[Txjewelya]

New to this forum, husband may have multiple myeloma

by Txjewelya on Wed Nov 05, 2014 12:46 pm

Hello everyone,

I am not the patient, but the patient's wife. All of this has been a real "kick in the gut" so to speak.

First of all, my husband, who is 56, hasn't been formally diagnosed. His hematologist / oncologist has said this is what she suspects after seeing his labs and the MRI skeletal survey. He is scheduled to have a bone marrow biopsy on the 17th.

Of course I am very scared. Everyone keeps telling me to stay off of the Internet, but I feel like I need the information and what to expect.

This all started back in April of this year. He had a kidney transplant 15 years ago, and had been doing great up until April when he had his 6-month transplant checkup. The nephrologist did some tests to try and pin down why he had so much protein in his urine. One of the tests, the SPEP and UPEP, came back with the "possible presence of monoclonal kappa bands."

So she just watched his labs closely over the next 6 months until October. She repeated the SPEP and UPEP and the kappa bands went from possible to observed. So she referred us to a hematologist oncologist.

We met her on the 29th, and she did a slew of labs/urine and also the MRI skeletal survey. She called Monday night and wants the bone marrow biopsy based on the K/L ratio, the albumin levels and the Beta-2 levels.

I am so scared for him. I don't know what to expect or what treatment would be available for him since he takes immunosuppressants for the transplants.

Any info or insight you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

[Txjewelya]

Re: New to this forum, husband may have multiple myeloma

by Txjewelya on Wed Nov 05, 2014 7:59 pm

Also wanted to add M-spike was 0.3 g/dL,
Beta 2 Microglobulin was 6.27,
Serum Immunofixation interpretation was - Monoclonal IgG, kappa immunoglobulin present

Kappa Light Chain, Free - 92.3
Lambda light chain, free - 35.7
Free K/L Ratio - 2.59

MRI Skeletal Survey - Highlighted problems within the bone marrow

Any info on this is greatly appreciated.

[NStewart]

Re: New to this forum, husband may have multiple myeloma

by NStewart on Wed Nov 05, 2014 8:20 pm

This is the scariest time while you wait for all of the tests to be completed, the results in and a plan of action formulated. The fact that your husband has had a kidney transplant doesn't necessarily mean that things will be more difficult for him than anyone else. Yes, multiple myeloma is a cancer, but it is one that can be treated and that often one can live with for years.

The chemo treatments that are available aren't like chemo treatments for solid tumors. They are targeted therapies and cause relatively few side effects. It is advisable to get a second opinion from a myeloma specialist if you aren't already seeing one. This is because myeloma is a relatively rare cancer and because your husband has the kidney transplant as a complicating factor. It will be important that your husband's nephrologist and the myeloma specialist work together to agree on whatever treatment will be recommended and in monitoring his responses.

It's possible that your husband may not even need to start treatment yet. The bone marrow biopsy will give the oncologist a better picture of your husband's condition.

When looking online for information, pay attention to the date that the information was written. Anything that is more than 2-3 years old is out of date.

All the best to your husband and you. Ask all of the questions that you think of and someone(s) here will definitely comment. Take a deep breath. It isn't the end of the world. We are here for you.

Nancy in Phila