Home   Recent Questions   Ask Oncologist    Health Forums   Testimonials   FAQs


This question was answered on Mon 13, Oct 2008 11:02pm by Dr Paul S, MD

Should I see an oncologist for possible Multiple Myeloma?


    
Asked by jboyko1 (Female; 52; On medication for depression (strong family history on both sides for depression/anxiety.) Currently in physical therapy for shoulder pain,(open scapulothoracic bursectomy/superior medial angle resection performed, June 2007), lower back weakness, migrating pain down leg. Assumed disc problem, no x-rays done yet. Often fatigued, poss. due to interrupted sleep pattern from shoulder/leg pain.; Relevant drugs:Wellbutrin, Elavil, ibuprofen. ) on Mon 13, Oct 2008 11:42am
Priced at $18.00

I am a 52 year old white female. My mother died from multiple myeloma at age 69. My father was diagnosed with MGUS at age 67 - he is now 77. Two years ago I had a serum immunofixation done which showed a "very possible faint IgG kappa band...atypical protein pattern in gamma globulin which may mask a monoclonal protein." In a repeat blood test three months later, they could no longer detect the faint band, so I waited until this fall to be tested again. Last week a protein electrophoresis serum test again showed a "faint discrete band (too small to accurately quantify) in the gamma region." Are these findings abnormal and only appear with suspected MM? My primary care physician wants me to wait another six months to test again and see if it is evolving or regressing. Given my family history, and that the tests have picked up this faint band for two years now, is waiting another six months an appropriate course of action, or should I ask to have a hematologist/oncologist review these findings and perhaps have some additional testing done? I don't want to ask for a referral if it would be inappropriate at this time. Thank you.

Actions: | Forward |
Answer


Name 

Email 

Security code
Enter the text as shown above


E-Mail me when someone replies to this post
Answer by Dr Paul S, MD  on Mon 13, Oct 2008 11:02pm:

Hi there. In general, I agree with the way you are pursuing this and monitoring your situation given your strong family history for this type of disease. However, the finding of faint IgG kappa band, at the present, is not diagnostic of multiple myeloma, or of any disease entity for that matter. These proteins in our blood are affected by a lot of factors including acute illnesses such as infections (bacterial or viral), traumas, and even general stress and increased anxiety (that's why some proteins are called 'acute phase reactants' that they respond to acute stresses in the body). This may be one explanation for the appearance and disappearance of some of these proteins. The diagnosis of MM is dependent on a set of criteria which would include bone lesions, serum immunoglobulin levels, and the presence of bone marrow plasma cell infiltration, and I think you are at the present, far from fulfilling any of these. (I have attached the diagnostic criteria and other information about MM along with this post) Furthermore, if your present blood oounts show normal results and do not suffer from skeletal symptoms such as bone pains, then it may be unlikely that a further hematologist consult can be fruitful. I would suggest that you continue to follow up with your primary doctor to have this monitored, and also watch out for symptoms such as pallor, easy fatigability, and bone pains. Regards and God bless.
 Download (application/vnd.ms-powerpoint)

If you find the site useful, please consider making a donation.  Click the button to donate.   

Please rate my answer (select the stars, no need to log in.)  


Follow up:

Clarification by lauren3 on Sat 15, Nov 2008 06:09am:
Extremely helpful and informative.  Thank you.

This question is open for comments.  Please share your opinion.

Comments


Name 

Email 

Security code
Enter the text as shown above


E-Mail me when someone replies to this post
Other cancer questions you might be interested in.
  1. Credentials - How to find if my oncologist practice is qualified or certified or accredited  (Answered) - Viewed 825 times   how can i find out if my oncologist practice is qualified or certified or accredited? i'm in texas ...
  2. Prostate Cancer - Is external radiation and hormonal treatment sufficient  (Answered) - Viewed 1056 times   I have prostate cancer (psa was 14 - 7 4+3) My Urologist did a biopsy (30 samples were taken, only one came back showing cancer)...
  3. carcinoid syndrome  (Answered) - Viewed 1246 times   i have got carcinoid syndrome,i am 54 years old,it is all over my abdome,in my eyes,in my liver,and i am awaiting results of a ...
  4. Types of radiation - Intravenous Radiation  (Answered) - Viewed 820 times   is there any such thing as radiation via intravenious? My mom's oncologist has sent her to a radilogist for radiation and they a...
  5. Carcinoid Cancer - Multiple locations : misdiagnosed with triple negative breast cancer  (Answered) - Viewed 1904 times   September 07 I was misdiagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. I received 10 mega doses of radiation through a mammosite, O...
  6. Enlarged spleen after colon caner - Liver problem or cancer?  (Answered) - Viewed 5949 times    my wife 43 had colon cancer stage 3 with 1 node surgery in july 2007 after 12 chemos folfox 4 in january ct showed enlarged s...
  7. bone mass - Do i have cancer that has metastasized?  (Answered) - Viewed 854 times   I recently partially tore my Rt rotator cuff. The MRI showed extensive high signal in the proximal humeral shaft. I am 75 years...
  8. i got a liver cyst - is liver cyst dangerous can it form into cancer  (Answered) - Viewed 10429 times   is liver cyst dangerous can it form into cancer What are my treatment options for …? What experimental drug ...
  9. Tumor in my Uteras - Gyneacologist suggested hysterectomy   (Answered) - Viewed 922 times   On Sat I was told I had a tumor on my Uteras and it is cancer.I am 65 years old. The Gyno said i needed to have a hysterectomy a...
  10. Kidney Cancer - Treatment options and prognosis for kidney cancer  (Answered) - Viewed 832 times   I have just been diagnosed with Kidney Cancer. What questions should I be sure to ask my Urological Oncologist at my first appoi...
  11. What do you think? please - Cells after biopsy were high grade with necrosis  (Answered) - Viewed 914 times   Hi, I had 5mm dcis - had a lumpectomy and there was 1mm found close to the edge of the margins. The doctor thought maybe more h...

