Myeloma and response to treatment
You will have tests during your treatment to check how well the myeloma is responding to treatment. Different levels of response include complete response, very good partial response, partial response, and stable disease.
Response to myeloma treatment
You will have tests during your treatment to check how well the myeloma is responding to treatment. Your cancer team will check your blood or urine (pee) for abnormal immunoglobulins (paraproteins) and light chains made by the myeloma cells.
If these are below certain levels and myeloma cannot be detected, it is called complete response. This is also sometimes called complete remission.
Related pages
Levels of response to myeloma treatment
The different levels of response include:
- complete response (CR) – this means the paraprotein (M protein) cannot be detected in blood or urine tests and there are fewer than 5% plasma cells in the bone marrow
- very good partial response (VGPR) – this means the paraprotein can only be detected by certain types of test, or the paraprotein level is 90% lower than it was before treatment
- partial response (PR) – this means the paraprotein level is at least 50% lower than it was before treatment
- stable disease – this means the paraprotein is at the same level as it was before treatment.
If you have a type of myeloma that does not make paraproteins, such as a Bence Jones myeloma, your doctor can explain how response will be measured.
Relapsed myeloma
Even though many people have a good response to treatment for myeloma, the myeloma usually comes back after a period of time. This is called recurrent or relapsed myeloma.
If you have a relapse, your cancer team may change your treatment or offer further treatment.
If treatment does not control the myeloma, or stops controlling it, the doctors will talk to you about treatments to manage symptoms.
About our information
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer.
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References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our myeloma information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at informationproductionteam@macmillan.org.uk
Hughes D, Yong K, Ramasamy K, et al. Diagnosis and management of smouldering myeloma: A British Society for Haematology Good Practice Paper. Br J Haematol. 2024;204(4):1193-1206. Available from: www.doi.org/10.1111/bjh.19333
Sive J, Cuthill K, Hunter H, et al. Guidelines on the diagnosis, investigation and initial treatment of myeloma: a British Society for Haematology/UK Myeloma Forum Guideline. Br J Haematol.2021;193(2):245-268. Available from: www.doi.org/10.1111/bjh.17410
Reviewer
Senior Clinical Research Fellow and Honorary Consultant in Molecular Diagnostics and Leukaemia
Date reviewed
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