And it is pretty much jibberish to me. I spent a lot of time analyzing the report, and about the only thing, of any significance I discovered, was the plasma cells are approximately 10% to 15% of the bone marrow. That doesn't bode well for a lesser diagnosis of MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance), but it is still a small enough amount, it can lead to a less severe diagnosis of indolent or smoldering MM.
Then there is the urine protein analysis, which couldn't be evaluated due to the limitation of the agarose gel elecropheoresis procedure. And for those that are interested, agarose gel, as explained by Susan J. Leclair, Ph.D., CLS(NCA), Chancellor Professor, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
I think they need to do a different test, but we will have to discuss that with the oncologist. A second opinion also seems warranted at this point, so I am going to attempt to get in contact with Dr. James R. Berenson a highly noted expert in Multiple Myeloma. Need to come up with a doctor in France or Italy (we haven't been there yet), so we can get a tax deductible vacation out of this. Anybody have any suggestions?
One good bit of news is the radiation oncologist reduced the number of planned radiation treatments from 22 to 18. Not exactly why he feels he should do that, since there haven't been any additional tests to determine any effect of the radiation, but any reduction, IMO, is a good thing.
In the mean time, Edie has an appointment with the orthopedic oncologist today to see how soon something can be accomplished to correct the compressive fracture of the T2 vertebrae, which is the culprit in all this.
Then there is the urine protein analysis, which couldn't be evaluated due to the limitation of the agarose gel elecropheoresis procedure. And for those that are interested, agarose gel, as explained by Susan J. Leclair, Ph.D., CLS(NCA), Chancellor Professor, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
.... is something a lot like jello. It gives really good separation of the proteins but it doesn't photography well at all. So they saw stuff; they just can't keep a permanent copy of it.
I think they need to do a different test, but we will have to discuss that with the oncologist. A second opinion also seems warranted at this point, so I am going to attempt to get in contact with Dr. James R. Berenson a highly noted expert in Multiple Myeloma. Need to come up with a doctor in France or Italy (we haven't been there yet), so we can get a tax deductible vacation out of this. Anybody have any suggestions?
One good bit of news is the radiation oncologist reduced the number of planned radiation treatments from 22 to 18. Not exactly why he feels he should do that, since there haven't been any additional tests to determine any effect of the radiation, but any reduction, IMO, is a good thing.
In the mean time, Edie has an appointment with the orthopedic oncologist today to see how soon something can be accomplished to correct the compressive fracture of the T2 vertebrae, which is the culprit in all this.
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