Your doctors may suggest that you have further tests which can give more detailed information about the bones and organs of the body.

An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan uses magnetic fields to build up a series of cross-sectional pictures of the body. During the test you will be asked to lie very still on a couch inside a metal cylinder that is open at both ends. The whole test may take up to an hour and is painless – although the machine is very noisy. You will be given earplugs or headphones to wear.

Before going into the room you should remove all metal belongings. You should also tell your doctor if you have ever worked with metal or in the metal industry, or if you have any metal inside your body (for example, a cardiac monitor, pacemaker, surgical clips, or bone pins).

You may feel claustrophobic inside the cylinder, but you may be able to take someone with you into the room to keep you company. It may also help to mention to the staff beforehand if you do not like enclosed spaces. They can then offer extra support during your test.

A CT (computerised tomography) scan takes a series of x-rays which builds up a three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body. Sometimes CT scans can be better at showing bone damage than an ordinary x-ray. The scan is painless but takes longer than an ordinary x-ray (it will last approximately 30 minutes).

An ultrasound scan uses sound waves to look at internal organs. It may be done to see if your kidneys have been damaged by the myeloma.

PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans are a new type of scan and you may have to travel to a specialist centre to have one. They are not always necessary but you can discuss with your doctor whether one would be useful in your case.

A PET scan uses low-dose radioactive glucose (a type of sugar) to measure the activity of cells in different parts of the body. A very small amount of a mildly radioactive substance is injected into a vein, usually in your arm. A scan is then taken a couple of hours later. Areas of cancer are usually more active than surrounding tissue and show up on the scan.

It will probably take several days for the results of your tests to be ready and this waiting period will obviously be an anxious time for you. It may help if you can find a relative or close friend you can talk things over with. You may wish to ring Cancerbackup or another support organisation for emotional support.