Still Stable

Thursday, September 19, 2013,    Pomalyst Study Cycle 72:

M-Spike was 1.0 g/dL this morning, where it probably should have been last month when it dropped to 0.9 for the first time in almost four years. IgG was almost unchanged, up less than 2%, from 1110 mg/dL to 1130, probably well within the measurement error for that test. In any case I trust the IgG result a little more than M-Spike, so I think the change from last month is negligible.

Lambda light chains are still above the reference range, barely, but Kappa light chains have dropped by almost half. I don't know what to think of that - it could be an ominous sign, I suppose, but I won't worry about it. Light chains have been acting strangely lately anyway. Maybe it's a testing anomaly, or maybe it's a result of changes in my supplements.

Supplements:

About five weeks ago I added magnesium taurate 250 mg per day and zinc picolinate 50 mg. The magnesium was added to help with my frequent and painful muscle cramps, and I have not had a single cramp since starting the magnesium. It made an incredible difference overnight, after years of cramps. A friend had advised me to try "magnesium oil" years ago, but I was skeptical because he was selling it. I wish I had at least tried it, maybe it would have worked too.

The zinc is reputed to bolster the immune system, and I have no idea whether it helps that, but it does seem to help with a guy thing, so I'll continue to take it.

Did one or the other of those supplements influence the Kappa light chains? Maybe, but I doubt it. Mayo knew that I had added these supplements, so at this visit they checked serum levels of magnesium, bicarbonate, potassium, and TSH. All were normal.

Most-Recent Test Results:

Test    Jun 27    Jul 25    Aug 22    Sep 19     Remarks
M-spike g/dL 1.0 1.1 0.9 1.0 \ Tumor marker
IgG mg/dL 1300 1290 1110 1130 / Tumor marker
Lambda mg/dL 2.61 3.10 2.93 2.92 L free light chains
Kappa mg/dL 1.95 1.67 2.00 1.07 K free light chains
Ratio 0.26-1.65 0.75 0.54 0.68 0.37 Kappa / Lambda
Calcium mg/dL 9.5 9.7 10.1 10.1 OK
Creatinine mg/dL 1.2 1.3 1.1 1.5 Kidney, OK
HGB g/dL 15.1 14.5 15.6 15.7 Hemoglobin, fine
RBC M/uL 4.38 4.23 4.44 4.41 Red cells, OK
WBC K/uL 5.1 4.9 4.2 4.3 White cells, OK
ANC K/uL 2.4 2.6 2.0 1.8 Neutrophils, OK

Related Links:

My Myeloma     A discussion of my myeloma, not very technical.
My Treatment History Not technical.
My Test Charts Graphic displays of several key test results over time.
My Test Result Table Somewhat technical. Best with a wide browser window.
My Supplement Regimen With links to where I buy them.