[Lisa73]

A daughter confused

by Lisa73 on Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:43 am

My mom was diagnosed with multiple myeloma 1 year & 3 months ago. She is 61 years old and was told the cancer has been in her 7 years undetected. She has had a stem cell transplant and responded well. Last month the doc told us her numbers were great and no more treatment was needed. We were so excited!

This is where things get confusing. Since then she had back pain. Had xray done to find 7 fracture in her spine. Went for CT scan yesterday to find the number has risen to 12 within a week. Nothing they can do as it is too advanced. She has been admitted to hospital to control the pain, but specialist says she will just keep breaking.

Is this the beginning of the end? Why is this happening if her numbers are normal and what should I expect?

[Multibilly]

Re: A daughter confused

by Multibilly on Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:09 am

Hi Lisa,

So sorry to hear about your Mom. This is NOT the beginning of the end based on what you've said here (but it may be time to get some second opinions).

How is that the doctors knew that your Mom had cancer for 7 years that went undetected?

I'm assuming that if she was diagnosed 15 months ago and underwent a transplant that she must have had imaging done in the past year that didn't show any fractures?

Also, are you working with a doctor that specializes in multiple myeloma and are your confident all of her numbers are good and that her multiple myeloma is indeed not active? Some of the key hings you would be looking at to see if she was active or not would be her M-Spike from her Serum Protein Electrophoresis test, her freelight chain levels form a Freelite Assay and the results of a bone marrow biopsy test.

Assuming all of her current multiple myeloma numbers truly are good and her earlier images were clean, I'm guessing that her bones might simply have been compromised earlier by the myeloma, but are now just fracturing.

You might want to discuss a procedure known as kyphoplasty with the doctor. This is often used to treat multiple myeloma patients who have fractured their vertebrae. It's actually a fairly simple procedure and has provided a lot of relief to multiple myeloma patients with fractured vertebrae over the years.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/back-surgery/description-kyphoplasty-surgery

You might also want to discuss the use of a bisphosphonate such as Zometa to help with the bones

These are just a couple of ideas. I'm not speaking from direct experience in this situation, so others on the forum that have been down this path personally may have some different thoughts.

Best of luck to you and your Mom.

Last edited by Multibilly on Wed Apr 09, 2014 10:02 am, edited 2 times in total.

[Wayne K]

Re: A daughter confused

by Wayne K on Wed Apr 09, 2014 9:18 am

I agree about the "How" in regard to 7 years. This doesn't seem consistent with what one would expect in survival of untreated multiple myeloma?

Like Multibilly said, kyphoplasty should be explored.