Forums
5 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Just found out my dad has multiple myeloma
My name is Rick. I'm devastated. Can someone help me? I just found out my father has multiple myeloma. What do I do? First steps? Anything, anyone, please?!
Re: Just found out my dad has multiple myeloma
OK, what country (better yet, state/province, city) are you in?
Is there any kidney involvement?
Is there any kidney involvement?
-
Little Monkey - Name: Little Monkey
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Father-stage 1 multiple myeloma
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March/April of 2015
Re: Just found out my dad has multiple myeloma
As a newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma patient, the first thing I would advise you to do is breathe.
If you give us a little more information about your father's myeloma, and any specific questions, forum members might be able to be more helpful and answer specific questions.
In general, during my brief journey, I have learned that myeloma is treatable and we can live our lives – somewhat altered, but full nonetheless. Life is about adjustments, and I am coming to grips with changes I must make and how things will be a bit different with regular doc appointments, medications, monitoring, and more. But life is about adapting to new circumstances.
Learning one has cancer is a shock, and a shock to loved ones, but being there for your father and supportive is the best gift you can give him. There are new advances all the time with myeloma, and the landscape is different today than it was just a few years ago, dramatically so.
In spite of his diagnosis, there is a lot of room for optimism, so ... breathe
If you give us a little more information about your father's myeloma, and any specific questions, forum members might be able to be more helpful and answer specific questions.
In general, during my brief journey, I have learned that myeloma is treatable and we can live our lives – somewhat altered, but full nonetheless. Life is about adjustments, and I am coming to grips with changes I must make and how things will be a bit different with regular doc appointments, medications, monitoring, and more. But life is about adapting to new circumstances.
Learning one has cancer is a shock, and a shock to loved ones, but being there for your father and supportive is the best gift you can give him. There are new advances all the time with myeloma, and the landscape is different today than it was just a few years ago, dramatically so.
In spite of his diagnosis, there is a lot of room for optimism, so ... breathe
-
moonscape - Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 11/2015
Re: Just found out my dad has multiple myeloma
Hi Minervin:
Sorry for the bad news for your father and your family. You did not give a lot of detail, further to Moonscape's comments, taking a good deep breath is not a bad suggestion. I will add, to make sure that you have availability to an experienced multiple myeloma specialist. If you are near a major city, there are most likely full time multiple myeloma doctors. This is less so in some of the rural areas, where you encounter general hematologists who have only a small percentage of their patients with multiple myeloma. If you are situated in a rural area, as many are, then the thing to do is form a relationship with a specialist (who you will see somewhat less frequently), who will act as a consultant to your local doctor. There is a lot going on in multiple myeloma right now, and you want someone who is on top of all of the options. Good luck.
Sorry for the bad news for your father and your family. You did not give a lot of detail, further to Moonscape's comments, taking a good deep breath is not a bad suggestion. I will add, to make sure that you have availability to an experienced multiple myeloma specialist. If you are near a major city, there are most likely full time multiple myeloma doctors. This is less so in some of the rural areas, where you encounter general hematologists who have only a small percentage of their patients with multiple myeloma. If you are situated in a rural area, as many are, then the thing to do is form a relationship with a specialist (who you will see somewhat less frequently), who will act as a consultant to your local doctor. There is a lot going on in multiple myeloma right now, and you want someone who is on top of all of the options. Good luck.
-
JPC - Name: JPC
Re: Just found out my dad has multiple myeloma
It would help to know more, but I'll offer some basics. My husband, 47, was diagnosed May 2015.
The initial testing your father will receive should tell you what stage of myeloma and how much bone or kidney involvement he has. Type of myeloma and the level of monoclonal protein (M-spike) are two other points of data you want to know.
One test they should have done is a bone marrow biopsy. My husband had 30% myeloma cells. His myeloma is IgA kappa and his M-spike was 2.2 g/dL.
Find a myeloma specialist as soon as you can. You may initially be put in touch with an hematologist/oncologist. That is good, but they see all types of blood cancers. They may start the treatment, etc. while you find a myeloma specialist.
This forum is amazing, so please respond to the posts and use other posts to educate yourself.
I hope this was beneficial.
The initial testing your father will receive should tell you what stage of myeloma and how much bone or kidney involvement he has. Type of myeloma and the level of monoclonal protein (M-spike) are two other points of data you want to know.
One test they should have done is a bone marrow biopsy. My husband had 30% myeloma cells. His myeloma is IgA kappa and his M-spike was 2.2 g/dL.
Find a myeloma specialist as soon as you can. You may initially be put in touch with an hematologist/oncologist. That is good, but they see all types of blood cancers. They may start the treatment, etc. while you find a myeloma specialist.
This forum is amazing, so please respond to the posts and use other posts to educate yourself.
I hope this was beneficial.
5 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Return to Member Introductions / Personal Stories