Dom's October Numbers

WBC:   6.7

RBC:   3.41

HTC:   32.9

PLATELETS:   307

Free Light Chains:  ALL NORMAL

Kappa:  1.44

Lambda:   1.32

Ratio:  1.08

M-Spike:  0.3  Dropped from 0.5 in April after just a couple of rounds of Rev/Dex/Vel
****************************************************************

Dr. Safah cut him loose until after the First of the Year.  She wants him to continue physical therapy.  (Which is going great!)  He used his walker in our house for the first time.... walked 200 feet!

The Zometa has shrunk the lesion on his hip.

She's very pleased with these latest numbers.

I'm hoping that in January, she'll tell him that he doesn't need any more chemo or SCT.  This was just a single Plasmacytoma on his hip.  His blood and bone marrow are clean.

December Numbers..... 77 Months of Complete Remission!

WBC:   8.7

HTC:   39.3

PLATELETS:   288

ANC:   70



*Kappa:  18.93
*Lambda:  22.34
*Ratio:  .85

Thankfully, his M-Spike remains at .3!  His oncologist is very pleased.

Dom Remains in Complete Remission.....77 Months!

Normal levels of serum free light chains are:
• Kappa: 3.3–19.4 mg/L
• Lambda: 5.71–26.3 mg/L
• Kappa/lambda ratio: 0.26–1.65

His December Numbers Were:

*Kappa:  18.93
*Lambda:  22.34
*Ratio:  .85

Thankfully, his M-Spike remains at .3!  His oncologist is very pleased.

Tulane is sending me the other numbers via mail.

Merry Christmas!

June Numbers.... 71 Months of Complete Remission!

WBC:    6.3

HTC:   38

PLATELETS:   189

ANC:    67

Light Chains:

Kappa-  18.86

Lambda-  19.72

Ratio-  0.96

M SPIKE NOT OBSERVED  0.3

Dom's March Numbers- 68 Months COMPLETE REMISSION!

We had a wonderful St. Patrick's Day and celebrated accordingly.  Dom's Light Chains continue to drop.  We're absolutely tickled.  Thank you for the prayers and positive thoughts, gang!

WBC:   5.4

HTC:   40.6

PLATELETS:   192

ANC:   62

LIGHT CHAINS:

Kappa-  16.16

Lambda-  16.26

Ratio-  0.99

M-SPIKE NOT OBSERVED   .40

Dom's August Numbers.... 61 Months Complete Remission!

Thanks for all of the prayers and good vibes!

WBC:      6.5

HTC:        36.1

PLATELETS:   186

ANC:     56


LIGHT CHAINS:

Kappa:  19.21

Lamda:   18.72

Ratio:   1.03

ZERO M-SPIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dom's Latest Light Chains.... yippee!

Hi gang:

Finally got to take a look at Dom's Light Chains from May.  I was tickled to see the numbers dropping, but was concerned about his Ratio shooting up.  After some research, I think that this is probably wonderful news.  Looking forward to discussing this with his doctor in August. Link at the bottom.

Light Chains

Normal:
Kappa  3.3 – 19.4
Labda  5.71 – 26.3
Ratio  0.26 – 1.65

(A Downward Trend in all of these is GOOD.)

Dom’s Light Chains:

Kappa…..

March ’13:  19.19
Oct. ’13       14.92
Jan ’14         13.82
May ‘14        7.49

Labda….

March ’13    19.21
Oct. ’13        16.77
Jan ’14         15.69
May ‘14         0.63

Ratio……

March ’13     1.00
Oct. ’13          0.89
Jan ’14           0.88
May ‘14         11.89
*********************************************************************
Heavy/Light Chain Ratios May Be A Prognostic Marker For Myeloma Patients

The results of a small Spanish study indicate that heavy/light chain ratios may be a prognostic marker for myeloma patients.

Specifically, the Spanish researchers found that multiple myeloma patients who experienced elevated heavy/light chain ratios after achieving complete remission following a stem cell transplant had longer progression-free and overall survival rates than patients who did not experience elevated heavy/light chain ratios.

