[Gala]

Surgeries, scar tissue, and multiple myeloma

by Gala on Tue Mar 28, 2017 9:55 pm

Just found this article here on Beacon when trying to make sense of my sister's multiple myeloma presentation. The article is about some concern related to scar tissue being a possible trigger for extramedullary tumors:

"Researchers Express Concern About Scar Tissue And Extramedullary Disease In Multiple Myeloma Patients," The Myeloma Beacon, March 20, 2014

My sister's rare presentation seems to confirm this view. She was first diagnosed following surgery to remove a benign lump in her breast. Very soon after the surgery she developed a large painful lump in that same breast. The doctors who had just removed a benign tumor were not concerned and thought it was to do with the healing process. They were surprised to find a malignancy and rushed with mastectomy and removal of lymph nodes. The tumor turned out to be a plasmacytoma, and my sister was then diagnosed with multiple myeloma following further testing. She had been unwell for a while with bone pains and abnormal blood test results, but multiple myeloma was never suspected until that plasmacytoma emerged in the breast.

My sister had treatment and a transplant. She did have a case of cutaneous plasmacytomas in between that were successfully treated with chemo.

Now, 3 months post her transplant, she has developed another plasmacytoma on the scar where her port is fitted! Another surgery site. I started suspecting a link and managed to find the article that confirms that a link could exist. People with extramedullary disease may need to think very carefully when going for surgery and keep a close eye on any strange lesions that may pop up.