My mom's main bone involvement is heavily in her skull and femur ... some in between, but mainly these two areas. Is it strange for the two most damaged areas to be the furthest apart?
Which bones of yours have been the most affected?
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Re: What bones have been affected by your multiple myeloma?
Hopeful, my skull and left side contain most of my lytic lesions. I have a few on the right side. Not sure if there is a pattern or a logical path it follows. My spine was destroyed but, through medical know how and therapy, I can still walk. I hope your Mother is on Zometa as I am. Good luck and prayers for you and yours.
Kully
Kully
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kullybunnny1 - Name: Kully
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 48
Re: What bones have been affected by your multiple myeloma?
For me the bone damage is almost everywhere. I have some serious lesions in my left femur and some in the right. Both of my humerus (humeri?) have been affected enough for an orthopedic surgeon to tell me not to lift anything heavier than a cup of coffee, my ribs were all fractured from coughing in the beginning, but have mostly healed with treatment, and my hips are now being affected and sometimes are painful.
The most cosmetically appealing is my skull. I had two large plasmacytomas that were treated with radiation in April. One went away and one grew larger. Of course, the huge one was on my forehead. It became about as large as the third the size of a softball. It was so big and ever present that I named it and was about ready to take it to get its driver's license so it could at least pull some of its weight.
Anyway, it was radiated again last month and I believe that and the combination of new drugs (Doxil, Cytoxan, Velcade and dex) finally had an effect. It is now just a couple of creepy little bumps. However, last week they held my Doxil due to some skin irritation and I'm noticing some new tiny skull bumps. Sheesh! I think my myeloma wants me to look like a member of the Addams Family. :
At least I'm vertical, I'm moving, and so far my kidneys are good.
The most cosmetically appealing is my skull. I had two large plasmacytomas that were treated with radiation in April. One went away and one grew larger. Of course, the huge one was on my forehead. It became about as large as the third the size of a softball. It was so big and ever present that I named it and was about ready to take it to get its driver's license so it could at least pull some of its weight.
Anyway, it was radiated again last month and I believe that and the combination of new drugs (Doxil, Cytoxan, Velcade and dex) finally had an effect. It is now just a couple of creepy little bumps. However, last week they held my Doxil due to some skin irritation and I'm noticing some new tiny skull bumps. Sheesh! I think my myeloma wants me to look like a member of the Addams Family. :
At least I'm vertical, I'm moving, and so far my kidneys are good.
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Joy - Name: Joy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: What bones have been affected by your multiple myeloma?
My husband has a 'spot' on his skull, his 8th rib was all but 'gone' at first, and a large spot on his left femur.
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becky pritt
Re: What bones have been affected by your multiple myeloma?
I guess I'm in pretty good shape compared to some. I have a 6cm x 4cm lesion in the sacrum, a wedge fracture at T11, and some compression in the lumbar spine (osteoporosis in spine and osteopenia in hip at age 60).
Sometimes my back and ribs hurt, but it's getting better. I have no trouble walking. I have started riding my bike again, but without clipping in to my pedals. Playing violin gives me the most trouble with my back, but I think it's improving somewhat. I'm a professional violinist and don't want to be forced to give it up. I think my muscles just have to find a new way to compensate for changes in my spine.
Sometimes my back and ribs hurt, but it's getting better. I have no trouble walking. I have started riding my bike again, but without clipping in to my pedals. Playing violin gives me the most trouble with my back, but I think it's improving somewhat. I'm a professional violinist and don't want to be forced to give it up. I think my muscles just have to find a new way to compensate for changes in my spine.
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PeggyB - Name: Peggy B
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: What bones have been affected by your multiple myeloma?
This might give you an idea of frequency of where multiple myeloma tends to hit one's skeleton:
"Almost 80% of patients with multiple myeloma will have radiological evidence of skeletal involvement on the skeletal survey most commonly effecting the following sites: vertebrae in 66%, ribs in 45%, skull in 40%, shoulder in 40%, pelvis in 30%, and long bones (femur, humerus) in 25%"
"Multiple Myeloma: A Review of Imaging Features and Radiological Techniques," CF Healy et al, Bone Marrow Research, Volume 2011 (2011).
Interesting to also see this quote in the above article:
"One of the major disadvantages of plain radiography is its high false-negative rate of 30–70%, leading to significant underestimation in diagnosis and staging of patients with multiple myeloma"
The above ties back into the recent great article posted here on imaging:
"To PET or not to PET" (extended forum posting by Beacon Medical Advisor Dr. Prashant Kapoor, July 24, 2014)
"Almost 80% of patients with multiple myeloma will have radiological evidence of skeletal involvement on the skeletal survey most commonly effecting the following sites: vertebrae in 66%, ribs in 45%, skull in 40%, shoulder in 40%, pelvis in 30%, and long bones (femur, humerus) in 25%"
"Multiple Myeloma: A Review of Imaging Features and Radiological Techniques," CF Healy et al, Bone Marrow Research, Volume 2011 (2011).
Interesting to also see this quote in the above article:
"One of the major disadvantages of plain radiography is its high false-negative rate of 30–70%, leading to significant underestimation in diagnosis and staging of patients with multiple myeloma"
The above ties back into the recent great article posted here on imaging:
"To PET or not to PET" (extended forum posting by Beacon Medical Advisor Dr. Prashant Kapoor, July 24, 2014)
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: What bones have been affected by your multiple myeloma?
Wow, I had read 30% but I must have missed the 30-70% range before. That's a lot!
Thanks Multibilly for posting.
Thanks Multibilly for posting.
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Toni - Name: Toni
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self - MGUS
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 51
Re: What bones have been affected by your multiple myeloma?
I have bone lesions everywhere. I had a pathologic fracture of my left humerus which led to me being diagnosed as progressing from smoldering to active myeloma. I had a rib fracture. I had radiation to an extremely painful lesion in my left fibula (small bone in lower leg).
The lesions can develop anywhere. So, if you have bone pain in an area that isn't usually scanned speak up and ask that it be scanned. That's how the fibula lesion was found. Except for those areas, the lesions that I have don't give me any problems. I do get to tell people that I officially have holes in my head.
Nancy in Phila
The lesions can develop anywhere. So, if you have bone pain in an area that isn't usually scanned speak up and ask that it be scanned. That's how the fibula lesion was found. Except for those areas, the lesions that I have don't give me any problems. I do get to tell people that I officially have holes in my head.
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: What bones have been affected by your multiple myeloma?
So, I just saw this conversation. I just had an X-ray on my right foot since my big toe was bothering me. It shows a 7 millimeter lucent focus on the fibula, I guess near my ankle? Not sure if this common. Doesn't seem so. My m protein is so low I'm not sure what to think. I'll be calling my doctor tomorrow but wondered if this has happened to anyone?
Or, I suppose it could be an old lesion too?
Or, I suppose it could be an old lesion too?
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Lucent focus in foot
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