subject: How Do I Know If I Have Multiple Myeloma? by:Alan James [print this page] How is Multiple Myeloma Diagnosed? How is Multiple Myeloma Diagnosed?
Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma are often vague and the diagnosis is often
delayed, sometimes by as long as a matter of months. This probably
makes no difference to the long-term outcome for those patients with early
myeloma who do not need immediate treatment. However if a delay in
diagnosis has led to organ damage (eg kidney failure ), then that will have
a negative effect on the person's outcome.
Prognosis Of Multiple Myeloma
As with many other types of cancer, the outcome depends on how
advanced your cancer is when it is diagnosed. In other words, the stage of
your myeloma. Another important factor in myeloma is your age and
fitness, and the type of treatment you have. There are some very intensive
treatments available for myeloma and you have to be well enough to get
through them if your doctor is going to consider them for you. Doctors do
not discriminate on grounds of age C it really is your fitness that is the issue.
Blood and urine tests for Multiple Myeloma
A blood test called serum protein electrophoresis separates your blood
proteins and can detect the presence of M proteins in the blood. Parts of M
proteins may also be detected in a test of your urine when found in urine,
they're referred to as Bence Jones proteins.
If your doctor discovers M proteins, you'll likely need additional blood tests
to measure blood cell counts and levels of calcium, uric acid and
creatinine. Your doctor may also conduct other blood tests to check for
beta-2-microglobulin another protein produced by myeloma cells or
to measure the percentage of plasma cells in your bone marrow.
Laboratory Tests for Multiple Myeloma
The goals of testing for multiple myeloma are to diagnose the condition,
determine its severity and spread, monitor its progress, detect
complications as they arise, and monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
Multiple myeloma may first be detected during routine wellness testing,
showing up as an abnormal total protein level, an elevated calcium level, a
low white or red blood cell count, and/or moderate to large amounts of
protein in the urine. Findings such as these may raise suspicions but are
not diagnostic, as similar abnormalities may be seen with a variety of other
conditions. They simply indicate the need for further testing.
As with many other types of cancer, the outcome depends on how advanced your cancer is when it is diagnosed. Knowing the signs early can save your life! Find out more about Multiple Myeloma at http://www.eask.info
About the author
Alan James
Several promising new treatments including thalidomide, proteosome inhibitors, and arsenic trioxide are currently being investigated in clinical trials. Find out more at http://www.eask.info
