Hi,
I have found out the staging of my husband's myeloma and it is IgA, Stage 3A. His IgA is 94.0. There are of course a whole bunch of other numbers but I don't know if the abbreviations are the same in Bulgarian as they are in English so I won't bother writing them down.
What I would like to know is whether IgA myeloma is very aggressive. They have just said that they are pleased with his first cycle of treatment and he will need between 4 to 6 cycles. They also doubt that he will be able to have stem cell transplant (SCT) due to heart failure and his age.
Can good results be achieved with this stage and not having SCT?
Sharon.
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Re: IgA multiple myeloma, Stage 3A
Sharona,
An IgA type of multiple myeloma is really no better or worse than an IgG type, which is more common. The fact that he is stage 3 (not sure what the designation A means) indicates that the multiple myeloma has done more damage and is further along . However, designation does not indicate whether or not it is of an aggressive type. The fact that he is responding to treatment is good news.
Many people, including myself, have not had a SCT but have responded well to drug treatment. The key will be how long will he respond. If the multiple myeloma is not real aggressive he may be eventually put on maintenance dosages and hold a steady or remissive state for years. I for example have been in a remissive state for for over 4 1/2 years since I originally started treatment.
Ron
An IgA type of multiple myeloma is really no better or worse than an IgG type, which is more common. The fact that he is stage 3 (not sure what the designation A means) indicates that the multiple myeloma has done more damage and is further along . However, designation does not indicate whether or not it is of an aggressive type. The fact that he is responding to treatment is good news.
Many people, including myself, have not had a SCT but have responded well to drug treatment. The key will be how long will he respond. If the multiple myeloma is not real aggressive he may be eventually put on maintenance dosages and hold a steady or remissive state for years. I for example have been in a remissive state for for over 4 1/2 years since I originally started treatment.
Ron
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Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: IgA multiple myeloma, Stage 3A
Hello Sharona,
Ron is on the mark here (as usual). Your husbands physicians are probably referring to the older Durie-Salmon staging system in which Stages I, II, and III can be divided into A or B depending on serum creatinine (kidney function):
A: serum creatinine < 2 mg/dL (< 177 μmol/L)
B: serum creatinine > 2 mg/dL (> 177 μmol/L)
It is true that in the past IgA myeloma was thought of as more aggressive. In 2013 however other factors override this. Prognosis is currently based on the Durie-Salmon stage or the International staging system (ISS). In addition, the cytogenetics (FISH) of the individual patient's myeloma reflect strongly on prognosis.
Because of the high cost and lack of data demonstrating efficacy in older patients, countries outside of the United States generally will not pay for stem cell transplanation for patients older than 65. Fortunately, a stem cell transplant is not the only way to achieve long lasting results and overall survival. With the newer drugs that are now available many patients are enjoying longer high quality lives.
I wish your husband the best in his battle with this challenging disease.
Ron is on the mark here (as usual). Your husbands physicians are probably referring to the older Durie-Salmon staging system in which Stages I, II, and III can be divided into A or B depending on serum creatinine (kidney function):
A: serum creatinine < 2 mg/dL (< 177 μmol/L)
B: serum creatinine > 2 mg/dL (> 177 μmol/L)
It is true that in the past IgA myeloma was thought of as more aggressive. In 2013 however other factors override this. Prognosis is currently based on the Durie-Salmon stage or the International staging system (ISS). In addition, the cytogenetics (FISH) of the individual patient's myeloma reflect strongly on prognosis.
Because of the high cost and lack of data demonstrating efficacy in older patients, countries outside of the United States generally will not pay for stem cell transplanation for patients older than 65. Fortunately, a stem cell transplant is not the only way to achieve long lasting results and overall survival. With the newer drugs that are now available many patients are enjoying longer high quality lives.
I wish your husband the best in his battle with this challenging disease.
-
Dr. Edward Libby - Name: Edward Libby, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: IgA multiple myeloma, Stage 3A
Thank you ever so much Ron and Dr Libby.
