Hi. I am not diagnosed but am in the midst of some testing and am anxious (nervous) to find out what all my results mean. I am 33, a breast cancer survivor, and I found out shortly after my cancer dx, during a baseline DXA scan than I have osteoporosis. (The DXA was done pre-treatment as a baseline, since the medication I am on can cause bone loss. I was disappointed, of course, to find out that I ALREADY have significant bone loss independent of my cancer treatment.)
Just this past month I had an Xray for a suspected T12 fracture which confirmed I do indeed have a (healed) compression fracture at that point. The Xray also showed demineralization along the entire spine. I asked my endocrinologist for some additional testing to try to determine the underlying cause of my osteo since we have found nothing yet. He ordered serum & urine electrophoresis, and I just got my results over the weekend. Serum normal, urine interpretation reads:
"URINE PROTEIN ELECTROPHORESIS REVEALS A SLIGHT RESTRICTION IN THE GAMMA REGION THAT MAY INDICATE THE PRESENCE OF A MONOCLONAL IMMUNOGLOBULIN. SUGGEST URINE IMMUNOFIXATION ELECTROPHORESIS IF CLINICALLY INDICATED."
Also, my 24-hour creatinine is at 325 mg/dL, when my lab's standard range is 20-320. I am waiting to hear from endocrinologist about what all this means, but I wanted to post here and find out 1) if multiple myeloma bone deterioration would show up at bone demineralization/osteoporosis on an Xray; 2) what all this means! Does this sound like multiple myeloma?
I have also been struggling with nausea lately with no apparent cause. My calcium levels are normal. I know further testing is needed. Which additional tests should i expect next, and will these be able to make a diagnosis?
Thank you so much. I have become well-versed in all things breast cancer over the past year, but everything multiple myeloma is Greek to me!
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Re: What does multiple myeloma bone damage look like?
hi Megadele, Thanks for sharing your medical story to date. I am sorry to hear that you have already had great cancer, but it's good to know that you are a survivor from that.
My bone loss from myeloma first showed up as a high 'T-score' on Xrays. Subsequent to my dx, I had many treatments with bisphonate drugs that build up the bone again, and am much stronger now than then.
When I was receiving bisphosphonate treatments, I met some breast cancer patients who were also receiving the same treatment...meant to build up their bones also!
I hope that you don't have myeloma...possibly MGUS, or SMM, BUT i am sure that you will find that out soon. Possibly you will also be on bone building treatments.
Hope that helps...I could see some similarity between your situation and mine, although i am much older. We initially thought that my osteopoenia was age related, but it turned out to be related to myeloma.
My bone loss from myeloma first showed up as a high 'T-score' on Xrays. Subsequent to my dx, I had many treatments with bisphonate drugs that build up the bone again, and am much stronger now than then.
When I was receiving bisphosphonate treatments, I met some breast cancer patients who were also receiving the same treatment...meant to build up their bones also!
I hope that you don't have myeloma...possibly MGUS, or SMM, BUT i am sure that you will find that out soon. Possibly you will also be on bone building treatments.
Hope that helps...I could see some similarity between your situation and mine, although i am much older. We initially thought that my osteopoenia was age related, but it turned out to be related to myeloma.
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: What does multiple myeloma bone damage look like?
Hello,
Although a male, I happen to read an article about types of cancer that "destroy" the bone. Myeloma surely does; but I am certain that some types of breast cancer also has that property. They both may prohibit blood flow to the bones, thus making the bone cells die. As the bone cells die, the calcium level in your blood may rise, and furthermore may compromise your kidney function.
But this property only applies to a certain type of breast cancer--not all, I forgot which ones do. So, it may just be because of the breast cancer. I may be wrong, but quite sure about the article I read.
I'm glad that you dodged the bullet! Also, I sincerely hope that it's not myeloma.
Although a male, I happen to read an article about types of cancer that "destroy" the bone. Myeloma surely does; but I am certain that some types of breast cancer also has that property. They both may prohibit blood flow to the bones, thus making the bone cells die. As the bone cells die, the calcium level in your blood may rise, and furthermore may compromise your kidney function.
