‘I’ve Had a Bad Experience’ – Tom Brokaw’s Battle With Cancer Led to His Retirement After 55 Years, but a Breakthrough Treatment Allowed Him To Find New Beginnings Beyond TV

Lingering symptoms from multiple myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer, influenced his retirement from the news business sooner than he truly wanted.

Brokaw, 84, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in August 2013. The rare blood cancer hinders the body’s ability to fight infections. It causes weakness, dizziness, bone pain, and confusion, among other symptoms. For Brokaw, these mounting symptoms fueled his retirement after 55 years of delivering the news.

“I kept thinking bad things wouldn’t happen to me. But as I grew older, I began to develop this condition. And what you try to do is control it as much as you can,” Brokaw added.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ABC World News Tonight (@abcworldnewstonight)

Recently, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel expressed support for previously approved CAR T-cell therapies Carvykti and Abemca to treat adults diagnosed with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma sooner in their treatment journey. The treatments saw a “59%” reduction in multiple myeloma disease progression in clinical trials for patients who received one prior line of treatment. During these same clinical trials, some patients experienced “early deaths”; however, experts reviewing the drugs felt the benefits outweighed the risks.

The FDA will review Carvykti and Abecma‘s supplemental Biologics License Applications (sBLA) further, which is a necessary step during the drug approval process. If approved, these treatments can be available to multiple myeloma patients earlier in their treatment journey.

WATCH: Reviewing Treatment Options

Treatment for multiple myeloma depends on your risk level. Some patients are considered standard risk, while others are high-risk. Your risk depends on irregularities in the chromosomes of their cancer cells:

• Standard Risk – Extra copies of some chromosomes typically characterize this.
• High Risk – A missing part of chromosome number 17 typically characterizes this

These gene differences control the aggressiveness of the cancer cells. According to Dr. Kenneth Anderson, director of the Multiple Myeloma Center at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, standard risk has “a better prognosis,” whereas high-risk myeloma “confers a much poorer outcome.”

The standard treatment approach for multiple myeloma goes from the induction phase, the stem-cell transplant phase, and then the maintenance phase.

• Induction Phase: This phase is the same regardless of risk. It consists of triplet drug therapy, which includes (an immunomodulatory drug (Revlimid or Pomalyst), a proteasome inhibitor (Kyprolis, Velcade, or Ninlaro), and a steroid (dexamethasone or prednisone).
• Stem-Cell Transplant Phase: This phase is the same regardless of risk. It consists of chemotherapy coupled with a stem-cell transplant.
• Maintenance Phase: This phase will differ based on the risk profile.

Maintenance treatment is essential because it keeps the cancer at bay. Multiple myeloma patients face the risk of relapse even if the cancer is put into remission.

Maintenance treatment helps keep the cancer in remission for more extended periods, and the treatment Brokaw received is among the most effective.

Brokaw received Revlimid (generic name lenalidomide), a breakthrough oral medication that has helped treat patients living with multiple myeloma. In combination with other therapies, standard doses of lenalidomide kill off myeloma cells.

This drug activates the immune system cells responsible for killing bacteria, viruses, and cancers. It also reduces vital blood flow to cancerous tumors, helping kill them. However, some patients don’t tolerate lenalidomide well because of some of its potential side effects, including nausea, vomiting, swelling of the limbs and skin, and liver problems.

WATCH: Veteran journalist Tom Brokaw shares thoughts on the medical community and ways to improve patient experience.

Low doses of Revlimid are then used as maintenance therapy to help keep the immune system on alert and target the myeloma in case it reemerges within the body.

“The Revlimid thing for me has been “no side effects whatsoever,” Brokaw told SurvivorNet.

In addition to Brokaw’s breakthrough treatment, he also credits his family for helping him throughout his cancer journey. A reliable support system is critical for cancer patients as they can help you emotionally and physically by assisting with everyday chores or transporting patients to their appointments.

More on Multiple Myeloma Relapse

When multiple myeloma returns after treatment, “It usually means that there were residual cells, even in very small numbers. They were either resistant to the treatment from the start, or they acquired resistance as the treatment was growing,” Dr. Kenneth Anderson explains to SurvivorNet.

In other words, not every myeloma cell in your body is precisely the same. Some start with a set of mutations that can give them resistance to treatments and make them more likely to relapse, whereas others develop mutations because of treatment.

The Signs of a Multiple Myeloma Relapse

• Increased levels of monoclonal antibodies: myeloma cells are cancerous plasma cells in the bone marrow that overgrow and produce abnormal proteins. These abnormal proteins are released in the blood and can be detected by physicians. When the levels of these increase substantially, that can be a sign multiple myeloma has relapsed.
• Increase in plasma cells in the bone marrow: Oncologists can use magnetic imaging, like MRI or PET scans, to see if there is a greater than normal level of plasma cells in the bone marrow, which is typical of overly dividing myeloma cells.
• Bone fractures and lesions: Myeloma cells activate the cells that break down bones and deactivate the cells that build up bones, which can result in fractures or small holes in bones. Oncologists can use X-rays or CT scans to detect bone damage indicative of relapse.

Understanding Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a rare and incurable type of blood cancer. When you have this cancer, white blood cells called plasma cells (the cells that make antibodies to fight infections) in your bone marrow grow out of proportion to healthy cells. Those abnormal cells leave less room for your body’s healthy blood cells to fight infections. They can also spread to other parts of your body and cause problems with organs like your kidneys.

Sometimes, doctors find multiple myeloma while doing a blood test to look for another condition or when trying to find out what’s causing a patient’s unexplained symptoms.

Doctors use blood and urine tests and imaging tests, such as X-rays or MRIs, to help diagnose multiple myeloma and to guide treatment options. Ultimately, a bone marrow biopsy will confirm the diagnosis.

Multiple myeloma symptoms can range from tiredness, nausea and constipation. Other symptoms may include:

• Weakness, dizziness, and shortness of breath, which are signs of a low red blood cell count, are called anemia.
• Bone pain, which could be a sign of a fracture.
• Urinating too much or too little, muscle cramps, nausea, and vomiting are symptoms of kidney failure.
• Confusion is caused by too much calcium in the blood.
• Frequent infections because you have too few white blood cells to fight them.

It is important to know that these symptoms could be attributed to other conditions. If you experience any of these symptoms or are concerned about any changes to your body, you should address them promptly with your doctor.

Questions for Your Doctor

If you are facing a multiple myeloma diagnosis, you may be interested in the treatment Tom Brokaw has had success with. Here are some questions to help you begin the conversation with your doctor:

• What stage is my multiple myeloma?
• What are my treatment options?
• Am I a good candidate for Revlimid?
• What are the possible side effects of your recommended treatment?
• Who will be part of my healthcare team, and what does each member do?
• Can you refer me to a social worker or psychologist who can help me cope with my diagnosis?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

---