I am obsessing and always wanting to search for knowledge on the matter and when my heart jumps in my throat with the thought of losing him. I search for survivor stories.
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Re: Husband just diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Thank you for your replies. I may be asking for help and/or support in the coming months. I went through breast cancer treatment myself, but I am so much more scared now for him.
I am obsessing and always wanting to search for knowledge on the matter and when my heart jumps in my throat with the thought of losing him. I search for survivor stories.
I am obsessing and always wanting to search for knowledge on the matter and when my heart jumps in my throat with the thought of losing him. I search for survivor stories.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Husband just diagnosed with multiple myeloma
On my husband's SPEP his IgA was the one elevated at 1802 (normal 91-414 mg/dl) and his urine protein was 223.4 (normal 0.0-15.0 mg/dl) with protein/creatinine ratio 3107 (normal 0-200 mg/g creatinine).
Can anyone shed some light on what these might indicate in relation to his condition and stage of myeloma? I know this is very little but that is all I have until we see the myeloma doc this week.
No bone marrow or scans yet but he does have rib pain, serum creatinine is 2.0 and hemoglobin is 10.0.
Thanks.
Can anyone shed some light on what these might indicate in relation to his condition and stage of myeloma? I know this is very little but that is all I have until we see the myeloma doc this week.
No bone marrow or scans yet but he does have rib pain, serum creatinine is 2.0 and hemoglobin is 10.0.
Thanks.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Husband just diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Dogmom,
A serum creatinine level of 2.0 mg/dL suggests that the multiple myeloma is likely causing renal insufficiency and that he meets the "R" in the CRAB criteria based on that level.
Depending on the normal lab range for the hemoglobin level, a value of 10 g/dL may also represent anemia by multiple myeloma standards (the "A" in CRAB).
Treatment will likely reverse the anemia, renal insufficiency, rib pain, etc.
You can't determine the ISS stage or the risk level of multiple myeloma based on your information. ISS staging for multiple myeloma is based on beta2-microglobulin and albumin levels. Risk level assessment of multiple myeloma utilizes cytogenetics (which require a bone marrow biopsy) and the ISS stage.
But more importantly, the stage isn't all that critical to understand when it comes to treatment. Folks with highest ISS stage usually respond quite well to treatment.
In any case, you really are going to need the results of a PET/CT or MRI and a bone marrow biopsy to really understand where things stand overall. So, unfortunately, you need to be patient as these results dribble in and you have follow-up meetings with the oncologist.
A serum creatinine level of 2.0 mg/dL suggests that the multiple myeloma is likely causing renal insufficiency and that he meets the "R" in the CRAB criteria based on that level.
Depending on the normal lab range for the hemoglobin level, a value of 10 g/dL may also represent anemia by multiple myeloma standards (the "A" in CRAB).
Treatment will likely reverse the anemia, renal insufficiency, rib pain, etc.
You can't determine the ISS stage or the risk level of multiple myeloma based on your information. ISS staging for multiple myeloma is based on beta2-microglobulin and albumin levels. Risk level assessment of multiple myeloma utilizes cytogenetics (which require a bone marrow biopsy) and the ISS stage.
But more importantly, the stage isn't all that critical to understand when it comes to treatment. Folks with highest ISS stage usually respond quite well to treatment.
In any case, you really are going to need the results of a PET/CT or MRI and a bone marrow biopsy to really understand where things stand overall. So, unfortunately, you need to be patient as these results dribble in and you have follow-up meetings with the oncologist.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Husband just diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Well, they did admit him to the hospital due to his high calcium. They are giving him fluids and steroids. He has his bone marrow biopsy and bone scans today so we are awaiting results. We will know more tomorrow.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Husband just diagnosed with multiple myeloma
I'm glad that your husband had his appointment and that they are attending to the calcium problem. You won't get the results from the bone marrow biopsy for a couple of weeks, but you should have the bone survey results quickly.
I hope things begin to progress with diagnosis and treatment now.
Nancy in Phila
I hope things begin to progress with diagnosis and treatment now.
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: Husband just diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Well we are still here at the hospital. His creatinine, calcium , and uric acid levels are all coming down. He is getting 2 units of blood today. They started him on dex. We are still waiting on bone marrow results to add the rest of treatment. His bone pain and stiffness is already getting better and he is eating so much better. We are just happy to begin the road to remission.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Husband just diagnosed with multiple myeloma
We are home from the hospital. He was admitted for a creatinine of 5.0. They started meds and flushed him hard with fluids. He had an admission hemoglobin of 8.4 but dropped to 6.7 while there, so he got 2 units of blood. Our doc says he was very dehydrated. The gave him high dose dex while he was there and his bone pain and nausea got so much better and he ate like a horse. 
I guess it was a combo of dex and getting those kidneys going again.
He came home with a creatinine of 3.5 and a hemoglobin of 8.7. They got his elevated calcium into normal range and his elevated uric acid as well. His bone scan showed some compression fractures healed and they are not giving him any more trouble, but overall no widespread lesions.
We will hear about the results from the bone marrow biopsy when we go Thursday to start treatment. They were pleased that the he was feeling better with the dex alone and it gave him a taste of how treatment would make his symptoms better. He cried with joy. I so love this man.
I guess it was a combo of dex and getting those kidneys going again. He came home with a creatinine of 3.5 and a hemoglobin of 8.7. They got his elevated calcium into normal range and his elevated uric acid as well. His bone scan showed some compression fractures healed and they are not giving him any more trouble, but overall no widespread lesions.
We will hear about the results from the bone marrow biopsy when we go Thursday to start treatment. They were pleased that the he was feeling better with the dex alone and it gave him a taste of how treatment would make his symptoms better. He cried with joy. I so love this man.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Husband just diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Glad that you are home from the hospital and that he is better. It is amazing how quickly the body will respond to the right treatment. Let's hope he can begin the full treatment soon so he can get better fast. Please keep us posted on his recovery!
Re: Husband just diagnosed with multiple myeloma
Tomorrow is the day we learn the bone marrow biopsy results and treatment plan. All we know from his hospital stay is dex and Cytoxan. We do not know dosage, but they are in pill form, and we don't know if another IV or injection med will be added.
I am taking a suitcase just in case. It came in handy last time as he was admitted in acute kidney distress, but we hope to not have that happen again.
I am taking a suitcase just in case. It came in handy last time as he was admitted in acute kidney distress, but we hope to not have that happen again.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Husband just diagnosed with multiple myeloma
We finally have a treatment plan and he began today. He is on CyBorD – 40 mg dex, 550 mg Cytoxan, and then Velcade (IV for now, may switch to injections). He added Velcade due to him having genetic markers.
He has this once a week for 4 months and then he wants to do a stem cell transplant.
I so hope the induction therapy makes him feel better. His hemoglobin was up to 10.2 today and his creatinine was down to 3.2.
He has this once a week for 4 months and then he wants to do a stem cell transplant.
I so hope the induction therapy makes him feel better. His hemoglobin was up to 10.2 today and his creatinine was down to 3.2.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
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