Light Chain Disease, Last Radiation Tx

Today was Doug's last radiation treatment to his left hip. The radiation has helped so much with the pain. What a relief!

We got the results from the blood test that was ordered last Friday; Doug's calcium level is normal. That is good news.

We received another email from the clinical research nurse -- due to the "light chain disease", Doug is not eligible for any trials. Kind of a bummer that he won't have access to an investigational drug, but there are powerful drugs already on the market. There was only a 50% chance that he would actually get the new drug in the study anyway.

I found a little more about light chain disease in MM. There doesn't seem to be much information out there for the layman.

"Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of a type of white blood cells called plasma cells. These cells come from the bone marrow and produce antibodies (or immunoglobulin) that are important in fighting infections. In Myeloma, the abnormal plasma cells produce too much of one type of immunoglobulin called the M-protein. (Because of a mutation, Doug now has no M-protein showing in his blood tests, but he did at diagnosis.) A complete antibody molecule is made of both "heavy chains" and "light chains". If the malignant cells produce only the light chain part of the antibody, the patient has "light chain disease".

I don't know yet what impact the light chain disease mutation will have on Doug's prognosis. Quality of life is excellent  now, and we intend to enjoy it.

To get down to basics, all any of us has is today -- who knows what tomorrow will bring.

We wish you all a