Hi there all,
I am new to this, but my brother who lives in Japan is a 20-year multiple myeloma veteran, no symptoms till now. I am getting second hand info from his two daughters and looking for a little education.
He is on his third plasmapheresis treatment and one chemo (BD) to date.
Doctors want to change his chemo to Rituxan (rituximab). Reason: Afraid that too strong of chemo will break tumor apart.
Latest development: Clot started in brain.
Question: If multiple myeloma is a blood cancer, how can tumors develop?
Forums
2 posts
• Page 1 of 1
-
rrmailmom - Name: Chris
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Brother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1995
- Age at diagnosis: 46
Re: Multiple myeloma tumors?
Hi Chris,
I'm sorry your brother is going through this difficult time now, but it's great to hear that he has been living with myeloma for over 20 years. This is a great and inspiring achievement. I am in a similar boat with you, as my sister who has myeloma is in Russia, whereas I am in the USA, so it is hard. We are very close and I wish I could be with her much more than I can manage.
It is relatively rare to develop solid tumors when you have multiple myeloma, but it is not unheard of. In fact, my sister was diagnosed when she developed a lump in her breast, which turned out to be a large plasmacytoma (this is what such tumors are called). She is now undergoing treatment after a relapse. And this relapse is also manifested in multiple tumors on her skin.
Plasmacytomas can form on bones and also in soft tissue. I suppose, because blood, including plasma, travels throughout the body, multiple myeloma is a systemic disease and can effect any part of the body. Sometimes too many malignant plasma cells gather in a certain area and can then form a tumor. There may be other forum members who would add or correct what I have written.
My sister's first plasmacytoma happened after a surgery to remove a benign cyst from her breast. We are thinking that she already had an undiagnosed multiple myeloma, but the surgery created a 'pocket' for the plasma cells to accumulate. I later read that plasmacytomas 'like' to appear near or at scar tissue.
I hope your brother's treatment helps him.
I'm sorry your brother is going through this difficult time now, but it's great to hear that he has been living with myeloma for over 20 years. This is a great and inspiring achievement. I am in a similar boat with you, as my sister who has myeloma is in Russia, whereas I am in the USA, so it is hard. We are very close and I wish I could be with her much more than I can manage.
It is relatively rare to develop solid tumors when you have multiple myeloma, but it is not unheard of. In fact, my sister was diagnosed when she developed a lump in her breast, which turned out to be a large plasmacytoma (this is what such tumors are called). She is now undergoing treatment after a relapse. And this relapse is also manifested in multiple tumors on her skin.
Plasmacytomas can form on bones and also in soft tissue. I suppose, because blood, including plasma, travels throughout the body, multiple myeloma is a systemic disease and can effect any part of the body. Sometimes too many malignant plasma cells gather in a certain area and can then form a tumor. There may be other forum members who would add or correct what I have written.
My sister's first plasmacytoma happened after a surgery to remove a benign cyst from her breast. We are thinking that she already had an undiagnosed multiple myeloma, but the surgery created a 'pocket' for the plasma cells to accumulate. I later read that plasmacytomas 'like' to appear near or at scar tissue.
I hope your brother's treatment helps him.
-
Gala - Name: Gala
- Who do you know with myeloma?: sister, LgA-k
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 48
2 posts
• Page 1 of 1