My mom was diagnosed April 2013. She was 85 years old. She was told if she did not do any treatment she would be gone in 3 months, so she decided to do treatments.
She did Velcade and prednisone then they found it was not working, so they switched her to Revlimid and dexamethasone at an amount too high for her. It made her loopy and sleep all the time plus spiked her diabetes.
They then switched her to 5 mg Revlimid and 4 mg dex. Over the next couple of weeks she returned to herself. She is still on Revlimid and dex, but she only takes the Revlimid every other day.
I have some questions. Calcium levels have been mentioned here. Can it be called something else, because her doctor has never mentioned that?
Also, what sort of test are they doing to see what part of her body is effected?
The longest she has went between blood transfusions is 3 months. How is other people doing with that?
I will like to talk more about this, it is so much information. Thanks
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cluffsb - Name: Sandra
- Who do you know with myeloma?: My Mom
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 85
Re: Mother diagnosed last year when 85 - have some questions
Sandra,
Regarding:
Q: "Calcium levels have been mentioned here. Can it be called something else, because her doctor has never mentioned that?"
A: A state where one has a high calcium level is called "hypercalcemia". Not every multiple myeloma patient has an elevated calcium level. Hypercalcemia can occur when there has been some bone destruction (lytic lesions, osteoporosis, etc) due to the multiple myeloma.
One's calcium level shows up on a metabolic panel test. Hypercalcemia in multiple myeloma is generally defined as a calcium level >10.5 mg/l or when it is at the upper limit of the normal range listed on the metabolic panel.
Q: "Also, what sort of test are they doing to see what part of her body is effected?"
A: Below are all the normal tests that are generally done at some point with somebody that went through being diagnosed for symptomatic multiple myeloma. Most of the tests listed in the Laboratory Test section will also be repeated periodically to see how the patient is responding to treatment.
http://myeloma.org/pdfs/IMF-U-TestResults-2011_f1web.pdf
Other tests like imaging and a bone marrow biopsy may also be repeated from time to time, depending on the specific circumstances of the patient.
Regarding:
Q: "Calcium levels have been mentioned here. Can it be called something else, because her doctor has never mentioned that?"
A: A state where one has a high calcium level is called "hypercalcemia". Not every multiple myeloma patient has an elevated calcium level. Hypercalcemia can occur when there has been some bone destruction (lytic lesions, osteoporosis, etc) due to the multiple myeloma.
One's calcium level shows up on a metabolic panel test. Hypercalcemia in multiple myeloma is generally defined as a calcium level >10.5 mg/l or when it is at the upper limit of the normal range listed on the metabolic panel.
Q: "Also, what sort of test are they doing to see what part of her body is effected?"
A: Below are all the normal tests that are generally done at some point with somebody that went through being diagnosed for symptomatic multiple myeloma. Most of the tests listed in the Laboratory Test section will also be repeated periodically to see how the patient is responding to treatment.
http://myeloma.org/pdfs/IMF-U-TestResults-2011_f1web.pdf
Other tests like imaging and a bone marrow biopsy may also be repeated from time to time, depending on the specific circumstances of the patient.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
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