My husband seems to have responded well to the Velcade/Dex treatments (M-Spike started around 6.0 and is down to 0.3). In spite of the fact that most of his numbers look good, he still feels awful most of the time. His question has been, "If my number are good, why do I feel so bad?"
On 10/26/10 his Beta-2 Microglobulin was 2.60 and on 2/8/11 it is now 2.82. The acceptable range is .70 - 1.80.
A pamphlet produced by The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society states the following:
Relative to M-Spike:
"In rare cases, myeloma can stop making an M Protein and thus, based on lab tests, the condition can appear to be improving, but it is actually progressing, so the patient usually feels worse."
Relative to Beta-2 Microglobulin:
"A cell protein found in the blood. A high level of beta 2-microglobulin may be a sign of faster growing disease."
Now, I've begun to wonder if we've "hitched our wagon" to the wrong star (M-Spike). Have we been under a false impression that he's getting better, when that's actually not the case, at all? This question is also being posed to his oncologist.
Sarah
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Sarah - Name: Sarah
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October 7, 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 72
Re: Beta-2 Microglobulin continues to increase.....
Hi Sarah,
my partner's blood counts show complete remission since Feb. 2008. Meanwhile he had a fracture of the cheek bone in summer 2009, a plasmozytom manifestation at his back, treated with radiation and Revlimide, new lytic lesions at both shoulders in Nov 2010, only treated with radiation. We were at Heidelberg and Würzburg (the leading MM- centres in Germany) for second opinion. It seems, his multiple myeloma became non-secretory. However, his ß2 Microglobuline is also normal, when was controlled the last time. But it is very rare, that a multiple myeloma changes to a non-secretory - at dx it was IgA Kappa.
But I think your husbands treatment was finished not so long ago. Even he did not lose his hair, because of the Velcade, it is a chemotherapy and it takes it's time to recover. Maybe you can do something for his general condition. You should ask your doctor about that.
I wish you and your husband the very best
Caro
my partner's blood counts show complete remission since Feb. 2008. Meanwhile he had a fracture of the cheek bone in summer 2009, a plasmozytom manifestation at his back, treated with radiation and Revlimide, new lytic lesions at both shoulders in Nov 2010, only treated with radiation. We were at Heidelberg and Würzburg (the leading MM- centres in Germany) for second opinion. It seems, his multiple myeloma became non-secretory. However, his ß2 Microglobuline is also normal, when was controlled the last time. But it is very rare, that a multiple myeloma changes to a non-secretory - at dx it was IgA Kappa.
But I think your husbands treatment was finished not so long ago. Even he did not lose his hair, because of the Velcade, it is a chemotherapy and it takes it's time to recover. Maybe you can do something for his general condition. You should ask your doctor about that.
I wish you and your husband the very best
Caro
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Caro - Name: Caro
- Who do you know with myeloma?: My partner since more than 12 years
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Aug. 2007
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Beta-2 Microglobulin continues to increase.....
Caro: Thanks for your response. We've discussed the "not feeling well" with the oncologist and the standard reply is usually that it's the Velcade.
I'm just hoping that the increase in the Beta-2 numbers isn't a bad sign.
Good luck with your partner's illness!
Sarah
I'm just hoping that the increase in the Beta-2 numbers isn't a bad sign.
Good luck with your partner's illness!
Sarah
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Sarah - Name: Sarah
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October 7, 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 72
Re: Beta-2 Microglobulin continues to increase.....
Hi Sarah. Sorry to hear your husband is still not feeling very well. Mine isn't either. He never did have a large m-spike. Unfortunately, as we all know, myeloma is different in each person. Who would have thought mine would end up with the rarest of the rare form. He did get in about 15 days of the Revlimid before they stopped it because of bad blood counts. He just finished up 4 weeks of dex and the doctor said the plasma cells were pretty much cleared out of his blood but he just feels so bad -- can't eat a thing and has a lot of abdominal pain (which we can't figure out why) and is so fatigued and weak. He is getting another blood transfusion tomorrow. Well take care. At least spring is in the air today and it is so nice to see things starting to melt here.
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valerie - Name: Valerie
- Who do you know with myeloma?: My husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June, 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 74
Re: Beta-2 Microglobulin continues to increase.....
Valerie: Bob hasn't had any abdominal pain, but for about the past month, he also hasn't had much of an appetite, and like your hubby he's also weak and fatigued. This is a man that was my "energizer bunny" ......never acted his age, but this is taking its toll.
He is in Dallas at UT Southwestern going thru the Pre-SCT testing, so lots of bloodwork is being done. Hopefully, we'll find out what is causing the problem.
Good luck to both of you - and Happy Valentine's Day!!
Sarah
He is in Dallas at UT Southwestern going thru the Pre-SCT testing, so lots of bloodwork is being done. Hopefully, we'll find out what is causing the problem.
Good luck to both of you - and Happy Valentine's Day!!
Sarah
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Sarah - Name: Sarah
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October 7, 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 72
Re: Beta-2 Microglobulin continues to increase.....
An update to my original concern....
The increase in the Beta-2 Microglobulin is due to issues with my husband's kidneys. They are not functioning as they should.
M-Spike is now down to 0.2.
The increase in the Beta-2 Microglobulin is due to issues with my husband's kidneys. They are not functioning as they should.
M-Spike is now down to 0.2.
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Sarah - Name: Sarah
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October 7, 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 72
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