My husband used to drive into San Francisco and get his myeloma labs run a few days before his doctor appointment. The last 2 appointments, the labs haven't been ready, so the doctor discusses the results from 2 months prior. This seems completely pointless as we already saw these results, and ones from 2 months ago aren't really relevant.
My husband is on maintenance Revlimid since his transplant in November 2013, so we have had no reason to change medicines yet. I'm wondering what will happen if this round of blood work requires a treatment change? Will it not be changed until the next appointment in 2 months, when we discuss the labs, or will the doctor call us back in to discuss this?
Do most patients get their labs drawn prior to their appointment and ensure all labs are in before meeting with doctor?
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blair77 - Who do you know with myeloma?: My husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 43
Re: Blood work before or after appointment?
Hi Blair,
I used to get my labs done at the facility where my onc is based. I scheduled the lab draws a few days before my onc appointment so that there was enough time to get the labs done before I saw the onc. But one time the labs weren't ready before the onc appointment, and the appointment with the onc just seemed like a waste of time. So, I can understand your frustration.
Also, the facility where I was getting the labs done had the policy that they wouldn't release the lab results until they had first been discussed with the doctor. So, I was always going into the doctor's appointment without knowing what to expect or being prepared to discuss any specific changes in my labs ... and any changes always caught me off guard and I found myself thinking of other questions only after I had completed the appointment with the doc.
So I switched to using an independent Quest Diagnostics draw center (you could also use a Labcorp draw center) and I get those labs drawn one week before my appointment. Insurance covers this approach exactly the same way as they would at my onc's facility. I love this approach since there are no waits at the draw center, you don't have to sit around in a waiting room with other cancer patients (nothing against cancer patients like myself, but it is not my favorite pastime to be in a cancer treatment waiting room), and all the lab results are made available to me online a few days before I see my onc so that I am well-prepared when I do see the onc.
I used to get my labs done at the facility where my onc is based. I scheduled the lab draws a few days before my onc appointment so that there was enough time to get the labs done before I saw the onc. But one time the labs weren't ready before the onc appointment, and the appointment with the onc just seemed like a waste of time. So, I can understand your frustration.
Also, the facility where I was getting the labs done had the policy that they wouldn't release the lab results until they had first been discussed with the doctor. So, I was always going into the doctor's appointment without knowing what to expect or being prepared to discuss any specific changes in my labs ... and any changes always caught me off guard and I found myself thinking of other questions only after I had completed the appointment with the doc.
So I switched to using an independent Quest Diagnostics draw center (you could also use a Labcorp draw center) and I get those labs drawn one week before my appointment. Insurance covers this approach exactly the same way as they would at my onc's facility. I love this approach since there are no waits at the draw center, you don't have to sit around in a waiting room with other cancer patients (nothing against cancer patients like myself, but it is not my favorite pastime to be in a cancer treatment waiting room), and all the lab results are made available to me online a few days before I see my onc so that I am well-prepared when I do see the onc.
Last edited by Multibilly on Sat Jun 27, 2015 9:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Blood work before or after appointment?
Hi Blair, Previous to being treated actively again, i could get my labs done a few days before an appointment with the doctor, and know all of the test results at once. Since being back on Revlimid, must get 'stat' CBC blood tests done just the same day or the day before the app't. I cannot be prescribed the drug without having good blood results, i.e. not being neutropenic or other low WBC. Thus, the results of my SFLC and Monoclonal tests are not available that quickly. I phone the cancer ctr. and get the results after another two days! It is a bit awkward, but at least I know the results all within the same week. I don't like to wait a month for results either.
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Blood work before or after appointment?
My labs are done the same day as my oncologist appointment. By the time I see him the results of the CBC and chem screen have been posted. Other results may also be posted, but I don't know which ones. My SPEP, free lite and globulin results aren't complete for almost a week. I usually can see all of my results about a week after my appointment on the patient portal. Although the SPEP and free lite results are 6 weeks old when I see my oncologist, it has been ok so far. When there has been a change in those numbers that are a concern to my oncologist once the new results are in, he usually has me come in sooner than my standard 6 week appointment time. Fortunately this has only happened 2 times in the last 7 years.
