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?
Forums
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WeatherNurse13 - Name: Gracie
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 10/2012
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Learning Labs
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.
I'm glad you asked this question.
Re: Learning Labs
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.
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.
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dnalex - Name: Alex N.
- Who do you know with myeloma?: mother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2007
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Learning Labs
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.
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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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