According to the study investigators, these results show for the first time the association between a heavy/light chain ratio and sustained remission in myeloma patients.

http://www.myelomabeacon.com/news/2012/04/11/heavylight-chain-ratios-may-be-a-prognostic-marker-for-myeloma-patients/

Light Chains are Looking Great!

We'll be getting his M-Spike and other numbers this week:

Light Chains

Normal: 

Kappa  3.3 – 19.4

Labda  5.71 – 26.3

Ratio  0.26 – 1.65

(A Downward Trend in all of these is GOOD.)

Dom’s Light Chains:

Kappa…..

March ’13:  19.19

Oct. ’13       14.92

Jan ’14         13.82

Labda….

March ’13    19.21

Oct. ’13        16.77

Jan ’14         15.69

Ratio……

March ’13     1.00

Oct. ’13          0.89

Jan ’14           0.88

Dom Remains in Complete Remission!

Hi gang-

Got Dom's M-Spike and Light Chain Results:

M-SPIKE:  ZERO

Kappa:  14.92
Labda:   16.77
Ratio:    0.89

(All Normal)

He has now been in complete remission for 51 Months


YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kidney failure in Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal B-cell disease of slowly proliferating plasma cells, accompanied by monoclonal protein production and lytic bone lesions. Up to 50 per cent of newly diagnosed patients have a decrease in creatine clearance and 20 per cent of Multiple Myeloma patients Kidney failure occurs as a consequence of elevated calcium levels in the blood or when the kidneys are overloaded with protein.

Normally, the kidneys remove wastes, extra fluids, and minerals from the blood. But when they stop functioning, harmful wastes build up and this can cause other complications such as high blood pressure. In addition, the disease can cause too much calcium to leave your bones and head into your bloodstream, where it can put a strain on your kidneys.

When kidney failure is irreversible, patients undergo a procedure known as dialysis to help their bodies filter blood. Dialysis removes the extra fluid and waste from the blood, and it can prolong the overall survival for multiple myeloma patients.

The incidence of renal failure certainly rises as the tumor load increases, but it is the underlying tumor burden that ultimately determines survival. Therefore, treatment of myeloma to achieve reduction might also reduce the occurrence of kidney failure.

The most common test used as a follow-up to abnormal routine tests and to help diagnose the disease include Protein and Immunofixation Electrophoresis. This test is used to diagnose and monitor multiple myeloma. Protein electrophoresis separates the proteins in a blood or urine sample into several groups based on their electrical charge and size. In most patients with multiple myeloma, large amounts of an abnormal immunoglobulin protein (M-protein) will show up as a large peak on the electrophoresis graph.

Usually, both a blood and a urine sample will be tested during the diagnosis of multiple myeloma because some proteins, such as the Bence Jones proteins (free light chains), may not show up in significant quantities in blood samples, while those with only intact immunoglobulins may not have the abnormal protein in urine.

Bence Jones protein (free light chains) can be detected in the urine of some patients with multiple myeloma. Cancer screening exams are important medical tests done when you’re at risk but don’t have symptoms. They help find cancer at its earliest stage, when the chances for successful treatment are best.

—Dr Bharat Vaswani, Yashoda Hospital

LINK

Understanding Serum Free Light Chain Assays

Introduction

You received this booklet to learn more about
a type of laboratory test called the Serum
Free Light Chain Assays (SFLCA). These tests
are also known collectively as Freelite™. After
reading this booklet, you should be able to
answer the following questions:


*What are free light chains?

*How are free light chains related to
multiple myeloma?

*How does the Freelite test help with diagnosis
and monitoring response to treatment
of multiple myeloma?

This booklet is intended to provide you with
general information only. It is not meant to
replace the advice of your doctor or nurse
who can answer questions related to your
specific treatment plan. The definitions of all
words in bold are found in the glossary at
the end of the booklet.

Download this PDF File HERE


The Serum Free Light Chain Assays:

Normal Versus Abnormal
Normal levels of serum free light chains are*:

• Kappa: 3.3–19.4 mg/L*
• Lambda: 5.71–26.3 mg/L*
• Kappa/lambda ratio: 0.26–1.65**