ankitbhardwaj wrote:
> Please find below the stats of my Mom's reports, can this be categorized
> under Smoldering multiple myeloma?
>
> T. Protein (gm/dl): 10.30
> Albumin (gm/dl): 4.06
> Serum Protein Electrophoresis: "M" Spike 4.04g/ dl
> CT Thorax: Lytic areas in multiple ribs, dorsal vertebrae and sternum,
> IgG: 3812mg/dl -
> IgA: 235mg/dl
> IgM: 29mg/dl
> Skeletal Survey: Multiple lytic lesion in multiple bones (only 1 is very
> prominant and causing pain - in 9th rib).
> Beta 2 Microglobulin: 2708ug/L
> 24hrs urinary protein: Nil
Well, if she truly has lytic Bone lesions (sounds like she does and that you also did a CT scan in addition to an Xray skeletal survey to verify this, if I am reading your post correctly), she meets the "B" in the car CRAB criteria and is therefore symptomatic (not smoldering). CRAB and staging is spelled out here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_myeloma
Based on the ISS staging system, I believe she would be stage 1:
Stage I: β2-microglobulin (β2M) < 3.5 mg/L (3500ug/L), albumin ≥ 3.5 g/dL
There are some other key factors like Hb, FLCs and Calcium and renal function that you didn't cover here, so no idea if she is suffering from any of the other CRAB criteria.
If she is symptomatic, you really want to start some sort of treatment program (and it looks like she already started)....and if she is not seeing somebody that is truly a multiple myeloma specialist, seek one out.
Best of luck.
Forums
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Best Treatment Approach for Newly Diagnosed
I was just reading back through the posts on this thread - I read with interest the conversation about food, supplements, etc. I guess I just have a different take.
I think its very important for everyone to eat as healthfully as possible, but unless you've always been a vegetarian or a consummate juicer, I don't think you have to go to that extreme in order to be healthy. And suddenly changing your diet may not be all that good for you! I have high blood pressure, so I try to avoid salt as much as I can. EJ does not have high blood pressure. When he moved in with me after his multiple myeloma diagnosis, the salt levels in his diet dropped considerably, and it upset his electrolyte balance, really worrying his doc. Now he knows that I don't cook with salt, so he adds it to food at the table and his electrolytes have been fine.
Most docs I've talked with seem to be in favor of a Mediterranean diet with a focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, yogurt, not too many sweets...and a little red wine! I remember how my mother cooked when I was young - on rotating days we had fish, chicken, vegetarian/pasta, and red meat for dinner, with a vegetable and starch or rice. I think that was pretty healthy and I try to do the same, with a little less emphasis on the red meat and a little more emphasis on the fish and vegetables.
Many cancer centers have a nutritionist on staff. If you do want to make a major change to your diet, I suggest you talk with them, as well as with your oncologist to make sure you are getting the nutrition you need to stay healthy, and that any supplements you are taking don't interfere with your treatment.
Just my two cents...
Lyn
I think its very important for everyone to eat as healthfully as possible, but unless you've always been a vegetarian or a consummate juicer, I don't think you have to go to that extreme in order to be healthy. And suddenly changing your diet may not be all that good for you! I have high blood pressure, so I try to avoid salt as much as I can. EJ does not have high blood pressure. When he moved in with me after his multiple myeloma diagnosis, the salt levels in his diet dropped considerably, and it upset his electrolyte balance, really worrying his doc. Now he knows that I don't cook with salt, so he adds it to food at the table and his electrolytes have been fine.
Most docs I've talked with seem to be in favor of a Mediterranean diet with a focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, yogurt, not too many sweets...and a little red wine! I remember how my mother cooked when I was young - on rotating days we had fish, chicken, vegetarian/pasta, and red meat for dinner, with a vegetable and starch or rice. I think that was pretty healthy and I try to do the same, with a little less emphasis on the red meat and a little more emphasis on the fish and vegetables.
Many cancer centers have a nutritionist on staff. If you do want to make a major change to your diet, I suggest you talk with them, as well as with your oncologist to make sure you are getting the nutrition you need to stay healthy, and that any supplements you are taking don't interfere with your treatment.
Just my two cents...
