Work with your healthcare team to determine the right treatment approach for you.ĭiagnostic testing for multiple myeloma includes a range of blood tests, urine tests and bone or bone marrow tests. Even if you don’t receive disease-directed therapy right away, you may still receive supportive care to treat symptoms or complications. In some cases, postponing therapy may help avoid unnecessary side effects and the risk of complications associated with chemotherapy, and it may also delay development of resistance to chemotherapy. Management of multiple myeloma includes immediate treatment with myeloma drugs, bisphosphonates for patients with bone loss and options for clinical trials.ĭepending on the classification of your disease, as well as other factors, you may not have to receive treatment immediately. Some multiple myeloma symptoms are more common than others, and less common symptoms may be the result of complications that may occur. When present, symptoms of multiple myeloma may be vague and similar to those of other conditions. More than 90% of individuals diagnosed with multiple myeloma have multiple tumors at the time of diagnosis.Ĭharacteristics of multiple myeloma include elevated levels of M protein and plasma cells in the serum and/or urine, a percentage of plasma cells in the bone marrow over 30%, anemia, renal failure, hypercalcemia and osteolytic lesions. The “multiple” in multiple myeloma indicates that there are multiple tumors in different areas of the bone(s). Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that affects plasma cells in the blood, causing them to grow and divide. Further studies are under way, and a main initiative of the MMRF is to ensure that each individual receives the best treatment available. Early intervention has demonstrated success in preventing multiple myeloma development. The commonly accepted approach to SMM used to be “watchful waiting.” Now, however, many studies are showing the benefit of earlier treatment, particularly for people with SMM that has genetic traits that put them at higher risk for disease progression to full-blown multiple myeloma. The risk of progression is about 10% each year for the first 5 years following diagnosis, 3% between years 5 and 10 and about 1% in subsequent years. Many - but not all - patients with SMM progress to multiple myeloma. Many patients with SMM are asymptomatic, but some experience modest symptoms, such as mild anemia or a few small bone lesions. It is diagnosed when low levels of M protein are found in the blood and a slightly increased number of plasma cells are found in the bone marrow. Smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) is a precancerous form of multiple myeloma that typically accounts for about 15% of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma cases. Smoldering (or asymptomatic) multiple myeloma People with a solitary plasmacytoma will have long-term follow-up appointments to ensure they remain in remission. Prognosis with radiation alone is usually excellent, but there is a risk that a solitary plasmacytoma could recur and progress to multiple myeloma. It is commonly treated with radiation therapy and rarely requires surgery. Solitary plasmacytoma is rare, making up only 5% of plasma cell disorders. Blood tests show no anemia or high calcium levels, and kidney function is normal. With a solitary plasmacytoma, bone imaging (X-rays, positron-emission tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging ) detects only a single lesion. Solitary plasmacytoma within the bone is normally diagnosed by a biopsy that reveals abnormal plasma cells. Isolated plasmacytoma of the bone can affect any bone, but tends to occur most frequently in the bones along the spinal column. An “extramedullary plasmacytoma” is one that grows outside the bone, while an “isolated plasmacytoma of the bone” is one that grows within the bone. Solitary (or isolated) plasmacytomaĪ single group of malignant myeloma cells (rather than multiple lesions, as in multiple myeloma) is called a “solitary plasmacytoma.” This mass of cells can grow inside or outside of bone. People living with MGUS receive regular checkups to ensure that it does not progress. MGUS usually does not cause any problems or require treatment, but in rare cases (1%-2%), it can develop into multiple myeloma. MGUS occurs in about 1% of the general population. MGUS is a plasma cell neoplasm diagnosed when a small amount of M protein is detected in the blood, but no other criteria for a solitary plasmacytoma or multiple myeloma diagnosis (such as a tumor, multiple lesions or symptoms) are present. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) Classification also plays an important role in determining the stage of multiple myeloma. Knowing the classification of your disease is very important in deciding when it is appropriate to begin treatment.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |