Multiple Myeloma,.. Scary thought,?

My husband had some blood and urine test the other day, when he got the call from his Nephrologist, he refered him to a cancer doctor. Here are his results from the IFE and PE serum test that caused the panic.. Protein, total serum 7.7, Immunoglobulin g, quant serm 2093, Immunoglobulina 38,Immunoglobulin m, 26 Albumin 4.3, alpha 1 globulin 0.2 alpha 2 globulin 0.5 beta golbulin 0.8, gamma globulin 1.9 m-spike 1.6... He was sent for a full body scan last week and we have to wait until next week to see the cancer doctor for results.. this is nerve rackening! He shows no symtoms, just the normal aches and pains for a 65 yr old man. I guess what I am asking is what type of ride are we in for..???

HI,

Do not loose hope, it does sound like MM but it is not the end of the world.

There are a LOT better treatments for MM than even a year ago. So the outlook improves each day.

I know you are starved for information - the two BEST places for info are :

IMF - www.myeloma.org

MMRF - www.multiplemyeloma.org

I would check them out, on the IMF website there is a link to local support groups: GO! you will meet people that have had MM for a long time and learn a lot of the "ropes" and information on being an actual patient.

Yes it is scary but I know lots of people that have lived long and productive lives with MM (like me)

Biggest thing is to find a specialist in MM - someone that treats a lot of patients, because it is a very complicated cancer that effects almost every system in the body. Also do a lot of research so you know the different treatments based on his symptoms and "numbers" (you have already started tracking some of them which is good). His IGG is high, but not that high (mine is about 2800 +- 400 a month - some can get ot 7000) rest look good, how is his HGB and blood calcium?

Good luck, you are welcome to email me for more info off line

Jewells
36 months and still here

I'm sorry. That's tough news but the good news is that medicine has a lot to offer for multiple myeloma than just a couple years ago so your MD should have some options for you (Thalidomide, Velcade). Stem cell transplant will probably be mentioned. It's not easy but it may give him many years disease-free. Although there is no cure for MM, there are definitely treatments and if your husband is in good shape otherwise, he will probably be able to get through it. Good luck. remember, take it one day at a time - try not to focus on what lies ahead.

Yes it is a scary disease or should I say a type of cancer. It is the hematological malignancy of the plasma cells of the immune system in the bone marrow of the body thus producing too much antibodies. Prognosis is poor and your husband may have to get ready for chemo unless he can get a stem cell or bone marrow transplant.

He will start feeling bone pain due to fractures caused by breakdown of the bone and increase calcium(hypercalciumia)

Anemia is also a common sign due to tumour cells in the bone marrow inhibiting the red cell production.

Renal faiure may also set in due to hypercalciumia or because of the kidney cells being damaged by the antibodies.

Infection may also set in. True he may have a lot of antibodies by they are defective so your husband will be immune deficient and common infections like pneumonia will start coming.

Other symptoms may include enlargement in certain bones due to the increase tumour cells in the bone marrow especially the skull but that's for serious cases. Weakness, and fatigue is also common also. There may also be a problem of blood being too thick(hyperviscocity).

Good luck to you both. My aunt (67) just died on Christmas from MM. They found it when it was in stage 4 and it was too widespread to stop. Eventually she was in terrible pain and in and out of the hospital for months. From the day they told her she had it, she lived 11 months. The end days were just awful to watch, she couldn't speak or move. It just took over her body. If it is caught early on, there is a much better survival rate, or least a longer time I should say.