 
What users are searching right now on Ask an oncologist now:
what is chronic presentation     throat20cancer     what is chronic presentation     what is chronic presentation     Tattoo     wwwaskanocologistnowcom     would20high20creatine20kinase20and20immunoglobuline20E20leavels20be20atrributed20to20having20B20cell20lymphoma     where20is20your20liver20located     what20is20the20name20or20type20of20lung20cancer20that20spreads20the20fastest20out20of20all20cancer     what20is20meant20by20having20an20abnormal20protein20band     what20is20immunoglobulin20A     what20is20a20igg20lambda20monoclonal20band     what20does20free20lambda20light20chain20mean     what20does20dimpling20in20the20brest20look20like     what20does20IgG20Kappa20monoclonal20protein20mean     what20is20mortality20rate20for20lung20cancer     what20is20a20right20iliac20chain20lymph20node     undetermined20ground20rt20upper20lobe20of20lung203020yr20smoker20bad20cough20and20sob     travel20restrictions20high20elevation     trace20monoclonal20protein     they20found20a20blood20vessel20about20120centimeter20in20my20left20lung20I20have20CT20scan20procedure20tomorrow20can20what20could20it20be     synovial     swollen20collar20bone     survival     staging20for20multiple20myeloma     spine20cancer     show20video20of20radical20mastectomy     roseola     red20small20bumps20on20my20stomac     radial20scar20breast     pth20related20peptide     pth20peptide     prostate20cancer20and20black20spot20ct20scan     preauricular20lymph20nodes     poorly20differentiated20invasive20ductal20adenocarcinoma     picture20of20pancreas     phpmanager     pepic     paw20paw20cell20reg     paraprotein     panceratic20stage20420cancer20with20legs20swelling     palpablemassbeneath     painless20knot20jawline     pain20on20swallowing     nonhodgkins20lymphoma20and20lambda20monoclonial20cells     no20i20am20asking20if20i20am20having20pain20on20my20right20side20above20my20waist20and20it20feels20like20a20lump2020what20can20it20be     multiple20myeloma20stages     multiple20liver20cysts2020red20palms20of20hands     mugus     metastatic20prostate20cancer20to20bone     metastatic20liver20cancer     mainstream     lymph20node20stage20420lung20cancer     lung20cancer20knot20on20side20of20neck     low20beta20globulin     liver20tets20abnormal20and20enlarged20lymph20nodes20in20groin     liver20cyst     lambda20monoclonal20immunoglobin20igg     lambda20monoclonal20immunoglobin20igg     duct20epithelial20hyperplasiaapocrine20metplastic20changes     is20it20common20to20have2020mutiple20small20cysts20in20the20breast     invasive20ductal20adenocarcinoma     intermediate20oncotype20score     inflamed     ihaveapainfullumpbehindmykneeithasgottenbigger     igm20kappa     igm20lambda     i20have20stage20420metastatis20breast20cancer20to20the20lung2020how20long20do20i20stay20on20herceptin     i20have20had20BAC20cancer20and20Adenomacarcinoma20left20upper20lobe20and20right20lower20lobe20been20removed20Oct202011what20are20my20survival20rate20or20cancer20reocourrence     hypoechoic20well20defined20masses20in20right20pericaval20region20majours20abput205020202720cms     how20long20with20treatment20can20a20person20live20with20extensive20small20cell20lung20cancer     how20is20lung20cancer20identified     hodgkins20disease     high20wbc20high20platelets     have20pelvic20pain20goin20for20mri20next20week20just20finished20breast20cancer20treatment20what20are20the20chances20it20is20cancer     gamma20region     free20light20chains     extreme20itching     enlarged20liver20lymph20nodes20with20metastatic20breast20cancer     elevated20free20kappa20light20chains     do20you20have20to20smoke20to20get20lung20cancer     details20on20lamba20band20and20kappa20band20positive     control     cancer20spread20to20femur20bone     bronchitis     breast20puckering2020lump20under20arm20pit     breast20bleeding20tumor     breast20cancer20staging20pt1c     are     any20cancer20with20cold20like20symptoms     StageIIIMultipleMyelomaIgA     NON20PAINFULBUMP20ON20ARM     askendometrialcancerquestions     Canabenignmole     5year     252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252B252BResult252Bchosen252Bnickname252B252522rocketguy8125252225253b252Bregistered252B2528re     25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252B25252BResult25252Bchosen25252Bnick     normal20wbc20high20lymphocytes20and20low20granulytes20percentage     normal20wbc20high20lymphocytes20and20low20granulytes20percentage     free20medication     

©2011 - Ask an oncologist now  |  All Rights Reserved
The site is not a replacement for professional medical opinion, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your medical doctor or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. Do not delay seeking or disregard medical advice based on information written by any author on this site. No health questions and information on askanoncologistnow is regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore the information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor. Posts made to these forums express the views and opinions of the author, and not the administrators, moderators, or editorial staff and hence askanoncologistnow and its principals will accept no liabilities or responsibilities for the statements made.

Home | Terms & Conditions | Contact Us | Frequently Asked Questions | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Advertise with us
Stats