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Myeloma- First Appt. Questions
If you’ve been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, what questions do you ask during your first appointment with your oncologist?
If you’ve been diagnosed with an incurable blood cancer your head may be spinning with a host of emotions. I am a long-term MM survivor. I am writing this post in an effort to encourage you to focus on what experience has taught me is the most important starting point of your MM experience. And that is your diagnosis aka
- your symptoms
- your risks
- your stage and
- your treatment plan
You may be tempted to ask about how you got MM. And you may want to ask your onc about how long you have. Truth be told, your oncologist will not be able to give you satisfying answers to these questions. And frankly, your time with your oncologist may be short. As in 20 or 30 minutes.
I think this video presents some important issues however I don’t think all oncologists will answer you directly.
As you can see from the information linked below, the diagnostic testing required for a proper MM diagnosis is extensive. Just focusing on your symptoms, risks, stage and treatment plan is a lot.
MM is a complicated form of blood cancer. There is a lot for you to learn. My point is simply to encourage you to focus on what I believe are your immediate needs.
Email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com with your questions about your own diagnosis, questions about your oncologist, etc.
Hang in there,
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Multiple Myeloma Diagnostic Tests and Stages 1, 2 & 3
To get an accurate diagnosis, we must learn the stage and type of multiple myeloma. Then, you and your care team can choose the treatment that’s right for you…
Diagnostic tests for multiple myeloma can include blood, urine (pee), and bone marrow tests. We also will do imaging tests, such as positron emission tomography (PET) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans…
Tests for diagnosing multiple myeloma
Blood tests
Blood tests tell us if you have too much protein, and the types of protein you have.
Myeloma cells make too much of an immunoglobulin (IH-myoo-noh-GLAH-byoo-lin) protein called monoclonal protein (m-protein). Myeloma cells also make another abnormal (not normal) protein called beta 2-microglobulin.
Blood tests can identify the protein type. We need to know this protein type because it’s a unique marker. We use this information to track the disease and see how well treatment is working.
Blood tests also measure your blood cell counts (how many blood cells you have). Myeloma cells affect normal bone marrow cells. The disease causes your body to make fewer normal red and white blood cells.
Blood tests also measure how well your kidneys are working, and your levels of calcium and uric acid…
Imaging studies
Doctors use imaging tests to help find and diagnose multiple myeloma, recommend treatments, and monitor how well you respond to therapy. You may have more than 1 imaging test, because each kind gives us different information.
Most people being tested for multiple myeloma will have positron emission tomography (PET) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
Your imaging tests tell us about the size and location of cancer in your bones and other tissues. They may look at your kidneys, muscles, heart, and digestive tract…
Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy for multiple myeloma
Bone marrow is inside your bones. It’s made up of fluids (thick liquid) and solids (soft, spongy tissue). Your bone marrow has many stem cells in it. Stem cells are immature cells that make all the blood cells in your body…
Multiple myeloma stages 1, 2 & 3
Before we stage multiple myeloma, we describe what kind of plasma cell disorder you have. Diagnostic tests tell us if you have symptoms and signs of organ damage.
If you have no symptoms, you may have either:
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). This condition can turn into multiple myeloma. We will closely monitor it, but we don’t treat it until you have symptoms.
- Smoldering myeloma. This condition can turn into multiple myeloma. We will closely monitor it, but we don’t treat it until you have symptoms.
If you have symptoms, you may have either:
- Multiple myeloma. When you have active myeloma, you have symptoms and need treatment.
- Plasmacytoma (PLAZ-muh-sy-TOH-muh). This cancer affects plasma cells and can turn into multiple myeloma. Solitary plasmacytoma is when tumor is in only 1 part of your body. It’s often in a bone.
Myeloma First Appt Questions Myeloma First Appt Questions Myeloma First Appt Questions