In diagnosing multiple myeloma, your doctors will also conduct several tests, such as blood and urine tests as well as imaging scans, to determine the stage of your disease. Staging helps to assess your risk for disease progression so we can plan the best treatment for you.
The system that’s used to stage newly diagnosed multiple myeloma aims to classify your disease into risk groups, one of three or four risk groups, based on several biomarkers and genetic factors:
- The amount of the beta-2-microglobulin (B2M) in your blood
- The amount of the albumin in your blood
- The amount of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in your blood
- The specific gene mutations found in your cancer cells
Roswell Park’s pathology expertise and specialty laboratories work quickly to get this information to your clinical care team who will personalize your treatment to your needs.