Multiple Myeloma Diagnosis
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Multiple Myeloma
Dr. Ritwick Panicker explains how multiple myeloma is diagnosed and how the stage of the disease influences treatment options. He also discusses how treatments for multiple myeloma have progressed in recent years and how outcomes are improving.
Diagnosing Multiple Myeloma
Every multiple myeloma patient is different. The cancer experts at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) have extensive experience in properly staging and diagnosing the disease, and customizing treatment for each patient.
When you arrive at CTCA, our team of multiple myeloma experts will use an array of tests to accurately diagnose the disease. This helps us formulate a treatment plan that’s tailored to your needs.
Throughout your multiple myeloma treatment, we’ll use advanced imaging and laboratory tests to monitor the disease and measure your response to treatment. Since we often get imaging results the same day and biopsy results within 24 hours, we can quickly modify your treatment plan to better target the disease.
Diagnostic Tests for Multiple Myeloma
Diagnosing multiple myeloma usually begins with a medical history, physical examination, and blood and urine tests:
- Blood and urine tests: A complete blood count (CBC) is a common test for multiple myeloma. It measures the amount of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in the blood, which are often lower than normal from the disease. Your doctor may also check for the presence of proteins in the blood or urine, as well as levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, albumin, and calcium.
- Physical examination: Your doctor may look for signs of bone pain and tenderness, bruising, or swelling in the spleen or lymph nodes.
We may also use other tests to diagnose the disease, and to plan and monitor your multiple myeloma treatment:
- Bone marrow biopsy – removal of a sample of bone marrow to detect the presence and amount of myeloma cells in the marrow.
- Flow cytometry – a test which passes cancerous cells (stained with a light-sensitive dye) under a laser beam to determine whether the cells contain a normal or abnormal amount of DNA, and the relative rate at which a tumor is growing.
- MUGA scan / 2D Echocardiogram – tests used to evaluate and monitor changes in heart function, which may occur as a side effect of chemotherapy drugs.
- Imaging tests – tests that use imaging technologies to produce pictures of the inside of the body to detect cancerous cells and tissues, bone damage, or nerve pressure caused by the disease.
Multiple Myeloma Diagnosis and Treatment Options
To learn more about CTCA cancer hospitals and our approach to diagnosing and treating multiple myeloma, call us anytime at 888-841-9129 or Chat Now. We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, to listen and help you decide if CTCA is right for you.
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