But this property only applies to a certain type of breast cancer--not all, I forgot which ones do. So, it may just be because of the breast cancer. I may be wrong, but quite sure about the article I read.
I'm glad that you dodged the bullet! Also, I sincerely hope that it's not myeloma.
Re: What does multiple myeloma bone damage look like?
Hello from cloudy Seattle Megadele,
Nothing in your post strongly suggests a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. First of all.... myeloma is very uncommon in people of your age ( I am not saying it doesnt happen but not often). I would also ask you to look at the DEXA results to be certain they concluded that you have osteoporosis and not osteopenia as these have very different implications for your health. Plain Xrays can suggest osteopenia/osteoporosis but they cannot be used to confirm the diagnosis. They are suggestive only. If your internist or endocrinologist have any questions about these results they should refer you to a Hematologist/Oncologist.
Thank you for sharing your questions with the Beacon and its readers !
Nothing in your post strongly suggests a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. First of all.... myeloma is very uncommon in people of your age ( I am not saying it doesnt happen but not often). I would also ask you to look at the DEXA results to be certain they concluded that you have osteoporosis and not osteopenia as these have very different implications for your health. Plain Xrays can suggest osteopenia/osteoporosis but they cannot be used to confirm the diagnosis. They are suggestive only. If your internist or endocrinologist have any questions about these results they should refer you to a Hematologist/Oncologist.
Thank you for sharing your questions with the Beacon and its readers !
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Dr. Edward Libby - Name: Edward Libby, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: What does multiple myeloma bone damage look like?
Thank you for the responses.
Dr. Libby, my Z-scores do indicate that I have osteoporosis at one site and osteopenia at 2 sites. I know that this is unusual to have with no identified underlying cause at my age, which is why I asked for additional testing to try to see if there is anything else going on. I am also waiting for 24-hour urine cortisol results and hope to hear back on those this week. I am assuming they will go ahead with the immunifixation...what does that test entail? Will that give a better picture of if/what kinds paraproteins I may have and at what concentrations? (I hope I am using the correct terminology...lots of Googling and online article reading over the last 24-hours, but I'm still trying to figure out what everything means.)
tpt, thank you for passing along the information you read in that article. Do you think perhaps it was talking about cases of breast cancer metastases to the bone? I have not heard of a particular type of breast cancer that causes bone damage (other than any breast cancer that metastasizes), but I will have to look into this more.
Nancy, thank you for your helpful response and well wishes!
I wish you all the best in your treatments and that you would be in the best health possible. Isn't cancer a bugger?
Best to you all.
Dr. Libby, my Z-scores do indicate that I have osteoporosis at one site and osteopenia at 2 sites. I know that this is unusual to have with no identified underlying cause at my age, which is why I asked for additional testing to try to see if there is anything else going on. I am also waiting for 24-hour urine cortisol results and hope to hear back on those this week. I am assuming they will go ahead with the immunifixation...what does that test entail? Will that give a better picture of if/what kinds paraproteins I may have and at what concentrations? (I hope I am using the correct terminology...lots of Googling and online article reading over the last 24-hours, but I'm still trying to figure out what everything means.)
tpt, thank you for passing along the information you read in that article. Do you think perhaps it was talking about cases of breast cancer metastases to the bone? I have not heard of a particular type of breast cancer that causes bone damage (other than any breast cancer that metastasizes), but I will have to look into this more.
Nancy, thank you for your helpful response and well wishes!
I wish you all the best in your treatments and that you would be in the best health possible. Isn't cancer a bugger?
Best to you all.
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megadele
Re: What does multiple myeloma bone damage look like?
Hello again Megadele,
Whatever the immunofixation shows, you will have only a small amount of monoclonal protein in your urine. If you had a large amount of monoclonal protein it would be visible by the serum electophoresis without needing an immunofixation analysis. The immunofixation can usually be run on the blood you have already given if the physican requests it.
Whatever the immunofixation shows, you will have only a small amount of monoclonal protein in your urine. If you had a large amount of monoclonal protein it would be visible by the serum electophoresis without needing an immunofixation analysis. The immunofixation can usually be run on the blood you have already given if the physican requests it.
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Dr. Edward Libby - Name: Edward Libby, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
6 posts
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