[OlgaMM]

Concurrent Multiple Myeloma and Melanoma

by OlgaMM on Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:09 pm

Hello. I was diagnosed with smoldering myeloma in 2008 at the age of 53. I have IgA-lambda. I have had no treatment to date but my IgA-lambda numbers have started increasing at a much greater rate and my oncologist would like to start treatment in the fall. My other blood work, organs, and bones seem to be OK.

I also have a history of melanoma and had a malignant melanoma removed in 2010. I required no treatment for the melanoma other than surgery. Does anyone have a similar situation with multiple myeloma and another pre-existing cancer? My concerns are that multiple myeloma treatment will exacerbate the melanoma since multiple myeloma treatments can produce secondary cancers.

Thank you! OMS

[OlgaMM]

Re: Concurrent Multiple Myeloma and Melanoma

by OlgaMM on Thu Jun 27, 2013 5:16 pm

Hello. I recently posted a question about concurrent Melanoma and multiple myeloma. Unfortunately, nobody has replied to the post. As I said earlier, I was diagnosed with SM in 2008 at age 53. I have IgA Lambda. My oncologist (Dr. Ruben Niesvizky at Weill-Cornell) would like to start treatment this fall because my IgA is beginning to increase more rapidly than in the past 5 years. I was also diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 2010. It was removed and no further treatment was necessary. Having read that chemotherapy in general can cause cancers in the future, I wonder how it may affect a pre-existing cancer. Does anyone have a similar situation with other cancers? Thank you so much! Olga

[Dianem]

Re: Concurrent Multiple Myeloma and Melanoma

by Dianem on Thu Jun 27, 2013 9:13 pm

Hi Olga - I can't answer your questions but understand your thoughts of melanoma. I live in Phoenix and had my first pre melanoma (incision with plastic surgery) removed at age 20. In my thirties had another pre melanoma (removed from my back and again with a deep incision). My dr said my pre melanomas are related to sun abuse and had a good chance of being malignant if not removed. Sounds like your melanoma didn't spread since you didn't receive treatment. From what I gather, if they catch it at a specific skin layer then the removal stops the possibility of masts. I don't know if treatment for multiple myeloma would increase melanomas, but would assume any change to moles or new ones could quickly be investigated. My dr removed all moles and said melanomas are typically curable if caught early. I have MGUS and wish this pre malignant condition could removed like a pre melanoma. Diane

[Dr. Edward Libby]

Re: Concurrent Multiple Myeloma and Melanoma

by Dr. Edward Libby on Sun Jun 30, 2013 5:01 pm

Hello Olga multiple myeloma,
This is a good question. The treatment of multiple myeloma should not increase the chances of your malignant meelanoma recurring. Hopefully you have been cured of the melanoma with surgery. It is true that there is an increased risk of second (new) cancers in patients with mutiple myeloma who have been treated with high dose melphalan (the drug used in autologus stem cell transplants) followed by long term (at least 1-2 years) of maintenance therapy with lenalidomide (Revlimid). So the increased risk that has been reported is not an increased risk of recurrence of previous cancers but an increased risk of new (second) cancers.
Thank you for sharing your story with the Beacon and its readers.