I am really struggling to get my head around all that is multiple myeloma. I will do better if I start having all his paperwork translated so I can understand the numbers and the abbreviations better. I know I will learn more as time goes on but, for now, thanks again for your reply's.
My Husband isn't interested in knowing anything about the disease or his treatment. He just says "I've got cancer and if the meds work brilliant, and if they don't it's bad news, but nothing we can do so stop worrying". I personally think it's a brilliant attitude to have, he certainly doesn't spend his days worrying about what will be, he just takes in on the chin and gets on with life.
Ron I want to wish you all the best and please know that your reply has given me no end of comfort. Keep fighting lovely man.
I am really struggling to get my head around all that is multiple myeloma. I will do better if I start having all his paperwork translated so I can understand the numbers and the abbreviations better. I know I will learn more as time goes on but, for now, thanks again for your reply's.
My Husband isn't interested in knowing anything about the disease or his treatment. He just says "I've got cancer and if the meds work brilliant, and if they don't it's bad news, but nothing we can do so stop worrying". I personally think it's a brilliant attitude to have, he certainly doesn't spend his days worrying about what will be, he just takes in on the chin and gets on with life.
Ron I want to wish you all the best and please know that your reply has given me no end of comfort. Keep fighting lovely man.
Re: IgA multiple myeloma, Stage 3A
We found out August 3, 2011 that my husband had multiple myeloma IgA lambda Stage 3. He was 42 at the time. I started that day keeping a notebook of all visits and reports from the docs office and hospital stay(s). As I listen to the information, I take notes. This helps after we leave and are talking about the visit. It has also helped me by being able to reflect back at where we started and where we are today.
He did his 1st autologous stem cell transplant (SCT) in January of 2012 and his 2nd auto SCT in September 2012. There are options for multiple myeloma treatment. I agree with the two above about finding a doc you can trust and one you feel at ease discussing anything. The more you ask the more you will understand.
As a caregiver, I found myself digging for information. Be very careful when reading about multiple myeloma (or anything) because, as our doc said the first time I met him at the hospital, "when looking up multiple myeloma you will find the Good, Bad, and the Ugly ... read the good because the Bad and Ugly are different for everyone!"
Stay Positive and God Bless you and your family!
He did his 1st autologous stem cell transplant (SCT) in January of 2012 and his 2nd auto SCT in September 2012. There are options for multiple myeloma treatment. I agree with the two above about finding a doc you can trust and one you feel at ease discussing anything. The more you ask the more you will understand.
As a caregiver, I found myself digging for information. Be very careful when reading about multiple myeloma (or anything) because, as our doc said the first time I met him at the hospital, "when looking up multiple myeloma you will find the Good, Bad, and the Ugly ... read the good because the Bad and Ugly are different for everyone!"
Stay Positive and God Bless you and your family!
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Brucke
Re: IgA multiple myeloma, Stage 3A
Hi Sharona,
Just as a quick follow-up to Dr. Libby's feedback, the usual way myeloma specialists describe how resistant a patient's disease is to treatment is by classifying patients as either "high risk", "standard risk", or "low risk."
The current consensus recommendation on how to make such a classification is described in an article The Beacon published last month, "Experts Publish Consensus Risk Classification For Multiple Myeloma".
All the best,
The Myeloma Beacon Staff
Just as a quick follow-up to Dr. Libby's feedback, the usual way myeloma specialists describe how resistant a patient's disease is to treatment is by classifying patients as either "high risk", "standard risk", or "low risk."
The current consensus recommendation on how to make such a classification is described in an article The Beacon published last month, "Experts Publish Consensus Risk Classification For Multiple Myeloma".
All the best,
The Myeloma Beacon Staff
Re: IgA multiple myeloma, Stage 3A
Hi Beacon Staff, they have said that Eric is intermediate to high risk. I still havn't had the chance to have all his results translated from Bulgarian to English but the told told me about the risk factor.
Thank you all for your comments.
Thank you all for your comments.
7 posts
• Page 1 of 1