Dianalad-
When my cancer center first started posting results online so that you could look them up, they didn't post all of the results. I asked my oncologist about this and he said that the myeloma department was having a difference of opinion with the other cancer departments at the center about what should and should not be posted. The myeloma department felt that everything should be posted.
About a year after beginning to post results, they started to post all blood test results and radiology test results. Occasionally they also posts copies of any letters that have been written on my behalf for various reasons, too. Interestingly, when I had my mammogram last year, the results were posted by the time I got home. I didn't get the hard copy results from the department for over 2 weeks. I like knowing as soon as they post the results. In the case of the myeloma bloodwork, it takes from 2 days to a week for the various test results to be posted.
On occasion I set a time limit for my oncologist's office to contact me when there is a result that my doctor and I have decided needs to be watched closely. In every case, they have passed the test with flying colors. The first time I did this was when I started to have a return of an m-spike 1 year after my stem cell transplant. At the time my oncologist and his nurse practitioner were in France attending the IMWG conference, so I gave him a time limit of a few days after I knew that he was returning to get a call from his office. I got a call the next day from when I had seen the results to move my next appointment up by 3 weeks. Which meant I had an appointment with him the first week he returned to the office.
I want to know good or bad what the results are so that I can keep track of how things are going. Since my doctor and I have discussed future treatment tweaks if certain things begin to go South, I know what to monitor closely besides my m-spike. It gives me a feeling of a modicum of control over this disease and how we are managing it.
Good for you in going and getting a printout of all of your results and not just the ones that are posted online.
Nancy in Phila
Forums
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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: How frequently should testing be done?
I started out monthly then after about 2 years I went to every other month. Two years later I went to every 3 months and so on till I was in about my 6th year, then I went to every 6 months and have stayed at that level of testing up into my 10th year.
However my PSA tests are rising and my urologist has put me on 3 month intervals of testing for that. So I'm still getting my share of needle sticks.
However my PSA tests are rising and my urologist has put me on 3 month intervals of testing for that. So I'm still getting my share of needle sticks.
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Nipon Ginko - Name: Nipon Ginko
- Who do you know with myeloma?: ME
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2004
- Age at diagnosis: 66
Re: How frequently should testing be done?
Dear all,
As you can see, there is no one answer to an appropriate frequency of myeloma testing. It depends on the biology of the disease (low vs high risk), depth of remission, duration of time in remission, the nature of ongoing therapy, etc, etc.
Once per cycle to once every 3 months would be an appropriate range, but the ideal frequency of testing should be discussed with your doctor.
Pete V.
As you can see, there is no one answer to an appropriate frequency of myeloma testing. It depends on the biology of the disease (low vs high risk), depth of remission, duration of time in remission, the nature of ongoing therapy, etc, etc.
Once per cycle to once every 3 months would be an appropriate range, but the ideal frequency of testing should be discussed with your doctor.
Pete V.
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Dr. Peter Voorhees - Name: Peter Voorhees, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
23 posts
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