I have seen by a few of the notes on the boards that a son or daughter or brother or sister has had multiple myeloma. I was not aware that this disease can run in families & how common is this?
Thanks for anyone's input on this.
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barbara1200 - Name: barb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 75
Re: Does multiple myeloma run in families?
Hello Barbara - My mother recently passed after a very short battle with multiple myeloma. We have NO family history. Best of luck to you and God Bless.
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ForMyMomma - Name: Jessica
- Who do you know with myeloma?: My mother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March 10, 2014, passed April 23, 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Does multiple myeloma run in families?
I lost my sister to multiple myeloma in '95 at the age of 55. I was diagnosed at age 70. I do a lot of genealogy and haven't seen anything suspicious, and by that assuming it wouldn't be diagnosed.
I do have to wonder if it is in siblings if that could point to environmental causes rather then genetic?
Given the large differences in individual cases of multiple myeloma, I could see it being a disease triggered by multiple environmental influences. I don't think it's out of the question that an individual could be genetically predisposed to multiple myeloma with the right environmental contact.
I do have to wonder if it is in siblings if that could point to environmental causes rather then genetic?
Given the large differences in individual cases of multiple myeloma, I could see it being a disease triggered by multiple environmental influences. I don't think it's out of the question that an individual could be genetically predisposed to multiple myeloma with the right environmental contact.
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Wayne K - Name: Wayne
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, my sister who passed in '95
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 03/09
- Age at diagnosis: 70
Re: Does multiple myeloma run in families?
Hi - My uncle had an IgM M spike (MGUS) for years before he progressed to Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM). When first diagnosed with IgG MGUS, my oncologist asked whether there were any blood cancers in our family, and I told her about my uncle's WM. She said WM and multiple myeloma are cousin disorders since they both involve B lymphocytes and have similar pathological findings. My uncle lived in CA and I live in AZ.
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Dianem
Re: Does multiple myeloma run in families?
Thanks to everyone for replying. The reason I asked is that I have an 80 year old brother who lives in Florida with some very strange complaints. Back pain, dizziness, balance problems -- many of these things could be problems just from being 80 years old. I do think I will ask him to mention to his doctor that I have multiple myeloma. I was lucky my doc was able to pick mine up by suggesting we do a protein M spike level, because it doesn't seem like a very common thing to check.
Best wishes to all of you and, hopefully, in 2014 they will come closer to a cure for this difficult disease.
Best wishes to all of you and, hopefully, in 2014 they will come closer to a cure for this difficult disease.
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barbara1200 - Name: barb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 75
Re: Does multiple myeloma run in families?
Hi Barbara,
My father had multiple myeloma. The same year he passed away, I started with skin and nerve amyloidosis symptoms. Last year I was diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma and amyloidosis. His oncologist told me it was just a coincidence that I would have the same rare blood cancer that my father had, but I wondered if an abnormal gene had something to do with it also.
Hopefully your brother feels better soon and his symptoms go away.
My father had multiple myeloma. The same year he passed away, I started with skin and nerve amyloidosis symptoms. Last year I was diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma and amyloidosis. His oncologist told me it was just a coincidence that I would have the same rare blood cancer that my father had, but I wondered if an abnormal gene had something to do with it also.
Hopefully your brother feels better soon and his symptoms go away.
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3334 - Name: Margo
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself, father
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Myself - Feb 2013, Father - Sept 2003
Re: Does multiple myeloma run in families?
Boy that does make you wonder, doesn't it. At least from the forum here, there seems to be some relationship between family members & multiple myeloma. There are too many in families that get this rare disease for it to be just a coincidence. I hope you are one of the ones that your smoldering myeloma does not turn into full blown multiple myeloma.
By the way, what is amyloidosis?
Best wishes to you.
By the way, what is amyloidosis?
Best wishes to you.
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barbara1200 - Name: barb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 75
Re: Does multiple myeloma run in families?
Hi Barbara,
Amyloidosis is a disease that occurs when proteins accumulate in organs such as the heart, kidney, liver, or intestines.
There are three major types of amyloidosis: primary, secondary, and hereditary. Each type of amyloidosis is classified by its underlying causes and the type of protein that accumulates in organs.
Primary amyloidosis (often called AL amyloidosis) is the most common form of amyloidosis and the only form that occurs with multiple myeloma. It is caused by fragments of abnormal antibodies (called light chains). These light chains stick to one another and accumulate in organs throughout the body. Although the exact cause of primary amyloidosis is unknown, the disease starts in the bone marrow.
Secondary amyloidosis is caused by a chronic infection or inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment of the underlying chronic infection or inflammatory disease can slow or stop the progression of this type of amyloidosis.
Hereditary amyloidosis is a rare type of the disease and the only type that is inherited. Most commonly, a mutation of a protein made in the liver leads to protein accumulation in organs for this type of amyloidosis.
This explanation is from an article here at the Beacon about amyloidosis. Here's the link:
Multiple Myeloma-Associated Amyloidosis – What Every Patient Should Know
Amyloidosis is a disease that occurs when proteins accumulate in organs such as the heart, kidney, liver, or intestines.
There are three major types of amyloidosis: primary, secondary, and hereditary. Each type of amyloidosis is classified by its underlying causes and the type of protein that accumulates in organs.
Primary amyloidosis (often called AL amyloidosis) is the most common form of amyloidosis and the only form that occurs with multiple myeloma. It is caused by fragments of abnormal antibodies (called light chains). These light chains stick to one another and accumulate in organs throughout the body. Although the exact cause of primary amyloidosis is unknown, the disease starts in the bone marrow.
Secondary amyloidosis is caused by a chronic infection or inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment of the underlying chronic infection or inflammatory disease can slow or stop the progression of this type of amyloidosis.
Hereditary amyloidosis is a rare type of the disease and the only type that is inherited. Most commonly, a mutation of a protein made in the liver leads to protein accumulation in organs for this type of amyloidosis.
This explanation is from an article here at the Beacon about amyloidosis. Here's the link:
Multiple Myeloma-Associated Amyloidosis – What Every Patient Should Know
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