This morning I am waiting for my husband, only 48 years old, to come home so that we can drive to his appointment. On September 30th, my husband was home from work with a bad cold and a fever. He got a call from the place where he recently donated blood. He needed to see his doctor right away due to something wrong with his blood. Well, my husband got in with his doctor later that day. He explained that it looks like his m-protein was high. The doctor joked with my husband that the donation people probably didn't even know how to run the test. My husband is healthy. Well the week goes by, and we are asked to see an ONCOLOGIST! What?!
We see the oncologist on October 15th. He tells us it is not normal for a man so young to have m-proteins floating around his blood. He orders 24 hour urine, x-rays, bloodwork, and such. He tells us that its just to rule out cancer. CANCER?! But my husband feels fine! So we walk out of the clinic with collection containers in a daze, not knowing what to think. How can his m-protein be fine when his overall protein is the low end of normal?
My husband has all his tests, and we again see the oncologist who informs us that there is a spot on his bone at the top of his femur. It is either calcium or cancer. He also was positive for blood in his stool. The doctor jokes that my husband will be very busy - bone marrow, colonoscopy, and PET scan.
Today we get the results, and I can't even breathe. Not sure where to go or what to even think. I need more than a few years with my husband! Anyone else have an experience like this? I am mentally planning my future, and it is terrifying.
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Re: Can't even breathe
Hi! I am sorry to hear that your husband appears to have been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. It's good that you have found the Beacon site, since you can get lots of information and advice here. I hope that you ask for copies of all of the lab tests, so that you can review them and, as you are learning more, also put the results into some kind of perspective.
If you would like to share where you are geographically, other patients in your area may be able to direct you to centres of excellence regarding myeloma specialists. It's good to have the best doctors available to study your situation.
Many of us are doing quite well, even years after the original diagnosis. Wishing you both all the best!
If you would like to share where you are geographically, other patients in your area may be able to direct you to centres of excellence regarding myeloma specialists. It's good to have the best doctors available to study your situation.
Many of us are doing quite well, even years after the original diagnosis. Wishing you both all the best!
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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: Can't even breathe
Yes, all of us here have shared an experience similar to yours, so you're not alone. Don't dwell on the average lifespan of a myeloma patient given the many advancements that have been made over the last several years. Much of that lifespan data are outdated, as you will find proof of here. There are a good number of members of this site who have outlived that average by a great deal. Also bear in mind that myeloma is much more common in people of more advanced age than your husband and that lifespan average has as much to do with that fact as the disease itself.
This is a great place to find out every thing that you need to know about multiple myeloma, from treatments, how to read your husband's lab results, questions you need to ask the oncologist, to where to go to find the best treatments. Don't be afraid to ask questions. You will receive a variety of answers from the community and, at times, from the myeloma specialists who monitor these forums. It's good advice given by people who are living with this disease. It may not all apply to your husband's situation but, invariably, some of it will.
This first year will be a whirlwind of activity from tests, to induction, to deciding on the best path to take, etc. The best advice I can offer is for you and your husband to learn everything you can about this disease so you can make an intelligent decision on how best to proceed with his treatment. Also, don't be afraid to get a second opinion, especially from a myeloma specialist.
Good luck to you and your husband.
This is a great place to find out every thing that you need to know about multiple myeloma, from treatments, how to read your husband's lab results, questions you need to ask the oncologist, to where to go to find the best treatments. Don't be afraid to ask questions. You will receive a variety of answers from the community and, at times, from the myeloma specialists who monitor these forums. It's good advice given by people who are living with this disease. It may not all apply to your husband's situation but, invariably, some of it will.
This first year will be a whirlwind of activity from tests, to induction, to deciding on the best path to take, etc. The best advice I can offer is for you and your husband to learn everything you can about this disease so you can make an intelligent decision on how best to proceed with his treatment. Also, don't be afraid to get a second opinion, especially from a myeloma specialist.
Good luck to you and your husband.
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Blackbird - Name: Rick Crow
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb, 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Can't even breathe
Great advice from Blackbird. The initial diagnosis work up is stressful and emotionally draining. We have all gone thru it and there is no easy way around it. Learning everything you can about myeloma and seeking out the best myeloma specialist you can find is the best advice I can give you. The Beacon is a great source of information. I wish you and your husband the very best.
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Dano - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 65
Re: Can't even breathe
Oh Sweetie,
I so know what you are experiencing as his wife. My husband was diagnosed in the beginning of September of this year, but I do promise it does get better as you adjust to this new life.
The thing to remember, and I know this is difficult to imagine, is to try to keep on living. They just told my husband yesterday that he is considered smoldering, which took three months to come to.
Like your husband, my husband is very healthy and continues to live his life as if nothing is wrong with him. Hang in there.
I so know what you are experiencing as his wife. My husband was diagnosed in the beginning of September of this year, but I do promise it does get better as you adjust to this new life.
The thing to remember, and I know this is difficult to imagine, is to try to keep on living. They just told my husband yesterday that he is considered smoldering, which took three months to come to.
Like your husband, my husband is very healthy and continues to live his life as if nothing is wrong with him. Hang in there.
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