Treatment followed by SCT September 2012. Revlimid maintenance until Dec 2013. We discontinued maintenance because of a very high eosinophil count. Complete remission.
Then on today's immunofixation interpretation lab test this result: "Very faint M protein detected."
I will of course contact my doctor. However, I'd like to know if others have seen this and what direction did you and your physician take?
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6 posts
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mso - Name: Mic
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Sept 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Faint M protein in labs - what are the implications?
Hi,
After being in complete response for 3 years, my last two blood tests, 8 weeks apart, have shown a faint trace of M-protein by immunofixation. My consultant isn't overly concerned at the moment because my light chains are still normal. Therefore, it's a case of wait and see until my next bloods. He also said that it could still disappear.
I have myeloma and amyloidosis so my disease is tracked by light chains. Having said that, however, according to the IMWG's new guidelines, I do not have myeloma!
Alice
After being in complete response for 3 years, my last two blood tests, 8 weeks apart, have shown a faint trace of M-protein by immunofixation. My consultant isn't overly concerned at the moment because my light chains are still normal. Therefore, it's a case of wait and see until my next bloods. He also said that it could still disappear.
I have myeloma and amyloidosis so my disease is tracked by light chains. Having said that, however, according to the IMWG's new guidelines, I do not have myeloma!
Alice
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AliceNorth
Re: Faint M protein in labs - what are the implications?
I was in complete remission following my SCT until last summer when I had my first immunofixation post SCT that showed a faint M-protein. Immunofixation is a very sensitive test for the detection of the presence of myeloma cells. It was discouraging when mine came back positive after being undetectable for over a year, but then I knew that eventually that would happen, there is no cure at this time.
In my case, I was with my doctor going over my lab results when I got the news. Immunofixation does not quantify how much myeloma may be present, just the presence of it. In my case, all my other labs were in normal, expected ranges, so whatever level myeloma I had was still extremely low.
My doctor and I had a discussion. How fast myeloma was returning is what was key to understand at that point and would guide what action needed to be taken. He increased the frequency of the labs I had been having for the myeloma, to track disease progression more closely, and he changed my maintenance Revlimid dosage. A few months later, bone marrow aspiration was done.
In my case, I was with my doctor going over my lab results when I got the news. Immunofixation does not quantify how much myeloma may be present, just the presence of it. In my case, all my other labs were in normal, expected ranges, so whatever level myeloma I had was still extremely low.
My doctor and I had a discussion. How fast myeloma was returning is what was key to understand at that point and would guide what action needed to be taken. He increased the frequency of the labs I had been having for the myeloma, to track disease progression more closely, and he changed my maintenance Revlimid dosage. A few months later, bone marrow aspiration was done.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Faint M protein in labs - what are the implications?
Like Eric and Alice, I was in complete response for a couple of years before my M spike returned. It was at a very low level, but everything else was normal, including my light and heavy chains, so we watched it for a couple of years.
Last June, my lambda numbers jumped up, so I've been getting Velcade injections to knock them back down. Everything else still looks good, and I feel good, so I'm not too worried about it for now.
Dana A
Last June, my lambda numbers jumped up, so I've been getting Velcade injections to knock them back down. Everything else still looks good, and I feel good, so I'm not too worried about it for now.
Dana A
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darnold - Name: Dana Arnold
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: Faint M protein in labs - what are the implications?
I, too, was in CR following my ASCT for about a year when the m-spike returned, but at a low level. My doctor said that, because everything else was normal, it wasn't something to be concerned about, but that we would watch it carefully. He also told me at what level m-spike he would recommend beginning treatment again. It took another 2 years before the m-spike gradually increased to the point that I restarted treatment. By that time, all of the other numbers that my doctor watches had begun to be abnormal.
I began treatment with the same regimen that I had done for induction, Revlimid and dex, and responded quickly. 2 years later and I am still doing well with Revlimid and dex in keeping the myeloma in control with a low level of an m-spike.
Don't panic. Many of us are living with low, stable m-spikes and everything else in fairly normal range for long periods of time.
Nancy in Phila
I began treatment with the same regimen that I had done for induction, Revlimid and dex, and responded quickly. 2 years later and I am still doing well with Revlimid and dex in keeping the myeloma in control with a low level of an m-spike.
Don't panic. Many of us are living with low, stable m-spikes and everything else in fairly normal range for long periods of time.
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Faint M protein in labs - what are the implications?
I went into "present" in March, 3 1/2 years after a SCT with no maintenance. I was put on 15 mg of Revlimid. It started my protein levels back down, but in August I had to go off of it for 2 months due to low blood counts. My protein levels during that time rose again, but not markedly. I have just started back on the Revlimid and Zometa.
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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
6 posts
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