From myeloma Uk
Have a look at page 16/17
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IGG is the paraprotein
Lambda is the light chain
For example on diagnosis for me my
PP was 45
Im kappa light chain which was 1200
Is your 13 for PP or light chain
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I’m just 55 Paula but I’ve been having symptoms for at least 5 years and seen so many different specialists before I’ve got to this diagnosis x
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Hi all I have been told is that I had an IGG lambda paraprotein of 18.1 and that I also had mild immunoparesis
The consultant doesn’t give much information away at all, he’s made me feel like a bit of a fraud saying you are borderline and he even questioned the way the lab reports the bone marrow biopsy results of 15% saying it’s not an exact science- it made me really confused, I still am to be honest !!
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I’m 56, Ellyrose I think you should demand proper explanations from your consultant or specialist nurse. X
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Hello @Ellyrose
I am sorry to read that you’re not being given clearer information to help you understand your diagnosis.
Do you have a specialist nurse or support worker for Myeloma in the hospital you are under, if so, it might be worth asking if you could chat with them to help answers your questions around your own specific blood results.
Whilst haematology isn’t “an exact science”, I think the important thing for you to know is what the Consultant considers ‘fine & nothing to worry about’, as this might help reassure you that your counts and disease is stable. Please do ask them to clarify this for you.
Some Haematologists can come across as too casual when it comes to reading and interpreting blood test results, and can seem unfazed by very high or very low counts, causing their patients to be frustrated or confused (as well as the nurses!) But they are so used to reading and interpreting patterns within the results, and take each patient as an individual.
It’s easy as a patient to focus solely on the numbers and be worried, and this is totally understandable, but the Consultant is always looking at the wider picture of all results; including kidney, liver, bone tests, as well as any symptoms and general wellbeing of that patient. They also know the ‘normal pattern’ that some blood cancers take - for example blood counts dropping on treatment before increasing again, or white cell counts reaching a certain number before needing treatment, etc, so this is sometimes why they don’t seem panicked or concerned.
Do ask at your next appointment for more information specific to you. You can always ask for historical blood results to be printed out too, so you can start to track the patterns for yourself. You might find this useful, as you start to notice the results fit with times you are fatigued or having more energy, and this can be reassuring if you’d had an infection then your counts changed - you would know it was linked to the infection and not your myeloma changing.
Hopefully you have an appointment soon, where you can get your questions answered in a clearer way.
Take care, Heidi.
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@paula, how’s things? I’m sure you said you had lots of tests before harvesting.
Hopefully you feel ok and will have your transplant soon. X
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Hiya Olivia
I’m doing fine thank you, had a heart scan this week, I go to Christie’s next week for bloods and to see the consultant. The week after I have a high dose chemo and have tablets & injection to do at home ready for harvesting.
How is your husband getting on?
Take care. Paula
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Hi @paula, glad things are progressing for you. I’m sure things will go smoothly and you will be soon , getting on with life. You have done so well to get this far without real issues. What is the high dose chemo you will have and is it tablets? Good luck for the rest of your journey, but I’m sure you will be fine. Hubby recently finished cycle 4 and had a zometa infusion this week. He due a review next week, so hopefully we will find out about harvesting. I think they hoping he will be due a transplant in may sometime. I just want it to be over so we can get back to a form of normality, but, we know it’s a long road.take care, keep in touch.x
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Hi Olivia
That’s good hubby has finished the 4 cycles, is he having another bone biopsy?
The chemo I’m having on the 18th is melphalan. I will also have injections & tablets to bring home for a week. I have a busy next couple of weeks with appointments back and too to Christie’s. Please keep me posted how hubby gets on, it it goes well for both of us 
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Hi @ paula1
It sounds like you are well on course, I’m sure you will be fine as you have done so well with the induction treatment.
- How much Melphalan do you actually have , is it an infusion?
- What are the injections and tablets you have to take at home, I assume you are saying you have to administer them yourself too?
How long after these will you go in for harvesting ? We will definitely be thinking of you and hope you can stay positive, although we know you will be nervous. You can do it.
Hubby has another biopsy this week, then a review with consultant. Not sure what tests he will have before talk of the transplant. I think he is a bout 4 weeks behind you. He was previously told May time for possible transplant, but had 2 weeks off in cycle 3 , so not sure yet.
Sending you hugs, lots of love and good vibes. Take care & Keep in touch.x🥰
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Hi Olivia
I saw consultant yesterday and had really great news that the myeloma was almost gone.
The chemo he is now giving me on Monday is cyclophosamide. Then 2 weeks later I get my cells harvested and transplant around 3-4 weeks later. He also mentioned that when people relapse they rarely need a second transplant now as medicine have improved so much. ( thought this was really good for most people) I just want to get on with it now so that I can start having my life back.
Hope things are still going good for your hubby
Take care
Paula 
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Hi @Paula1 that really is great news please do look after yourself and keep posting
Thank you Erica,
How are you doing on watch & wait?
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Hi @Paula1 I am doing OK, next Blood tests April.
The results do fluctuate and I still get anxious Before, during and when I get the results.
Look after yourself
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@Paula, that’s great news, I bet you were stunned when the consultant told you. You so deserve it.We will raise a glass to you tonight.( Hubby has just started trying zero alcohol drinks, namely zero Guinness) He says it makes him feel a little normal. It’s also great to hear that some people will no longer need a second transplant. I do research myeloma quite a bit and it’s impressive how far treatments have come. I do hope the research continues so that eventually transplants will be a thing of the past.
Well we send you lots of love & luck in your next phase of your journey and I’m sure before you know it you will be doing great things in your life. Please keep us updated, we will keep everything crossed for you. Hubby had his review this week and his numbers are all coming down. We are now waiting to hear from transplant team. He has been given April as possible harvesting.
Take care.xx
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@Erica, please take care too.xx
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Hi again, just letting you know all is going well and to plan, I am having my cells harvested next wed/thurs then I think it’s another 3/4 weeks for transplant.
Hope all is going good for hubby xx
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Hi @Paula1 great to hear all is going well and to plan, please do keep us posted
Be kind to yourself
@Paula1 , that’s great news that all is going to plan. We will be thinking about you next week. I’m sure it will be fine.
It will soon all be done and hopefully you will be able to get back to some sort of normal.Please make sure you continue to look after yourself and think about us throughout your journey. Obviously You may not be up to doing lots after your transplant, but when you are ready to communicate we will be here. You have everything going in your favour due to your age and your markers doing so well.
So good to hear from you. Take care…x
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