[YT Farz]

Life expectancy (given I've also had breast cancer)?

by YT Farz on Wed Sep 10, 2014 9:33 am

I was diagnosed multiple myeloma stage III a year ago. I had the stem cell transplant in December 2013.

Nine years ago, I had breast cancer (ductal carcinoma) and had a mastectomy. I just turned 50. The protein levels (M-spike) are at 17.5 g/L. I'm not sure about the free light chain numbers and so on.

What are my chances? What sort of life expectancy can I expect? What do i need to know in terms of the lab results -- what should I be looking for?

The doctor says a few years.

Should I be getting my affairs in order?

[Anonymous]

Re: Life expectancy (given I've also had breast cancer)?

by Anonymous on Wed Sep 10, 2014 1:03 pm

Hi YT Farz,

I also had breast cancer 13 years ago and bilateral mastectomies. Did you have chemotherapy back then? I did, and I have ran across 4 or 5 other breast cancer survivors who went on to get multiple myeloma.

My doctor has told me that there is no connection, but it does make one wonder if past treatment didn't cause the multiple myeloma?

[JBarnes]

Re: Life expectancy (given I've also had breast cancer)?

by JBarnes on Thu Sep 11, 2014 1:47 pm

Everyone should get their affairs in order, as we never know when we are going to die. Whether you die early or late only the big cheese knows for sure. But, having our affairs in order to ease the pain on our survivors is the rational thing to do. Jerry.