This week's poll asks where myeloma patients' M-spikes hover during treatment-free periods.
A few clarifications about this week's poll:
First of all, this poll is for people diagnosed with multiple myeloma (not smoldering myeloma or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance - separate polls for those conditions will be run next week).
Second, if you are a caregiver or family member of a myeloma patient, feel free to answer on their behalf.
Third, this poll is open to anyone who has previously been treated with anti-myeloma therapy but is not currently being treated, and who currently has a stable M-spike. However, you're welcome to vote this week if you're currently receiving a bisphosphonate, such as Zometa (zoledronic acid) or Aredia (pomidronate), to prevent further bone damage. (In two weeks, we'll run a similar poll for people who are currently undergoing anti-myeloma treatment.)
Fourth, for the purpose of this poll, a stable M-spike would be one that has been nearly the same for at least the past three months. If your M-spike fluctuates between two of the poll's options, please select that option that more often fits your M-spike
Fifth, it should be noted that M-spikes are typically reported with units of g/dL in the United States but are often reported with units of g/L in many other countries. To convert from g/L to g/dL, simply divide the number by 10. For example, an M-spike of 10 g/L is equivalent to 1 g/dL.
As always, feel free to post comments, thoughts, or feedback about this week's poll in the space below. They can be very useful to other readers.
Forums
9 posts
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Re: Weekly Poll - Stable M-Spike Without Treatment
Please don't forget that a significant minority of myeloma (up to 20%) of total myeloma cases have no traditional M-spike per se. We are light chain only...same blasted disease, different way to track. Our disease is followed generally by the free light chain assay. Thanks. Terry L.
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terryl1 - Name: Terry
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 10, 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Weekly Poll - Stable M-Spike Without Treatment
P.S. my SPEP's are perfectly normal, but before treatment my free light chains (kappa) hit 16,200 mg/l.
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terryl1 - Name: Terry
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 10, 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Weekly Poll - Stable M-Spike Without Treatment
Please cancel my vote ... I have smoldering multiple myeloma and will vote next week.
Sorry.
don
Sorry.
don
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Don
Re: Weekly Poll - Stable M-Spike Without Treatment
What was your vote, Don? We do not track what individual people voted for.
Re: Weekly Poll - Stable M-Spike Without Treatment
there was an article posted of last week or so that talked aoub patients who achieve a very good partial response 100 days after stem cell transplant, but then go on to achieve a CR after 6-9 months and are able to maintain that (and who do not do maintenence or any more meds)
That article described my situation to a T!. I have now beein in SCR for almost three years, (my transplant was June 2010) and have not done any more treatment other then pamidronate.
I have a few reminders that I have Myeloma. My hemaglobin tends to drop but then seems to come back up on it's own after a few months. I tend to get more frequent infections then the average person and have to take FAMvir and various antiboitics regularly, also have a newly diagnosed thyroid condition which I take synthroid.
That article described my situation to a T!. I have now beein in SCR for almost three years, (my transplant was June 2010) and have not done any more treatment other then pamidronate.
I have a few reminders that I have Myeloma. My hemaglobin tends to drop but then seems to come back up on it's own after a few months. I tend to get more frequent infections then the average person and have to take FAMvir and various antiboitics regularly, also have a newly diagnosed thyroid condition which I take synthroid.
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lys2012 - Name: Alyssa
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2010, Toronto, Canada
- Age at diagnosis: 32
Re: Weekly Poll - Stable M-Spike Without Treatment
For those who are interested, here is a link to the article Lys2012 mentioned in her posting. The article is titled "Continued Response After Stem Cell Transplantation For Myeloma May Signal Improved Survival":
https://myelomabeacon.org/news/2013/08/23/continued-response-stem-cell-transplant-myeloma-survival-impact/
https://myelomabeacon.org/news/2013/08/23/continued-response-stem-cell-transplant-myeloma-survival-impact/
Re: Weekly Poll - Stable M-Spike Without Treatment
My husband had his 1st new birthday this month. Our onc never talked about light chains or any of that. Only his M spike which she originally said would most likely never get all the way back to 0 but it did and has been since his SCT. I wonder if I should be asking more questions about light chains and such. He's 53 now and really breezed through all of the treatments. Had no issues like kidney issues, or any other organ issues.
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LizR
Re: Weekly Poll - Stable M-Spike Without Treatment
I had an autologous stem cell transplant in Feb 2009. My M-spikes disappeared. (I had had a double M-spike at diagnosis.) I have had no maintenance treatment except Zometa. Over the past year one of the M-spikes has appeared, but generally in the too-small-to-quantify to 0.1 range. I am currently being tested every two months.
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barbsarb1
9 posts
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