[JCampbellVA]

Solitary Plasmacytoma

by JCampbellVA on Mon Feb 11, 2013 1:27 pm

Hello,

I hope I can find some answers here at the Beacon related to my dad, who is currently dealing with a solitary plasmacytoma at the base of his spine.

My father was diagnosed sort of by accident diagnosed with what the doctor considered pre-Stage 1 multiple-myeloma. Around the same time he was dealing with severe sciatic pain which eventually was revealed to be a solitary plasmacytoma. His oncologist immediately ordered radiation to erradicate the tumor, but unfortunately after 15 sessions of radiation it was found that the tumor actually grew slightly which has almost rendered him unable to walk.

The oncologist then ordered chemotherapy by both an infusion cocktail and through oral Revlimid, which my dad has been doing for 4 weeks now. What I am wondering is when he should see any improvement or shrinking of the tumor? Will doing the chemo for the tumor actually help to prematurely combat the multiple-myeloma?

Thank you for any answers.

JC

[Kate]

Re: Solitary Plasmacytoma

by Kate on Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:39 pm

Hi JC,
I don't know if your dad has been tested yet for Multiple Myeloma.
My body had a plasmacytoma which was on my neck and destroyed my 6th and 7th vertebrae. I needed surgery because of a compressed spinal cord, etc. At that time, the surgeon removed most of the cancer and I was diagnosed with a plasmacytoma.
Then I had some diagnostic tests which showed that my body has multiple myeloma. Having "solitary plasmacytoma", as you probably know, means that there is only "that one" cancerous lesion in the body.
Here is a great link to a Beacon article:
https://myelomabeacon.org/news/2012/05/04/solitary-bone-plasmacytoma/
I finally decided to have some radiation soon to hopefully get rid of most of what the surgeon couldn't get. Of course, all my horrible pain was gone once I came out of surgery. The plasmacytoma I had was about 5 cm.

[CMC]

Re: Solitary Plasmacytoma

by CMC on Thu Feb 14, 2013 6:23 pm

Chemo will most likely help your Dad, and will most likely shrink or resolve that Plasmacytoma. He will then need regular testing to look for signs of progression to Multiple Myeloma. He has probably had a bone scan. But insist on a PETSCAN. This will take a look throughout his body. They will also do a blood test for M Protein. But also insist on Freelite Blood test in case his levels are there, but not very small & not detectible on the standard test. My husband was a non-secretor. So he had multiple myeloma, but they didn't pick up on it while it was progressing even though we had regular testing. Both of these tests were requested, but our doctor told us NO. My husbands single Plasmacytoma in L5 vertibrae had been resolved, but he developed Multiple Myeloma and it was not detected because of doctors refusal to order those two tests. When it was found he was already stage III. Please make sure your doctor does these two tests along with regular M protein blood serum testing & 24 hour Urine test.
Oh, and find a Multiple Myeloma Specialists! Don't rely on a regular Hemo/Onc for your care.
God bless you.

[Dr. Ken Shain]

Re: Solitary Plasmacytoma

by Dr. Ken Shain on Fri Feb 15, 2013 6:16 pm

I am at a slight dysadvantage without all of the information. if your father has a solitary plasmacytoma- meaning no evidence of systemic multiple myeloma- radiation to the plasma cell mass is the treatment of choice. If there was evidence of disease in his marrow, skeletal lesions, renal failure, hypercalcemia associated with the plasmacytoma, the a diagnosis of myeloma is correct and initiation of systemic therapy +/- radiation is appropriate.

Solitary plasmacytomas can occur in bone (medullary) or in extramedullary sites (soft tissue: muscle, GI tract...). They account for ~ 3-5% of plasma cell dyscrasias/disorders. After radiation therapy (or surgery) 50% of SPB and 15% of EMP will progress to Multiple Myeloma (multiple myeloma). Meaning that 50% and 85% do not progress to active disease.