Don't quite know how to ask this question but here goes: does Myeloma present different "speeds" as far as cell replication and reaction to treatment, and could/ should treatment take that into account?
I ask because I had radiation in April to 'melt' (my Rad Onc's term, not mine) tumours at T9 and T12, and an MRI a month after the final dose indicated "minimal" shrinkage of those tumours (which, actually, surprised said Rad Onc). This has been a minor concern to me, and has caused me to wonder if the speed question is a valid one.
Also, and I really have no idea if this is even related but am creating the linkage in my own head, so: I presented with two tumours. I had an MRI in January that was ostensibly to see just how bad my discs actually were, that I would be in such pain, which ended up being the primary indication that I had Myeloma. However, some of the subsequent testing in the month that followed during the diagnostic phase of this adventure was inconclusive as to Myeloma: M-spike, Calcium and the Johnson (?) 24-hr urine test came back negative (indicative, but insufficient), and it took a biopsy to actually finally lock it down, and that biopsy came in at 10%... the minimum. So, a minimum-at-best set of diagnostics, yet two broken vertebrae and tumours... is that normal or even anything like usual? I certainly have not read it, and dont at the moment think so.
Or am I just being silly here?
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Snip - Name: John Snippe
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan, 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Does Myeloma present different "speeds"?
Hello John
Multiple myeloma is a very heterogenous condition. It seems like I have a similar presentation of clinical findings and lab results like you. I was first diagnosed with solitary plasmacytoma 2009. Just recently after a new plasmacytoma at L1 I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. All my bloodtests are excellent or within normal range except for M-Spike in serum at 8. Nothing to be found in urine 24h. My father was diagnosed with multiple myeloma a couple of years ago. His condition at time of diagnosis was completely different. His X-rays showed multiple small lesion in his skull and ribs. He had problems with the kidneys and was fatigued due to anemia. I guess that multiple myeloma can present it self in several ways. I hope that your treatment will progress according to the plan. I'm currently healing after vertebral surgery. I'm scheduled for radiation of L1 followed by induction chemo and then auto SCT. Best regards Mattias
Multiple myeloma is a very heterogenous condition. It seems like I have a similar presentation of clinical findings and lab results like you. I was first diagnosed with solitary plasmacytoma 2009. Just recently after a new plasmacytoma at L1 I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. All my bloodtests are excellent or within normal range except for M-Spike in serum at 8. Nothing to be found in urine 24h. My father was diagnosed with multiple myeloma a couple of years ago. His condition at time of diagnosis was completely different. His X-rays showed multiple small lesion in his skull and ribs. He had problems with the kidneys and was fatigued due to anemia. I guess that multiple myeloma can present it self in several ways. I hope that your treatment will progress according to the plan. I'm currently healing after vertebral surgery. I'm scheduled for radiation of L1 followed by induction chemo and then auto SCT. Best regards Mattias
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Mattias - Name: Mattias
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Solitary plasmacytoma 2009. Myeloma 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 39
Re: Does Myeloma present different "speeds"?
My Mother was diagnosed at age 79. She had no symptoms and the multiple myeloma was discovered from an excessive amount of protein in her urine at a routine physical. Her Dr. sent her to an Oncologist for follow-up and they did a bone marrow biopsy. I can not remember her #s at the time but the oncologist did tell her it was caught so early that it really wasn't even in a "stage". They treated with 6 months of Thalidomide and Dex. She went into complete remission for 3 years. It is back with a slight Mspike (and she is having some slight bone pain, but no lesions) and they decided to treat with Velcade/Cytoxan/Dex for 6 ms. She had to stop after 5 treatments because of vision impairment, but will start back in a month if the vision clears up. The Oncologist refers to her multiple myeloma as a slow moving smoldering multiple myeloma.
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brownk
Re: Does Myeloma present different "speeds"?
I think hematologist/oncologists tend to use the word "aggressiveness" to characterize what you are calling "speed". Currently the ISS stage and cytogenetics of a patients myeloma cells are the most valuable ways to predict the behaviour and responsiveness of the disease. Using the cytogentic findings from a bone marrow biopsy the physician can classify myeloma standard risk, intermediate risk and high risk disease.
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Dr. Edward Libby - Name: Edward Libby, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: Does Myeloma present different "speeds"?
Dr. Edward Libby wrote:
> I think hematologist/oncologists tend to use the word
> "aggressiveness" to characterize what you are calling
> "speed". Currently the ISS stage and cytogenetics of a patients
> myeloma cells are the most valuable ways to predict the behaviour and
> responsiveness of the disease. Using the cytogentic findings from a bone
> marrow biopsy the physician can classify myeloma standard risk,
> intermediate risk and high risk disease.
Thanks, Doctor. I'd forgotten the language
I was classified as Stage 2 (because of the presentation of two tumours), low (I guess you'd say 'standard') risk. The biopsy showed 10% monoclonal igG, tho blood/urine work was inconclusive at time of diagnosis this past January. Im working on a bloodwork spreadsheet that I will post when it's done.
> I think hematologist/oncologists tend to use the word
> "aggressiveness" to characterize what you are calling
> "speed". Currently the ISS stage and cytogenetics of a patients
> myeloma cells are the most valuable ways to predict the behaviour and
> responsiveness of the disease. Using the cytogentic findings from a bone
> marrow biopsy the physician can classify myeloma standard risk,
> intermediate risk and high risk disease.
Thanks, Doctor. I'd forgotten the language
I was classified as Stage 2 (because of the presentation of two tumours), low (I guess you'd say 'standard') risk. The biopsy showed 10% monoclonal igG, tho blood/urine work was inconclusive at time of diagnosis this past January. Im working on a bloodwork spreadsheet that I will post when it's done.
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Snip - Name: John Snippe
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan, 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Does Myeloma present different "speeds"?
meeshymeesh wrote:
Hi
I am just about to start Vel/Dex/Cytoxan as my Rev/Dex/Vel stopped being effective after 4 cycles. I do have problems with my vision - Not from multiple myeloma though. What sort of vision problems did your mother have ?
Michelle Gillet
The conversation about Velcade and vision loss was moved to the following topic: Velcade vision side effects? https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/velcade-vision-side-effects-t459.html
Hi
I am just about to start Vel/Dex/Cytoxan as my Rev/Dex/Vel stopped being effective after 4 cycles. I do have problems with my vision - Not from multiple myeloma though. What sort of vision problems did your mother have ?
Michelle Gillet
The conversation about Velcade and vision loss was moved to the following topic: Velcade vision side effects? https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/velcade-vision-side-effects-t459.html
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