Myeloma (Bone Marrow) Cancer Screen

How can you screen for myeloma cancer?

Myeloma, or Multiple Myeloma as it is also called, is a type of bone marrow cancer. It can affect a number of diferent parts of your body including the skull, ribs, spine and pelvis. This cancer occurs when the cells that produce antibodies to help you fight infections malfunction. Our myeloma cancer screen will require a urine and blood sample to check all aspects of your system. Once our nurse has taken your blood sample and you have provided a urine sample, we will send them to our accredited country laboratory for analysis.

What tests will you run on my sample?

Our comprehensive test will assess the following:

• Full blood count (FBC) with a 5-part differential. This test checks the levels of all your different blood cells to identify any abnormalities
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The ESR measures the rate at which blood cells settle in a tube. Fast ESR rates can indicate inflammatory problems
• Protein electrophoresis. This test measures specific proteins in the blood for the identification of diseases
• Immunoglobulin test. This measures three specific types of immunoglobulins: IgG, IgM, and IgA. If your immunoglobulin levels are too low or too high, this may signify a serious health problem
• Bence - Jones Protein. This protein can be detected in urine and is a strong indicator of Multiple Myeloma
• Biochemistry profile. This profile will measure levels of urea, glucose, creatinine, bilirubin, potassium, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase, albumin, protein, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL cholesterol), low-density lipoprotein (LDL cholesterol), calcium, cholesterol, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, and uric acid

How will I receive my test results?

Your confidential results will be ready within five working days of your sample arriving at our certified laboratory. To access your results at any time you can log in to your secure patient area on our website. A member of our Patient Services team will contact you as soon as all of your results are ready to view.

What if my Myeloma cancer screen reveals abnormal levels?

If your myeloma cancer screen results show abnormal levels, you should seek medical advice from a doctor. Medication may be prescribed to you and further tests may be encouraged to ensure the success of treatment. Better2Know can organise private consultations throughout the country with our network of skilled doctors. Alternatively, if you would prefer, you can take your results to your own GP.

Description provided by Better2Know.