Lyn
-
Christa's Mom - Name: Christa's Mom
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September, 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Best Treatment Approach for Newly Diagnosed
You don't understand about the concept of the diet. First, one needs to be under a care of a Naturopathic Doctor who goes to extra schooling to study diet related to diseases. So you can not make an assumption based on your experience with out training in the field of Naturopathic Medicine.
It is not just trying to be healthy. Alternative Medicine has been proven to work over and over. The diet is based on eating an alkaline diet to starve the cancer and provide an environment that inhibits it's growth. The supplements is building a healthy immune system to help the body heal and also supplements that are known to kill cancer cells.
The body can and will heal when given a chance. So you would need to study this more and talk to people that have had success putting cancer in remission with alternative therapies before judging.
However, you are correct it is not for every one. It takes a lot of discipline to stick with the diet. You can't eat the foods you love before, you have to accustom to new tastes.
There are no side effects to the diet, it will not harm you, it is not toxic, and one of the great results is you will look healthier and feel better.
It is not just trying to be healthy. Alternative Medicine has been proven to work over and over. The diet is based on eating an alkaline diet to starve the cancer and provide an environment that inhibits it's growth. The supplements is building a healthy immune system to help the body heal and also supplements that are known to kill cancer cells.
The body can and will heal when given a chance. So you would need to study this more and talk to people that have had success putting cancer in remission with alternative therapies before judging.
However, you are correct it is not for every one. It takes a lot of discipline to stick with the diet. You can't eat the foods you love before, you have to accustom to new tastes.
There are no side effects to the diet, it will not harm you, it is not toxic, and one of the great results is you will look healthier and feel better.
Re: Best Treatment Approach for Newly Diagnosed
Hi Multibilly,
Below are the other stats, no other issues other than "Bone":
BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) - 12.4
Serum Urea - 27
Serum Creatnine - 0.7
Serum Uric Acid - 5.5
Serum Calcium - 9.9
Serum Sodium (Na+) - 144
Serum Potassium (K+) - 4.4
Serum LDH - 122
Thanks
Below are the other stats, no other issues other than "Bone":
BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) - 12.4
Serum Urea - 27
Serum Creatnine - 0.7
Serum Uric Acid - 5.5
Serum Calcium - 9.9
Serum Sodium (Na+) - 144
Serum Potassium (K+) - 4.4
Serum LDH - 122
Thanks
-
ankitbhardwaj - Name: Ankit
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Mom
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Mar 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Best Treatment Approach for Newly Diagnosed
ankitbhardwaj wrote:
> Hi Multibilly,
>
> Below are the other stats, no other issues other than "Bone":
>
> BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) - 12.4
> Serum Urea - 27
> Serum Creatnine - 0.7
> Serum Uric Acid - 5.5
> Serum Calcium - 9.9
> Serum Sodium (Na+) - 144
> Serum Potassium (K+) - 4.4
> Serum LDH - 122
>
> Thanks
I'm not a doc, but these all seem within normal range. These don't include the Hb (hemaglobin) to show if she is anemic or not, but regardless, bone lesions by themselves are a serious deal and need to be dealt with.. Since your Mom is already on a treatment program, she must already have a diagnosis based on her various test results, right? If you don't have all the doctor's write-ups and diagnosis, you should request a copy of them. Hope this helps.
> Hi Multibilly,
>
> Below are the other stats, no other issues other than "Bone":
>
> BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) - 12.4
> Serum Urea - 27
> Serum Creatnine - 0.7
> Serum Uric Acid - 5.5
> Serum Calcium - 9.9
> Serum Sodium (Na+) - 144
> Serum Potassium (K+) - 4.4
> Serum LDH - 122
>
> Thanks
I'm not a doc, but these all seem within normal range. These don't include the Hb (hemaglobin) to show if she is anemic or not, but regardless, bone lesions by themselves are a serious deal and need to be dealt with.. Since your Mom is already on a treatment program, she must already have a diagnosis based on her various test results, right? If you don't have all the doctor's write-ups and diagnosis, you should request a copy of them. Hope this helps.
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Best Treatment Approach for Newly Diagnosed
Dee777, I did not mean to offend you. More power to you if you have found a diet that you feel advances your multiple myeloma treatments! My ONLY point was that there is more than one way of eating healthy, and no one should feel guilty if they don't want to immediately become a vegetarian or adopt a rigid diet. But if they do chose to go that route, they should talk with their doc.
