Fiance diagnosed today with Multiple Myeloma?The love of my life was diagnosed with this today. For about a month she has been really lethargic and conmplaining of joint aches. Two weeks ago she went into the ER, going through a battery of tests. Her kidneys were just about at failure when she was admitted yesterday, subject to more tests, they thought it was lupus. She then had a kidney biopsy and it was determined MM. She is caucasion 37 year old, never smoked or drank in her life. We have a young son 3 years old that is the apple of her ( & my ) eye. That is all weve gotten so far but based on everyones reaction at the hospital, and my little research online, this is something that is incurablle
What truly is the prognosis with this? Thoughts??
Answer by Anne
There is hope!!!
My dad was diagnosed 6 years ago, in complete kidney failure. He is still hanging on. Some people in his support group have endured for 15 years or longer.
People say it as if its a pipe dream, but in the 6 years my Dad has been treated, new treatments really are coming out constantly. The consensus in the lectures that we've heard is that someday soon, this is going to be though of more along the lines of a long-term illness that you manage like diabetes and not terminal cancer.
What we've done for my Dad....an autologous stem cell transplant about 6 months after diagnosis. Required a couple weeks in the hospital. Since then they monitor his cancer level. When it spikes, they'll do some chemo and/or radiation to beat it back. Over the last 6 years, my Dad has travelled and really enjoyed life. He's been sick but has had plenty of good days along with bad.
He was just rejected for a clinical trial that basically held the promise of a cure. So, don't despair and please find a doctor for your fiance that specializes in myeloma or other blood cancers. A generalist is not going to cut it. The International Myeloma Foundation website is a good place to start.
God bless you!
Answer by Danielle
I just want to stress to you and your love; do not settle for second best when it comes to cancer. Get her to the best specialist. Good luck & God bless.
Answer by gerald/heather h
she could live for many many years!! depending on the stage etc. she is in her symptoms probably can be controlled and she can live comfortably, this is not necessarily a disease that is going to cause her death anytime soon it can be controlled and life prolonged
Answer by arelene
Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that affects the plasma type of white blood cells. Myeloma cells tend to collect in the bone marrow and in the hard, outer part of bones. Sometimes they collect in only one bone and form a single mass, or tumor, called a plasmacytoma. In most cases, however, the myeloma cells collect in many bones, often forming many tumors and causing other problems. When this happens, the disease is called multiple myeloma.
Please note that cancer is classified by the type of cell, or the part of the body, in which the disease begins. Although plasmacytoma and multiple myeloma affect the bones, they begin in cells of the immune system. This type of cancer is different from bone cancer, which actually begins in cells that form the hard, outer part of the bone. You should know this because the diagnosis and treatment of plasmacytoma and multiple myeloma are different from the diagnosis and treatment of bone cancer.
The International Myeloma Foundation reports that each year there are approximately 19,900 new cases of myeloma in the United States. This represents approximately 20 percent of blood cancers, and 1 percent of all types of cancer. The incidence varies from country to country, with a rate of 1 in 100,000 in China to approximately 1 in 400,000 in most Western industrialized countries. Myeloma is more common in blacks than whites, with a male/female ratio of 3 to 2. The incidence rises with age. Better diagnostic techniques and the higher average age of the general population may explain the rising incidence of myeloma over the past several decades. More patients under age 55 are being diagnosed with myeloma; risk factors include exposure to atomic radiation, petroleum products, pesticides, solvents, heavy metals, and airborne particles.
Treatment for multiple myeloma depends on the stage of the disease, your age and general health, as well as other factors your doctor will discuss with you.
At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), we take a comprehensive, aggressive, integrative approach to fighting multiple myeloma. We use the latest medical technology, tools and treatments to eradicate multiple myeloma, along with supportive therapies to keep you strong and ease the side effects of conventional treatment. Our experts in hematology, oncology, nutrition, naturopathy, mind-body medicine, oncology rehabilitation, and more surround you with support and empower you to make decisions about your treatment. Together, you and your team of CTCA doctors and other clinicians will determine the right combination of traditional and innovative therapies just for you.
CTCA offers advanced treatments for multiple myeloma, including:
Allogeneic stem cell transplants, in which your immune system receives new, healthy peripheral blood stem cells from another person.
Autologous stem cell transplants, in which your peripheral blood stem cells are taken from you (harvested), frozen until needed, then given back to you (transplanted) after you have received high doses of chemotherapy, radiation therapy or both, to destroy your myeloma cells.
Next Topic: Conventional Multiple Myeloma Treatments
hope this helps. good luck
Answer by aseem k
Multiple myeloma is a kind of plasma cell malignancy. Since she has been diagnosed, the staging of the disease will be done and the hematologist/oncologist will discuss with you the possible therapies and outcomes.
Presently, there are many good therapies in the pipeline though presently none have been curative.
The most likely therapeutic options are chemotherapy/targeted therapy using lenalidomide/dexamethasone, bortezomib based therapy, or melphalan based therapy. Another alternative which is present is Bone marrow transplantation.
In addition also ask your doctor for availability and possiblity of enrolling in a clinical trial, which I suppose should be the best option.
All the best.
NB : presently none of the recommended available therapy is curative but can enhance the survival in most of the patients. This disease is now considered as one of the chronic diseases, but still has a definitive potential to kill and long term therapies are associated with various side effects
Orignal From: Fiance diagnosed today with Multiple Myeloma?
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