Thought it was lung cancer, turns out it's myeloma

crumb3 · New User Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Chicago

I just posted for the first time yesterday about my mom being diagnosed with lung cancer. But this was before we had gotten the biopsy results. Turns out it's actually myeloma. I asked the doctor if this changed the prognosis, and he kind of vaguely said it was probably similar to the 1-2 year prognosis they had orginally given us. I don't know how to feel. I started doing research on this form of cancer, and there don't seem to be nearly as many answers to my questions. I'm worried this means less treatment options because it's less common. Does anyone know much about this? Mom is 70, has always had great health, and still does besides this, so I'm hoping that will help her. The tumors are in her lungs and in her back but no other organs or her brain. She has compression fractures in her spine due to the tumors, so the main concern right now is getting the pain down. She's tried twice to do the radiation but that means laying flat on her back and the pain is beyond extruciating. I just don't think she can go through for 10 days in a row, despite that fact that it would probably help in the end. All of this is so overwhelming, the diagnosis only came a week ago, and I just don't know where to begin. Does anyone have recommendations as to chemo versus radiation in this situation? The doctor initially said that this type of tumor generally responds pretty well to chemo. But they're trying to target her spine first to relieve some of the pressure and reduce the pain. Meanwhile, she's not eating and I'm worried she's getting too weak to keep fighting this pain. I just want her to have the strength to fight and I don't know what the answer is. Thanks for listening.

brainman

My ex father in law had MM. He lived 6 years after his diagnosis. But I think his must have been a lower great at first because it was only limited to one spot in his bones.

Nevertheless, as I always tell people about prognosis, a prognosis is just a best estimate... not an absolute. I like to know my prognosis but only in order to make my "bucket list" of the things I still would like to do, the people I still would like to see, the places I would like to go, etceteras with what ever time I have left. Then I try to just set aside my prognosis and live one day at a time working to complete those goals. You can help your mother by helping her to achieve her goals.

I will be thinking about and praying for your mother.
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Jim
Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=2405
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Pat Killingsworth

This could/should be positive news! Only reason her life expectancy would be so low is if there are other, serious underlying health problems. E-mail me more info about her situation and I can try and help and/or click on the link to my myeloma blog below. Several books I can recommend as well. Bottom line: There are dozens of different treatment options/combinations today for myeloma. You need info! Good luck- Pat
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Pat Killingsworth

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