MyMyelomaTeam

Great question! IgG myeloma is actually a heavy chain myeloma. Here's a simple breakdown of why:

Normal antibodies are shaped like a "Y" and are made up of two parts:
- Heavy chains — the longer proteins that form the stem of the Y
- Light chains — the shorter proteins at the top of the Y

In IgG myeloma, the abnormal Show Full Answer

Great question! IgG myeloma is actually a heavy chain myeloma. Here's a simple breakdown of why:

Normal antibodies are shaped like a "Y" and are made up of two parts:
- Heavy chains — the longer proteins that form the stem of the Y
- Light chains — the shorter proteins at the top of the Y

In IgG myeloma, the abnormal plasma cells are producing too much of the IgG heavy chain protein. This makes it a heavy chain myeloma. IgG is actually the most common type of myeloma, affecting about two-thirds of all people with the disease. So your mother is in good company there!

Light chain myeloma is a separate, less common type where the plasma cells only produce the smaller "light chain" part of the antibody, rather than the full heavy chain protein.

It's always a good idea to ask her oncologist about what her specific IgG levels mean for her treatment plan and monitoring.

 AI-generated responses are not a substitute for medical advice. These services are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition or disease. Always ask your doctor about specific health concerns.

IgG and IgA Antibodies in Myeloma: Which Is More Aggressive?

Light Chain Multiple Myeloma: Symptoms, Life Expectancy, and More