Finding out your myeloma stage involves a series of tests that your hematologist or oncologist will order. Here's what's typically involved:
- Blood tests – measuring proteins like albumin, beta-2 microglobulin (B2M), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
- Serum protein electrophoresis – identifies abnormal proteins made by Show Full Answer
Finding out your myeloma stage involves a series of tests that your hematologist or oncologist will order. Here's what's typically involved:
- Blood tests – measuring proteins like albumin, beta-2 microglobulin (B2M), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
- Serum protein electrophoresis – identifies abnormal proteins made by myeloma cells
- Serum free light chain assay – measures extra light chain proteins in the blood
- Bone marrow biopsy – examines the cancer cells directly
- Imaging – PET/CT scans and MRI help assess bone damage and disease spread The staging system currently used is called the Revised International Staging System (R-ISS), which has three stages:
- Stage 1 – Earliest stage, often few or no symptoms, cancer cells are low in number. Doctors may recommend monitoring rather than immediate treatment.
- Stage 2 – More advanced than stage 1, symptoms like bone pain, fatigue, and frequent infections may appear.
- Stage 3 – Most advanced stage, associated with poorer outcomes. Doctors may suggest more aggressive treatment or clinical trials.
Myeloma staging is unique — it's based on blood markers and biology rather than tumor size or spread, as a MyMyelomaTeam member put it: staging reflects "how much of your body is affected."
It's also worth knowing that if myeloma relapses, the stage is generally not reassigned — the original stage at diagnosis stays on record.
June 12
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