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General questions and discussion about multiple myeloma (i.e., symptoms, lab results, news, etc.) If unsure where to post, use this discussion area.

Learning Labs

by WeatherNurse13 on Tue Sep 24, 2013 11:25 am

When I started this journey, I thought I had a good handle about labs, tests and the disease. However, once I started talking with other multiple myeloma patients and attending a wonderful support group, confusion set in when I heard terminology like mSpike, lite chains, or comments like "my numbers are climbing up".

As a patient, my oncologist is awesome and he always keeps me informed of my progress and has been able to give me good news since my complete response in Jan '13. For the past year I didn't ask to know lab values and specifics, just if I am getting better.

As a nurse, I'd like to learn more, especially now that I am feeling better and my chemo brain isn't as bad. I have tried to learn as much as I can from online resources in between doctor visits.

Just what labs are most significant and how would I know if the myeloma is sneaking back?

WeatherNurse13
Name: Gracie
Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
When were you/they diagnosed?: 10/2012
Age at diagnosis: 49

Re: Learning Labs

by Ricardo on Tue Sep 24, 2013 11:32 am

This is a great question, Gracie. It would be really helpful to have here, in one place, the sort of information you've asked about -- spelled out to read in one place, instead of just links pointing here or there.

I'm glad you asked this question.

Ricardo

Re: Learning Labs

by dnalex on Tue Sep 24, 2013 5:54 pm

I actually think that all the numbers on the labs are important, as together they give a more complete picture of what is going on, such as kidney and liver function, calcium levels, and underlying infections. The obvious important numbers are the M spike, the kappa and lambda proteins and their ratios, beta-2-microglobulin, along with the amount of the Igs in the blood.

With my mom's rest results, I look at all the numbers, see which ones are out of normal range, if any, and try to put the big picture together.

dnalex
Name: Alex N.
Who do you know with myeloma?: mother
When were you/they diagnosed?: 2007
Age at diagnosis: 56

Re: Learning Labs

by Wayne K on Wed Sep 25, 2013 6:25 pm

It is hard to keep up will all of it, that's for sure. I do think that laymen might be over stressed going beyond the obvious however. I watch my blood counts, my creatine (I have Bence -Jones and had to go on dialysis at one point ), and of course my M spike and light chains ration. I know these are a good indication of where I'm at in my journey.

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


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