A Little Confused

My 70 year old healthy father has just been diagnosed with MM.  He's a very private person but very cherished by his wife, children and grandchildren and everyone.  I took him and my mom last week to have the bone marrow procedure and then today they went back for the results.  I later ask him how did the "visit" go?  His reply was " I'm in trouble."  This is a man that is so full of life and the joy of my childrens heart.  I don't know what we're up against.  He was with my 7 year old daughter at the time, so I knew that it wasn't the time to discuss "the visit."  I did see on their counter a VHS tape from the hospital about "Men taking Thalomide."  Where in the world do I go ffrom here?  I just can't see him having to give up running, exercising, hunting and fishing.  I'm not ready for this.  Any advice?  Beckie

if possible, see if you can get some more info from the doc or your dad.  A serum M protein, Serum albumin, beta 2 microglobulin and bone marrow biopsy results would be helpful to have.  Generally, MM survival is measured in years, so hang in there and remember, knowledge is power.

 

On 2/5/2007 Oncrx wrote:

if possible, see if you can get some more info from the doc or your dad.  A serum M protein, Serum albumin, beta 2 microglobulin and bone marrow biopsy results would be helpful to have.  Generally, MM survival is measured in years, so hang in there and remember, knowledge is power.

 

I was very impressed and excited about your response to "A littlconfused".  You had mentioned "Beta, Serum Albium, etc., things I have never heard anyone ever mention on this message board before and this is what my husband's dr.'s go by on his "staging

and I have never been able to hear anyone else mention it!!!!!! His stage must be 4 as he has had it for 2 years now and he cannot take thalidomide or any related treatments because of the perphial neophaphy .(sp) So they took him off of everything in July and Jan.22 of this year his IGA went up to 1700 and they started chemo immediately stating he could be gone in 3 weeks as everything else was way off and he was acute inflamation and malnutrition.

I still don't know if IGA 1700 is a critical level or what! I know it's high but I don't know if he is a 4, 3 or what his actual prognosis is!