I am so confused!
My husband saw his oncologist yesterday and he gave us some numbers that sound encouraging. I just don't understand what they are. He has gone through 2 rounds of chemo (Velcade / Revlimid and steroids). He started his 3rd round yesterday.
The doctor said that when he started treatment May 8, his IgG was 5,000 and now it is 900. He said his cancer protein was 3.5 grams and now it is 0.5 grams. (i think I am remembering that right. The doctor had to leave the room for an emergency so I didn't get to write those number down) Hopefully that sounds right.
If it does, can anyone explain to me what that means?
Thank you!!
Forums
-
Jayhawkmom - Name: Krista Burrell
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 5/8/13
- Age at diagnosis: 46
Re: What is IgG level?
This is all good news.
IgG is one of 4 immunoglobulin types (proteins) in your blood ... in this case, a "gamma" immunogloublin. The normal range for IgG is 700-1600 mg/dL. Typically with multiple myeloma, one of your immunoglobulins is present in excess, often with an accompanying free light chain (another protein) that is also present in excess. The free light chain can be of a lambda type or kappa type. That is why you might hear of a person that has "IgG lambda type multiple myeloma", or another combination of an immunoglobulin type and a free light chain type.
So it is good that IgG is down to a normal level of 900 mg/dL.
Without knowing which protein test was done, your doctor was likely referring to the M-Spike (aka the paraprotein level or the cancerous monoclonal protein level) from what is known as a serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) test. In folks without multiple myeloma, this should be 0. It also good that this has gone from 3.5 to 0.5 (likely expressed in units of g/dL).
The chemo is indeed working.
Don't be bashful about asking your doc for your own copies of all the lab reports. They will show which numbers are out of range and what the normal ranges are for a given factor. After a bit of time and talking to your doctor, you can better understand which of the key factors in the reports are the most important ones to follow.
IgG is one of 4 immunoglobulin types (proteins) in your blood ... in this case, a "gamma" immunogloublin. The normal range for IgG is 700-1600 mg/dL. Typically with multiple myeloma, one of your immunoglobulins is present in excess, often with an accompanying free light chain (another protein) that is also present in excess. The free light chain can be of a lambda type or kappa type. That is why you might hear of a person that has "IgG lambda type multiple myeloma", or another combination of an immunoglobulin type and a free light chain type.
So it is good that IgG is down to a normal level of 900 mg/dL.
Without knowing which protein test was done, your doctor was likely referring to the M-Spike (aka the paraprotein level or the cancerous monoclonal protein level) from what is known as a serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) test. In folks without multiple myeloma, this should be 0. It also good that this has gone from 3.5 to 0.5 (likely expressed in units of g/dL).
The chemo is indeed working.
Don't be bashful about asking your doc for your own copies of all the lab reports. They will show which numbers are out of range and what the normal ranges are for a given factor. After a bit of time and talking to your doctor, you can better understand which of the key factors in the reports are the most important ones to follow.
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: What is IgG level?
Thank you so much for your response!! That made my day 
I really appreciate the information.
I do need to ask more questions. I don't know why i'm not more foreceful, other than our doctor doesn't want us to focus on anything else, but treatment and getting better. He doesn't like to discuss anything else. We have never seen any of the bone scans, he just said, "there are lesions all over".
I do trust that they are doing what is best for us, I would just like more information. My husband on the other hand, doesn't want to know any of it. He just wants to fight it. I think that is good for him, however, it is hard for me as we have 4 minor children that we have to raise and I feel like I need to prepare myself for what is to come.
Anyway, I'm rambling. Thanks again. I really, really appreciate your response!
I really appreciate the information. I do need to ask more questions. I don't know why i'm not more foreceful, other than our doctor doesn't want us to focus on anything else, but treatment and getting better. He doesn't like to discuss anything else. We have never seen any of the bone scans, he just said, "there are lesions all over".
I do trust that they are doing what is best for us, I would just like more information. My husband on the other hand, doesn't want to know any of it. He just wants to fight it. I think that is good for him, however, it is hard for me as we have 4 minor children that we have to raise and I feel like I need to prepare myself for what is to come.
Anyway, I'm rambling. Thanks again. I really, really appreciate your response!
-
Jayhawkmom - Name: Krista Burrell
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 5/8/13
- Age at diagnosis: 46
Re: What is IgG level?
"our doctor doesn't want us to focus on anything else, but treatment and getting better. He doesn't like to discuss anything else"
I assume the doc is a multiple myeloma specialist that sees many multiple myeloma patients each year? Seeing a top multiple myeloma specialist is the single most important thing that you can be doing.