my dad passed away from multiple myeloma 6 years ago iam sorry for what you and your husband will be going though my dad seemed to have arthritis like symptoms for about2 years then in december he got so bad he would get in the floor and cry even though us kids weren't supposed to know that watch his calcium when it gets high its starting to get bad in janurary my dad went in tha hospital he went a coma for 1 week came out of it was sent to another hospital for chemo their kidneys get bad and thats when they are near the end he would come home for a few days and go back to the hospital he couldnt breath near the end he sat up all night while my mom would stand by him and he would lay his head on her shoulder he didn't want any one to help him but mom the last time he went in the hospital his kidneys had failed and he was trying so hard to breath he wanted to make his own trech he went into cardiac arrest at the hospital he had a living will but was put on life support any way the hospital caught us gone when this happened he lived 1 week on the life support he died march 29 so from dec.until march he really suffered but at least it only lasted a few months their is no cure for this cancer and life expectancy is only 3 years some people live a little longer some only months it is going to be really hard on you both and i am so sorry for what you will go through i will pray for steanth for you and peace and compfort for your husband talk to his cancer dr tell him you want only the truth sugar coating it wont help their are pamplets you can get from your dr, i really don't mean to sound cruel but we were so unprepared and i don't want you to have to go through this not knowing what to expect again i am so sorry i really wish their was a cure for this cancer but their isn't in fact it's what killed sam walton the creator of walmart it doesn't matter how much money you have it doesn't help it doesn't discriminate its a cruel disease. i'll pray for you keep going for the scans and blood work you can keep track of how fast its progressing and get faster treatments and pain relief faster that way

I can only recommend you, pray, pray, pray, only god has the last word and if you and your husband don麓t get close to god you will be unfaithfull and that is worst because you will feel much terrible.
I麓m in a similar situation, my husband and I were a wedding catholics and just when my husband an I increased our faith could feel less sad and with hope.
God Bless You.

Complications
Multiple myeloma can result in several complications:

Impaired immunity. Myeloma cells inhibit the production of antibodies needed for normal immunity. Having multiple myeloma may make you more likely to develop infections, such as pneumonia, sinusitis, bladder or kidney infection, skin infections and shingles.
Bone problems. Multiple myeloma also can affect your bones, leading to erosion of bone mass and fractures. The condition may cause compression of your spinal cord. Signs of this medical emergency include weakness, or even paralysis, in your legs.
Impaired kidney function. Multiple myeloma may cause problems with kidney function, including kidney failure. Higher calcium levels in the blood due to eroding bones can interfere with your kidneys' ability to filter your blood's waste. The proteins produced by the myeloma cells can cause similar problems, especially if you become dehydrated.
Anemia. As cancerous cells crowd out normal blood cells, multiple myeloma can also cause anemia and other blood problems.

Treatment
Generally, if you have multiple myeloma and aren't experiencing symptoms, you don't need treatment. However, your doctors will likely monitor your condition at variable intervals, checking for signs 鈥?such as increasing levels of M protein in your blood or urine 鈥?that indicate the disease is progressing. If it is, you may need treatment to help prevent symptoms. The average time between diagnosis and the onset of symptoms is two to three years.

If you're experiencing symptoms, treatment can help relieve pain, control complications of the disease, stabilize your condition and slow the progress of the disease.

Standard treatments
Though there's no cure for multiple myeloma, with good treatment results you can usually return to near-normal activity. The appropriate treatment depends on your needs, medical status and general health. Standard treatment options include:

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the most common treatment for this disease. It involves using medicines 鈥?taken orally as a pill or given through an intravenous (IV) injection 鈥?to kill myeloma cells. Chemotherapy is often given in cycles over a period of months, followed by a rest period. Often chemotherapy is discontinued during what is called a plateau phase or remission, during which your M protein level remains stable. You may need chemotherapy again if your M protein level begins to rise.
Stem cell transplantation. This treatment involves using high-dose chemotherapy along with transfusion of previously collected immature blood cells (stem cells) to replace diseased or damaged marrow. The stem cells can come from you or from a donor, and they may be from either blood or bone marrow.
Radiation therapy. This treatment uses high-energy penetrating waves to damage myeloma cells and stop their growth. Radiation therapy may be used to target myeloma cells in a specific area 鈥?for instance, to more quickly shrink a tumor that's causing pain or destroying a bone.