Myeloma

[Kitkatchunkyplease]

I think my DM is about to receive a myeloma diagnosis. She is having a biopsy of her bone marrow in her hip this morning. She has had swollen legs for two weeks - looks like kidney failure. From what I've read, at this point with kidney issues, this doesn't look good does it? I don't know anything about myeloma, I'd never even heard of it before! My maternal grandmother had a blood cancer too, unsure if this can be related. Just feels rather unreal and I'm not sure what to expect.

My 83-year old mother was diagnosed with myeloma in Sept 2018. She had six months of chemo plus some radiotherapy on her bone lesions. Her paraproteins (the part of the blood that is the problem) remain good. Admittedly she was diagnosed when the proteins were not sky high.

My FIL also had myeloma, which wasn't diagnosed until a week or so before he died.

Treatments are now very good for myeloma and for many patients it is chronic, if not curable. Very treatable for many people (some forms of myeloma are more challenging than others though). Myeloma.org is a good place to look for information and there is a FB group UK Myeloma Support Group I found really helpful.

Don't pay much heed to information that is more than a year or so old as new treatments have been coming on tap very rapidly and longevity figures look more encouraging.

Your mother is lucky to have you and you will make a great difference to how she gets on. Good luck.

www.facebook.com/groups/408542472584923/

FB group.

Thank you one glass! That's really helpful

I understand how you feel, my dad was diagnosed two years ago. A few ups and downs but overall he's doing ok. I would also recommend you join that Facebook group – there are some very knowledgeable and helpful people in there. If your mum's mobility is affected than applying for a blue badge might be a very helpful thing. I hope everything goes well for her and you over the diagnostic process and that you get plenty of support. Take care of yourself as well, it's a real rollercoaster for us carers!