Revlimid, Velcade and dex (a steroid) is a pretty standard first round treatment, but it is likely that your husband will need different medications and/or tweak his dose over time. There is no substitute for working with a multiple myeloma specialist that lives and breathes this disease on a daily basis with many patients.
If there are "many lesions", you should also discuss the use of a bisphosphonate such as Zometa.
I assume the doc is a multiple myeloma specialist that sees many multiple myeloma patients each year? Seeing a top multiple myeloma specialist is the single most important thing that you can be doing.
Revlimid, Velcade and dex (a steroid) is a pretty standard first round treatment, but it is likely that your husband will need different medications and/or tweak his dose over time. There is no substitute for working with a multiple myeloma specialist that lives and breathes this disease on a daily basis with many patients.
If there are "many lesions", you should also discuss the use of a bisphosphonate such as Zometa.
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: What is IgG level?
Our doctor specializes in hematology. He also did his internship at UAMS. He won't be able to do all our treatment, we will have to go to The University of Kansas Medical Center for the stem cell transplant as they don't do it here in Topeka.
We did start Zometa 2 days ago. It has made him so sick. He was feeling a little better this morning though and was able to keep down some soup last night.
Thanks for your reply. It is so nice to be able to discuss this with people who know more that we do and have experienced it. I really appreciate it!
We did start Zometa 2 days ago. It has made him so sick. He was feeling a little better this morning though and was able to keep down some soup last night.
Thanks for your reply. It is so nice to be able to discuss this with people who know more that we do and have experienced it. I really appreciate it!
-
Jayhawkmom - Name: Krista Burrell
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 5/8/13
- Age at diagnosis: 46
Re: What is IgG level?
The first dose of Zometa is the worse. Side effects simmer way down after that.
-
rumnting - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 4/9/11
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: What is IgG level?
That is so good to hear. Thanks
-
Jayhawkmom - Name: Krista Burrell
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 5/8/13
- Age at diagnosis: 46
Re: What is IgG level?
Hi Jayhawkmom,
You wrote:
:He (our doctor) doesn't like to discuss anything else. We have never seen any of the bone scans, he just said, "there are lesions all over". I do trust that they are doing what is best for us, I would just like more information."
You are right - be / become informed. Get copies of all your tests, ask for them at the cancer center or wherever your doc is located. As far as the bone scans, xrays, MRI's etc are concerned, ask for a copy of the report and I even ask for the actual disk, which you can look at on your computer. The cost should be low -- mine is $ 3.00.
Make sure that your hubby asks for it or get some kind of medical power of attorney from him.
Kate
You wrote:
:He (our doctor) doesn't like to discuss anything else. We have never seen any of the bone scans, he just said, "there are lesions all over". I do trust that they are doing what is best for us, I would just like more information."
You are right - be / become informed. Get copies of all your tests, ask for them at the cancer center or wherever your doc is located. As far as the bone scans, xrays, MRI's etc are concerned, ask for a copy of the report and I even ask for the actual disk, which you can look at on your computer. The cost should be low -- mine is $ 3.00.
Make sure that your hubby asks for it or get some kind of medical power of attorney from him.
Kate
-
Kate - Name: Kate
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Dec. 2012
Re: What is IgG level?
Thanks Kate! That is a good idea. I try to write everthing down, but that is becoming difficult. I will just ask for print outs from now on.
-
Jayhawkmom - Name: Krista Burrell
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 5/8/13
- Age at diagnosis: 46
Re: What is IgG level?
It seems quite the norm, as my mom has IgG multiple myeloma and does not want to talk about the specifics.
I do think that is their right, but someone in the family must keep the numbers in mind and BE SURE TO HAVE HIS BLOOD CHECKED OFTEN, like even bi-weekly or monthly at the least.
There are books and this site is great. Call one of the myeloma organizations or find a group of others with or in love with a myeloma patient. From our experience, you must be or have an advocate following everything!
God Bless
Rob
I do think that is their right, but someone in the family must keep the numbers in mind and BE SURE TO HAVE HIS BLOOD CHECKED OFTEN, like even bi-weekly or monthly at the least.
There are books and this site is great. Call one of the myeloma organizations or find a group of others with or in love with a myeloma patient. From our experience, you must be or have an advocate following everything!
God Bless
Rob
-
roboman3 - Name: Rob
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Mother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 73
11 posts
• Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2