Would like to know if anyone has M Spike > 5g/L [5000 mg/L] and yet decided to stop treatment? Pls share your experience.
Many thanks!
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Re: M-Spike greater than 5g/L but stopped treatment?
I hear/read about M spikes but I don't actually know what they are. My progress, or otherwise, is measured by paraprotein levels in the blood, after an initial bone marrow plasma percentage.
Is there a connection or link?
Elizabeth
Is there a connection or link?
Elizabeth
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emibake@iinet.net.au
Re: M-Spike greater than 5g/L but stopped treatment?
Hi Elizabeth, in the US, the term "M-spike" is commonly used by patients and doctors to describe the level of monoclonal paraprotein present in one's blood due to myeloma or its precursors (MGUS, Smoldering Myeloma). It is what you were referring to. About 80% of myeloma patients have an M-spike which is detectable in an SPEP (serum electropheresis); about 20% are light chain only and they have no traditional M-spike. Their disease is primarily tracked by the free light chain assay. I am one of these light chain only types without a traditional M-spike. Unfortunately, it's the same darned disease! Regards. Terry L.
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terryl1 - Name: Terry
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 10, 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: M-Spike greater than 5g/L but stopped treatment?
Hi Elizabeth,
An M-spike of 5.0 is equivalent to a paraprotein level of 50. Different countries report the paraprotein levels differently.
Libby
An M-spike of 5.0 is equivalent to a paraprotein level of 50. Different countries report the paraprotein levels differently.
Libby
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LibbyC - Name: LibbyC
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 43
Re: M-Spike greater than 5g/L but stopped treatment?
LibbyC wrote:
> Hi Elizabeth,
> An M-spike of 5.0 is equivalent to a paraprotein level of 50. Different
> countries report the paraprotein levels differently.
> Libby
I think we need be a little careful here and always include the units with any number when discussing any marker. I'm in the US, and I have three separate reports that refer to M-Spike, paraprotein and monoclonal paraprotein levels. The three descriptions all mean and measure the same thing. But a paraprotein level would only be 10X that of an M-Spike if it were presented in different units. All my M-Spike reports are at least consistently in g/L (I'm not so lucky on some of my other markers and have to convert them when comparing the reports). Remember that 5g/L = 50 g/daL = 50 mg/dL = 5000 mg/L
> Hi Elizabeth,
> An M-spike of 5.0 is equivalent to a paraprotein level of 50. Different
> countries report the paraprotein levels differently.
> Libby
I think we need be a little careful here and always include the units with any number when discussing any marker. I'm in the US, and I have three separate reports that refer to M-Spike, paraprotein and monoclonal paraprotein levels. The three descriptions all mean and measure the same thing. But a paraprotein level would only be 10X that of an M-Spike if it were presented in different units. All my M-Spike reports are at least consistently in g/L (I'm not so lucky on some of my other markers and have to convert them when comparing the reports). Remember that 5g/L = 50 g/daL = 50 mg/dL = 5000 mg/L
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: M-Spike greater than 5g/L but stopped treatment?
An M spike (or paraprotein) level of 5 g/L is the equivalent of 0.5 g/dL. The decision to stop at that point depends on a number of factors. Is this a new diagnosis of myeloma that is being treated for the first time or relapsed disease? What was the burden of disease prior to the start of treatment (what was the M spike prior to the start of treatment)? Do you have low-risk vs. high-risk disease? What treatment are you receiving and how many cycles have you had?
All of these issues need to be taken into consideration when deciding to stop treatment. As such, it is hard to give you direction based on what you have provided. I would strongly urge you to consider the above issues when talking with your doctor about treatment (or stopping treatment) moving forward.
Best of luck to you!
Pete V.
All of these issues need to be taken into consideration when deciding to stop treatment. As such, it is hard to give you direction based on what you have provided. I would strongly urge you to consider the above issues when talking with your doctor about treatment (or stopping treatment) moving forward.
Best of luck to you!
Pete V.
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Dr. Peter Voorhees - Name: Peter Voorhees, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: M-Spike greater than 5g/L but stopped treatment?
Hi Multibilly & Elizabeth,
It was remiss of me not to include the units. In Aus the paraprotein level is expressed as g/L as yours are Multibilly. The 10x difference comes into it when the units for the M-spike are g/dL.
Libby
It was remiss of me not to include the units. In Aus the paraprotein level is expressed as g/L as yours are Multibilly. The 10x difference comes into it when the units for the M-spike are g/dL.
Libby
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LibbyC - Name: LibbyC
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 43
Re: M-Spike greater than 5g/L but stopped treatment?
there isn't a magic number (well zero of course! but sometimes not reachable)
My dr. said if you have achieved over 90% reduction, and are in a very good partial response it is reasonalbe to consider stopping. In my case I was at 6g/l after my transplant, but I started at 98 g/l so it was well 90%. It did continue to drop slowly (even though I stopped active treatment the transplant chemo is long lasting) and it reached zero eventually.
My dr. said if you have achieved over 90% reduction, and are in a very good partial response it is reasonalbe to consider stopping. In my case I was at 6g/l after my transplant, but I started at 98 g/l so it was well 90%. It did continue to drop slowly (even though I stopped active treatment the transplant chemo is long lasting) and it reached zero eventually.
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Anonymous
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