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Re: Solitary bone plasmacytoma
Update on my husband. He is now being scheduled for surgery to remove the offending rib and the tumor. If it looks like the 3rd and 5th rib are involved they will remove those as well. We are still waiting for them to schedule his next set of lab work. This will happen after he recovers from his surgery.
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Jmiller - Name: Harleygirl
- Who do you know with myeloma?: My husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: January 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Solitary bone plasmacytoma
Best wishes!
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dnalex - Name: Alex N.
- Who do you know with myeloma?: mother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2007
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Solitary bone plasmacytoma
In August last year I was diagnosed with inflammation of the cartilage next to my sternum. My son, a doctor, insisted that I have a biopsy and in May this year a plasmacytoma was diagnosed. Radiation followed, and an MRI scan in August this year showed no further "colonisation" (don't you love it when medical people describe things?) anywhere else, so it looks like its a solitary plasmacytoma (SBP). I am using thalidomide, which knocks you out and lets you sleep through the night, except for frequent water breaks.
When I read about a young parent with a plasmacytoma, it strikes me that I have been very fortunate, in a reverse way. I have been in three plane crashes, two in Namibia and one in Angola, while working as a reporter. The first was in 1978, the second a year later, and the third and most serious aircraft accident was in 1992, while we were returning from an assignment in Lobito, Angola. The three crewmen died, the rest of us managed to get out before the plane burnt to ashes. So, I was fortunate in being able to see my two children who were still living at home in 1992 grow up, graduate, and begin their lives.
My daughter, a botanist, was recently involved in a crocodile count in the Kruger National Park while conducting research for her MSc thesis. She called home one evening to say she was really scared, the croc's eyes at night freaked her out. My advice to her was "own everything that you do. Feel that you are in control, then go on and do what it takes."
I suppose that is about all one can do really, even a 68 year old grandfather. Step by step - own it - do what you can. And good luck to you, because life is so precious and so precarious!
When I read about a young parent with a plasmacytoma, it strikes me that I have been very fortunate, in a reverse way. I have been in three plane crashes, two in Namibia and one in Angola, while working as a reporter. The first was in 1978, the second a year later, and the third and most serious aircraft accident was in 1992, while we were returning from an assignment in Lobito, Angola. The three crewmen died, the rest of us managed to get out before the plane burnt to ashes. So, I was fortunate in being able to see my two children who were still living at home in 1992 grow up, graduate, and begin their lives.
My daughter, a botanist, was recently involved in a crocodile count in the Kruger National Park while conducting research for her MSc thesis. She called home one evening to say she was really scared, the croc's eyes at night freaked her out. My advice to her was "own everything that you do. Feel that you are in control, then go on and do what it takes."
I suppose that is about all one can do really, even a 68 year old grandfather. Step by step - own it - do what you can. And good luck to you, because life is so precious and so precarious!
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ogibson
Re: Solitary bone plasmacytoma
Hi ogibson,
Wow! Three plane crashes??!! I wonder if you hold some sort of record for surviving that many. My son is a reporter too; I sure hope he does not challenge your record. He's based in the US, so I'm not too worried about it right now.
I really like your advice to your daughter! And, as you point out, it fits for us as cancer patients as well. Good luck to you and your daughter!
Wow! Three plane crashes??!! I wonder if you hold some sort of record for surviving that many. My son is a reporter too; I sure hope he does not challenge your record. He's based in the US, so I'm not too worried about it right now.
I really like your advice to your daughter! And, as you point out, it fits for us as cancer patients as well. Good luck to you and your daughter!
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mikeb - Name: mikeb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009 (MGUS at that time)
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Solitary bone plasmacytoma
My mother was diagnosed with a plasmacytoma of the Bone in her fifth rib; it is large (10cm*10cm). It is right up against her lung.
She had a PET and it showed nothing else significant. She did 25 radiation treatments and saw her ratio drop from 800 to 390 (in November). The 390 level was 8 weeks after her last treatment. However, the size did not decrease. We now learned that the level has increased to close to 500.
The oncologist here in Regina, Canada, has recommended chemotherapy treatment to start in two weeks. I am scared of this as it is an isolated cancer and worry that they don't know if chemo will even work here.
Is there a chance that chemo will eradicate the solitary plasmacytma or are they experimenting and have no idea what to do with her?
She is 70 years old, the location is up against the heart and lung. Is removal even an option? Has anyone heard of success with chemo to treat a solitary plasmacytoma of the bone?
She had a PET and it showed nothing else significant. She did 25 radiation treatments and saw her ratio drop from 800 to 390 (in November). The 390 level was 8 weeks after her last treatment. However, the size did not decrease. We now learned that the level has increased to close to 500.
The oncologist here in Regina, Canada, has recommended chemotherapy treatment to start in two weeks. I am scared of this as it is an isolated cancer and worry that they don't know if chemo will even work here.
Is there a chance that chemo will eradicate the solitary plasmacytma or are they experimenting and have no idea what to do with her?
She is 70 years old, the location is up against the heart and lung. Is removal even an option? Has anyone heard of success with chemo to treat a solitary plasmacytoma of the bone?
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greenall
25 posts
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