Read article Further tests for myeloma
If your tests show you have myeloma, you will need to have further tests to see how much the myeloma is affecting your body. This information helps your specialist to know the stage of your disease and decide on the best treatment. You may have
Further tests for myeloma
If your earlier tests show you have myeloma, you will need to have further tests to see how the myeloma is affecting your bone marrow and bones and other parts of your body. This information helps your specialist to know how much the myeloma has developed (the stage) and decide on the best treatment. These further tests may include blood tests, a CT scan, and an MRI scan.
After the tests
Your doctor will ask you to go back to the hospital when your test results have come through. But this may take a little time, probably about a week or two. This is a very anxious time for most people.
While you are waiting for the results, it may help to talk to a close friend or relative about how you feel. Or you may want to contact a cancer support group to talk to someone who has been through a similar experience. You can also find online support forums, such as CancerChat.
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the diagnosing myeloma section.
An MRI scan uses radio waves and magnetism to give a detailed picture of the inside of your body. An MRI scan may give your specialist more information about the extent of your myeloma than X-rays. And it is particularly useful for investigating myeloma that is affecting the bones of the spine, and possibly causing pressure on the spinal cord. There is information about having an MRI scan in the cancer tests section.
A CT scan is a series of X-rays. A computer linked to the X-ray machine creates a detailed picture of the inside of your body. Your specialist may want you to have a CT scan to closely examine any areas of bone damage that have shown up on X-ray, particularly small areas of damage. Or you may need a scan of any painful areas of bone that appear normal on X-ray. CT scans are also useful for diagnosing disease in soft tissue (outside the bones). There is information about having a CT scan in the cancer tests section.
You may have some more blood tests done to help the doctor know the stage of your myeloma. These might include measuring your albumin levels. Albumin is a protein in your blood that is produced by your liver. If you have myeloma your albumin level can be low. Another blood test measures the level of a protein called beta 2 microglobulin (ß2-microglobulin) in your blood. This test can help the doctor know how advanced your myeloma is.
You will be asked to go back to the hospital when your test results have come through. But this may take a little time, probably about a week or two. This is a very anxious time for most people. While you are waiting for results, it may help to talk to a close friend or relative about how you are feeling. Or you may want to contact a cancer support group to talk to someone who has been through similar experiences.
If you would like to talk to someone outside your own friends and family, look at our counselling organisations. There is information about counselling in our coping with cancer section.
If you want to find people to share experiences with online, you could use CancerChat, our online forum. Or go through MyWavelength. This is a free service that aims to put people with similar medical conditions in touch with each other.
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