Nancy in Phila
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Blood work before or after appointment?
Thanks for the responses. I hate waiting for the labs to come back 
it's like sitting on pins and needles for days!
it's like sitting on pins and needles for days!-
blair77 - Who do you know with myeloma?: My husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 43
Re: Blood work before or after appointment?
blair77,
I know the feeling waiting for the lab results. That seems to be my biggest concern every month. I do have two blood draws per month. Both are set up by my oncologist at our local hospital. One is CBC With Auto Diff and CMP right before starting Velcade. Then there is the larger one that also has CBC and CMP, but It includes SPEP, IFE, serum free light chains, IgA, and interpretations.
I have my lab draw at our local hospital, as I mentioned, and the CBC and CMP are done there. Most of the rest are send outs. My oncologist knows the time frame for the send outs and has my appointments set up accordingly.
I have the ability to see my lab results when they are ready through our local hospital website. The send outs are available for me to view a day later than when my oncologist sees them. Which is ok because I sometimes read more into some of the results than are really there. It's probably best that he sees the send outs before me.
Castaway
I know the feeling waiting for the lab results. That seems to be my biggest concern every month. I do have two blood draws per month. Both are set up by my oncologist at our local hospital. One is CBC With Auto Diff and CMP right before starting Velcade. Then there is the larger one that also has CBC and CMP, but It includes SPEP, IFE, serum free light chains, IgA, and interpretations.
I have my lab draw at our local hospital, as I mentioned, and the CBC and CMP are done there. Most of the rest are send outs. My oncologist knows the time frame for the send outs and has my appointments set up accordingly.
I have the ability to see my lab results when they are ready through our local hospital website. The send outs are available for me to view a day later than when my oncologist sees them. Which is ok because I sometimes read more into some of the results than are really there. It's probably best that he sees the send outs before me.
Castaway
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Castaway - Name: George
- Who do you know with myeloma?: just myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/24/14
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: Blood work before or after appointment?
My experience is very similar to Nancy's in Philly.
Except 50% of the time--my oncologist/ specialist sees me a week later ( after blood draw) and usually the SPEP results, etc are back and on the chart. The Complete blood tests/ profiles are back in 48 hrs. I / they need to know a couple of levels before I get the green light to go to "Zometa-ville".
The days I see him nearer to my Blood draw days, SPEP is NOT on the chart and they in turn fax to me, when it arrives. If there is something to discuss--an RN or sometimes the MD calls and affords me "question time". Usually, I have my answers in the test results.
Except 50% of the time--my oncologist/ specialist sees me a week later ( after blood draw) and usually the SPEP results, etc are back and on the chart. The Complete blood tests/ profiles are back in 48 hrs. I / they need to know a couple of levels before I get the green light to go to "Zometa-ville".
The days I see him nearer to my Blood draw days, SPEP is NOT on the chart and they in turn fax to me, when it arrives. If there is something to discuss--an RN or sometimes the MD calls and affords me "question time". Usually, I have my answers in the test results.
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Rneb
Re: Blood work before or after appointment?
Hi Blair77,
I know I always feel that anxiety waiting for test results, too. How frustrating to go to an appointment and find out about health 2 months ago!
I have my labs done one week before my appointment because it takes that long to send off my blood sample and get my kappa free light chain results back.
Even with my nephrologist, I get my blood work done several days before appointment and then call to make sure they came in. Once I arrived and they didn't have results and he looked at blood work from about 6 weeks earlier. Another time, the hospital contaminated the blood sample and no one let me know - I could easily have gotten another blood draw. So, I check the office a day or so before my appointment.
Cathy
I know I always feel that anxiety waiting for test results, too. How frustrating to go to an appointment and find out about health 2 months ago!
I have my labs done one week before my appointment because it takes that long to send off my blood sample and get my kappa free light chain results back.
Even with my nephrologist, I get my blood work done several days before appointment and then call to make sure they came in. Once I arrived and they didn't have results and he looked at blood work from about 6 weeks earlier. Another time, the hospital contaminated the blood sample and no one let me know - I could easily have gotten another blood draw. So, I check the office a day or so before my appointment.
Cathy
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antelope1225 - Name: Cathy1225
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 25 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
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