Great question! In the context of myeloma, the 5% figure typically refers to plasma cells in the bone marrow, not "infected" white blood cells specifically.
When doctors assess whether someone has reached complete remission (CR), they look at the percentage of plasma cells in the bone marrow. If less than 5% of bone marrow Show Full Answer
Great question! In the context of myeloma, the 5% figure typically refers to plasma cells in the bone marrow, not "infected" white blood cells specifically.
When doctors assess whether someone has reached complete remission (CR), they look at the percentage of plasma cells in the bone marrow. If less than 5% of bone marrow cells are plasma cells, this is considered a sign that treatment has been effective.
So in short:
- Less than 5% plasma cells in the bone marrow = a positive sign, suggesting remission
- 5% or more may indicate myeloma activity is still present
It's worth noting that even reaching this threshold doesn't guarantee all myeloma cells are gone. More sensitive tests, called MRD (Minimal Residual Disease) testing, can look even deeper to check for remaining cancer cells.
Always discuss your specific results with your care team, as they'll interpret them alongside your full health picture.
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diagnose, treat, or cure any condition or disease. Always ask your doctor about specific health concerns.
What Is Minimal Residual Disease in Myeloma?
July 25
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