to enhance my multi-layer thinking), I am struck by the irony of this chemical choreography going on inside of me, while at the same time impressed and reassured by the balancing act that my Onc team is managing. I have promised to share my odd-servations along my journey. Here's another one of them.