Lyn
Lyn
-
Christa's Mom - Name: Christa's Mom
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September, 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Best Treatment Approach for Newly Diagnosed
Has anyone here heard of "Soursop"? The miraculous fruit?
-
ankitbhardwaj - Name: Ankit
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Mom
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Mar 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Best Treatment Approach for Newly Diagnosed
ankitbhardwaj wrote:
> Has anyone here heard of "Soursop"? The miraculous fruit?
Before I pass this on, let me say that I totally believe in the benefits of natural foods in healing the body and I personally am now consuming the most distasteful combination of organic fruits and vegetables from a blender that you can possibly imagine
I also believe in novel chemo agents and that each of these has their place and time. That's just me.
But be careful in choosing what you eat. On the web, you can find any argument to support either side of any treatment, including fruits. Here's the negative side of Soursop. It's not hard to find info on Soursop on Google and even youtube videos of how to make an anti-cancer cocktail with it.
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Industry/Toxicology-expert-raises-alarm-over-potential-neurotoxins-in-graviola-soursop
> Has anyone here heard of "Soursop"? The miraculous fruit?
Before I pass this on, let me say that I totally believe in the benefits of natural foods in healing the body and I personally am now consuming the most distasteful combination of organic fruits and vegetables from a blender that you can possibly imagine
I also believe in novel chemo agents and that each of these has their place and time. That's just me.But be careful in choosing what you eat. On the web, you can find any argument to support either side of any treatment, including fruits. Here's the negative side of Soursop. It's not hard to find info on Soursop on Google and even youtube videos of how to make an anti-cancer cocktail with it.
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Industry/Toxicology-expert-raises-alarm-over-potential-neurotoxins-in-graviola-soursop
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Best Treatment Approach for Newly Diagnosed
Its been a month now for my mom on Lenalidomide/Dex regimen. Ist cycle is now complete and all haemotology reports looks to be within range. M-Spike is dropped from 4.04 to 0.77 after 21 days of Lenalidomide and 4 weekly doses of Dex.
We visited our doc today with the latest reports. He is saying that my mom is responding well to the medicines and drop in MSpike is a good sign. But he again insisted to do a ASCT after 3 cycles i.e. two months down the line.
What is your opinion about the ASCT, shall we go for it or shall we delay it till relapse (may be it will never relapse, keeping my fingers crossed
).
I am really confused about ASCT. Any advices pls?
We visited our doc today with the latest reports. He is saying that my mom is responding well to the medicines and drop in MSpike is a good sign. But he again insisted to do a ASCT after 3 cycles i.e. two months down the line.
What is your opinion about the ASCT, shall we go for it or shall we delay it till relapse (may be it will never relapse, keeping my fingers crossed
). I am really confused about ASCT. Any advices pls?
-
ankitbhardwaj - Name: Ankit
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Mom
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Mar 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Best Treatment Approach for Newly Diagnosed
ankitbhardwaj wrote:
...
> What is your opinion about the ASCT, shall we go for it or shall we delay
> it till relapse (may be it will never relapse, keeping my fingers crossed
> ).
>
> I am really confused about ASCT. Any advices pls?
There is no perfect answer and you will find doctors on both sides of the ASCT issue. My advice is to get a second opinion from a multiple myeloma specialist not associated with a transplant facility, nor the same organization that your doc belongs to or one that is open to chemo-only therapy so that you can understand both sides of the ASCT issue. As posted before on this thread, there is a good discussion here on this topic. In the end, it's your mom's decision.
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/looking-for-feedback-on-recommended-first-round-treatment-t1502.html
...
> What is your opinion about the ASCT, shall we go for it or shall we delay
> it till relapse (may be it will never relapse, keeping my fingers crossed
>
). >
> I am really confused about ASCT. Any advices pls?
There is no perfect answer and you will find doctors on both sides of the ASCT issue. My advice is to get a second opinion from a multiple myeloma specialist not associated with a transplant facility, nor the same organization that your doc belongs to or one that is open to chemo-only therapy so that you can understand both sides of the ASCT issue. As posted before on this thread, there is a good discussion here on this topic. In the end, it's your mom's decision.
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/looking-for-feedback-on-recommended-first-round-treatment-t1502.html
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
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