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Multiple Myeloma an incurable disease, but I have spent the last 25 years in remission using a blend of conventional oncology and evidence-based nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle therapies from peer-reviewed studies that your oncologist probably hasn't told you about.
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Myeloma Types- NonSecretory, Light Chain, Oligosecretory
Was my diagnosis of non-secretory MM a myeloma type or a myeloma subtype? The two excerpts linked below, the first from Healthtree, the second from the IMF, tells me that I am not the only person who is confused by this terminology.
I underwent three bone marrow biopsy’s in my first two years. I had multiple MRI’s, two PET scans (new technology in 1994) and more x-rays than I can count.
I now know that determining the percentage of plasma cells in my BM and determining any and all bone involvement aka lytic lesions was the only way for my oncologist to track my MM.
Suffice to say, my diagnosis was confusing at best, dangerous at worst.
When I asked Chat GPT, I get a longer, more detailed answer below. I think I prefer Chat GPT’s answer. If I were a young oncologist artificial intelligence would worry me. But that’s for a future blog post.
What are the different subtypes of multiple myeloma?
- Hyperdiploid Multiple Myeloma (HMM): Characterized by an increased number of chromosomes. This subtype is typically associated with a better prognosis.
- Non-hyperdiploid Multiple Myeloma (NHMM): This subtype involves chromosomal abnormalities such as translocations and deletions. It tends to have a worse prognosis compared to HMM.
- Smoldering (Asymptomatic) Multiple Myeloma (SMM): A precursor stage of multiple myeloma where there are no symptoms or organ damage, but there are higher levels of plasma cells in the bone marrow.
- Solitary Plasmacytoma: A single mass of plasma cells, either in the bone (solitary bone plasmacytoma) or outside the bone (extramedullary plasmacytoma). This condition can progress to multiple myeloma.
- IgG Multiple Myeloma: Characterized by the production of IgG type monoclonal protein. It is the most common subtype.
- IgA Multiple Myeloma: Produces IgA type monoclonal protein. It is less common than IgG myeloma.
- Light Chain Multiple Myeloma: Only light chains (kappa or lambda) are produced instead of the complete immunoglobulin molecule. This subtype is often detected through urine tests.
- Non-secretory Myeloma: Plasma cells do not produce detectable levels of monoclonal protein in the blood or urine. It is rare and harder to diagnose.
- IgD and IgE Multiple Myeloma: These are very rare subtypes where the monoclonal protein is either IgD or IgE.
- Plasma Cell Leukemia: A rare and aggressive form where plasma cells are found in large numbers in the blood.
My point is the lack of diagnostic information that your average oncologist relays to his/her patient. Most NDMM patients are told that staging doesn’t matter. Not to mention that the type or subtype of mm is given to the patient.
Oncology doesn’t think about MM staging because the FDA approved therapy plan is applied to ALL NDMM patients regardless of they stage, age, physical fitness, etc.
As I’ve said many times on PeopleBeatingCancer, this type of one-size-fits-all treatment is a mistake. NDMM must fight this type of treatment.
If you are a newly diagnosed myeloma patient and you have questions about your type/subtype/stage of MM, don’t hesitate to email me- David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com
Hang in there,
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Myeloma can be classified into different subtypes according to the protein that plasma cells produce:
- Full immunoglobulin and free light chain: about 80% of myeloma patients produce complete immunoglobulin, making them secretory myeloma patients
- Lots of light chain with little to no full immunoglobulin: is considered as the subtype of light chain only myeloma (Bence-Jones). Approximately 15-18% of patients fall under this category
- There is also the term “oligosecretory” meaning that a patient produces small amounts of proteins.
- Little to no production of any immunoglobulin: is classified as nonsecretory myeloma, 2-3% of myeloma patients are in this category
Currently, the diagnosis tests and treatment recommendations for nonsecretory myeloma are the same as those for secretory myeloma…”
Types of Myeloma
| Disease Type | Description |
| Myeloma IgG k or λ IgA k or λ Rarer subtypes: IgD, E, or M |
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| Light Chain only or Bence Jones (BJ) myeloma: k or λ types |
|
| Non-secretory myeloma: |
|