One year ago, I had a large plasmacytoma surgically removed from my skull and then radiated. On a follow-up MRI a year later, it has started to grow back. They tell me they cannot radiate again because it is pressing on the brain. I have never had any indications of multiple myeloma, but I suspect this time around it will be some sort of systemic treatment.
My question is, if nothing shows up on blood work ever, how would they monitor the success / failure of the treatment? Would they have to do a follow-up MRI every month? I am concerned about the implication of this.
Thanks for listening.
Forums
3 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Re: How monitor treatment if myeloma not showing in labs?
Hi, Loretto
Sorry to hear your plasmacytoma has grown back. I assume you have had tests to rule out systemic disease at the time of first occurrence? My sister is prone to plasmacytomas and she has multiple myeloma. She sometimes has multiple plasmacytomas that cannot be radiated and then receives treatment to address them. So far the tumors have been disappearing with treatment. She does not show any myeloma in the lab results any more (she did initially), so the monitoring is done by MRI scans. I am not sure how frequent she has it, but considering her disease is very aggressive and she relapses a lot, she has had plenty of scans.
Sorry to hear your plasmacytoma has grown back. I assume you have had tests to rule out systemic disease at the time of first occurrence? My sister is prone to plasmacytomas and she has multiple myeloma. She sometimes has multiple plasmacytomas that cannot be radiated and then receives treatment to address them. So far the tumors have been disappearing with treatment. She does not show any myeloma in the lab results any more (she did initially), so the monitoring is done by MRI scans. I am not sure how frequent she has it, but considering her disease is very aggressive and she relapses a lot, she has had plenty of scans.
-
Gala - Name: Gala
- Who do you know with myeloma?: sister, LgA-k
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 48
Re: How monitor treatment if myeloma not showing in labs?
Hi Loretto,
Exactly what is your diagnosis? Were you diagnosed with multiple myeloma or with a solitary plasmacytoma?
Exactly what is your diagnosis? Were you diagnosed with multiple myeloma or with a solitary plasmacytoma?
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
3 posts
• Page 1 of 1