Hi! I am new to this site and have been newly diagnosed with smoldering myeloma.
My question is regarding some new labs I received yesterday. My m-spike (paraprotein concentration) went down from 3.1 to 2.4 g/dL. Yay!!! I was thinking this was awesome and wondered if it was due to my taking curcumin for the past 6 weeks.
But, at the same time, my IgG level went up some. It went from 4255 to 4270 mg/dL. Any thoughts as to why? I was thinking that they should correlate more. Am I wrong?
Thanks!!
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tracey234 - Name: Tracey
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 45
Re: Decreased M-spike with increased IgG?
Hi Tracey,
Your IgG will vary over time. Your numbers don't appear to be anything to be concerned about (i.e. a really big jump in your IgG).
To give you an idea of how my "healthy", non-monoclonal IgG varies over time, I did this:
I calculated my non-monoclonal IgG level. I simply take my M-spike number in the first column below, multiply it by 1000 (to convert it from g/dL to mg/dL) and then subtract that amount from my measured IgG level in the second column to get the "healthy" non-monoclonal IgG component in the third column. If I do this math on all my numbers over the past couple of years, I get the following:
1.74 2890 1150
2.15 3160 1010
2.36 3230 870
2.08 2920 840
2.01 2930 920
2.28 3290 1010
2.16 3190 1030
2.21 3320 1110
2.01 2940 930
2.28 3040 760
2.10 2860 760
2.01 2940 930
2.28 3040 760
2.10 2860 760
As you can see, the third column varies quite a bit (ranges from 760 mg/dL to 1150 mg/dL). If one's healthy IgG remained fairly constant over time, then I can see how you might be puzzled by your latest lab numbers.
Make sense?
Your IgG will vary over time. Your numbers don't appear to be anything to be concerned about (i.e. a really big jump in your IgG).
To give you an idea of how my "healthy", non-monoclonal IgG varies over time, I did this:
I calculated my non-monoclonal IgG level. I simply take my M-spike number in the first column below, multiply it by 1000 (to convert it from g/dL to mg/dL) and then subtract that amount from my measured IgG level in the second column to get the "healthy" non-monoclonal IgG component in the third column. If I do this math on all my numbers over the past couple of years, I get the following:
1.74 2890 1150
2.15 3160 1010
2.36 3230 870
2.08 2920 840
2.01 2930 920
2.28 3290 1010
2.16 3190 1030
2.21 3320 1110
2.01 2940 930
2.28 3040 760
2.10 2860 760
2.01 2940 930
2.28 3040 760
2.10 2860 760
As you can see, the third column varies quite a bit (ranges from 760 mg/dL to 1150 mg/dL). If one's healthy IgG remained fairly constant over time, then I can see how you might be puzzled by your latest lab numbers.
Make sense?
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Decreased M-spike with increased IgG?
Thanks so much for the thoughtful response, Multibilly. I think I understand, but should I be pretty stoked about the fact that my m-spike went from 3.1 down to 2.4, or is that just normal variability?
When I met with my specialist last Friday, he said that I had all 3 risk factors (m-spike above 3, bone marrow at 10%, and abnormal free light chain ratio). Of course, all 3 risk factors give you about 1.9 years median progression free survival. I'm just wondering if I now only have 2 risk factors.
While I was at the specialist, I had my blood drawn to see if I can qualify for the new cancer vaccine trial. I'm hoping I have the HLA marker they need to let me move forward. I will find out next week.
When I met with my specialist last Friday, he said that I had all 3 risk factors (m-spike above 3, bone marrow at 10%, and abnormal free light chain ratio). Of course, all 3 risk factors give you about 1.9 years median progression free survival. I'm just wondering if I now only have 2 risk factors.
While I was at the specialist, I had my blood drawn to see if I can qualify for the new cancer vaccine trial. I'm hoping I have the HLA marker they need to let me move forward. I will find out next week.
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tracey234 - Name: Tracey
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 45
Re: Decreased M-spike with increased IgG?
Well, markers do vary over time. I would celebrate the moment and hope that your next test shows similar results. And remember, the 1.9 year figure you are referring to is the median TTP ... .and won't predict your particular outcome.
If you are smoldering and getting HLA-typed, are you then considering the PVX-410 vaccine?
If you are smoldering and getting HLA-typed, are you then considering the PVX-410 vaccine?
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Decreased M-spike with increased IgG?
Yes, I'm sorry. I meant time to progression, not survival.
And yes, I am talking about the PVX 410 trial. I live in Atlanta and my doctor is me of the guys leading that trial. Hoping I have what they need!
And yes, I am talking about the PVX 410 trial. I live in Atlanta and my doctor is me of the guys leading that trial. Hoping I have what they need!
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tracey234 - Name: Tracey
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 45
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