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How To Read Blood Tests

Blood tests are an important way to diagnose and monitor myeloma. Tests on your blood will include:
•Serum protein electrophoresis – This measures the amount of abnormal antibodies (paraproteins) in the blood. It is the main blood test used to diagnose myeloma.

•Full blood count – This measures the levels of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets in the blood. This test can show whether your bone marrow has been affected by myeloma.

•Urea and electrolytes – This gives information about how well your kidneys are working.

•Calcium level – This measures the level of calcium in the blood, as this can be raised in myeloma.

•Beta-2 micro globulin level – This measures the level of a protein produced by myeloma cells. It shows how active the myeloma is.

•Albumin level – This measures the level of albumin, which is a protein found in the blood. If this level is low, it can mean that a myeloma is advanced.

•Serum free light chain assays (Freelite) – This test can detect light chains in the blood. It is useful for diagnosing and monitoring light chain myeloma.

•Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) – This test shows if red blood cells (erythrocytes) are sticking together more than usual. Paraproteins can cause this, so the ESR level may be higher if you have myeloma.

Abnormal Antibodies

Every 3 months, I have a blood test to measure my red blood cells which carry oxygen to the body and white blood cells which fight off infections. This test is called electrophoresis. It helps to monitor myeloma by measuring the abnormal monoclonal protein (M-protein) in the blood.
If the monoclonal protein increases too much, the blood thickens and becomes sticky, which causes shortness of breath, chest pain, and confusion.

It shows a visual chart which is easy to follow: if the abnormal antibodies increase, then the peak will go up, if they decrease, then the peak will go down. As simple as that.

Then you have a few more details in the blood test which measure the protein level in the blood called Albumin and Beta

If there is a paraprotein in your blood or urine, a doctor or nurse will take a sample (biopsy) of bone marrow. The biopsy is usually taken from the back of your hipbone (pelvis), or sometimes the breast bone. The sample is sent to a laboratory to be checked under a microscope for abnormal cells.

Bone Marrow Biopsy

If there is a paraprotein in your blood or urine, a doctor or nurse will take a sample (biopsy) of bone marrow. The biopsy is usually taken from the back of your hipbone (pelvis), or sometimes the breast bone. The sample is sent to a laboratory to be checked under a microscope for abnormal cells.

The procedure can be done on the ward or in the outpatients department and takes about 15–20 minutes. Removing the sample only takes a few minutes. Before the bone marrow sample is taken, you’ll be given a local anaesthetic injection to numb the area. You may be offered a short-acting sedative to make you more comfortable during the test.
The doctor or nurse passes a needle through your skin into the bone. They then draw a small sample of liquid from the bone marrow (a bone marrow aspirate) into a syringe. It can be uncomfortable for a few seconds when the marrow is drawn into the syringe.
You may also have a small core of marrow taken (a trephine biopsy). This procedure takes a few minutes longer. The doctor or nurse passes a thicker needle through the skin into the bone marrow. When they take the needle out, it contains a small core of bone marrow.

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