Understanding Multiple Myeloma Remission

Remission in multiple myeloma means the disease symptoms have decreased or disappeared, but it's not the same as being cured. Remission can be a period where you feel better but may still have some cancer cells, leading to future relapses. 

Doctors use several tests to see if your treatment is working, including blood and urine tests, imaging like MRI or PET scans, and sometimes bone marrow samples. They're looking for signs like bone damage, certain proteins in your blood and urine, and cancer cells. 

There are several ways to measure improvement:

• Partial response: The cancer markers have dropped by at least half.
• Very good partial response: They've dropped by 90%.
• Complete response: No detectable cancer proteins in your tests.
• Stringent complete response: Even more detailed tests show no signs of cancer.
• MRD negative: The most sensitive tests can't find any cancer cells at all.

You might have heard of rankings for multiple myeloma remission and relapse called International Classification of Disease codes (ICD codes). Insurance companies use these to classify your remission for billing and reimbursement purposes. 

Everyone's different. Many people stay in their first remission for two years or more. Unfortunately, multiple myeloma tends to come and go, with periods where it's under control followed by times when it returns. That's why regular checkups are so important.

Understanding remission helps patients and caregivers set realistic expectations. It's crucial to stay informed and work together with health care providers to manage the condition effectively. This knowledge empowers you to make better decisions about your health and treatment.