Myeloma

 
Myeloma is a type of cancer that affects the plasma cells, which are white blood cells located in your bone marrow. The phrase “multiple myeloma” refers to groups of abnormal plasma cells that multiply in different areas of the body. This, in turn, causes these cells to reach higher than normal levels. When this happens, the bones in the body begin to wear down. This disease can cause kidney problems, infections, anemia and problems with bone marrow and the immune system.

The early stages of myeloma may not produce any symptoms but they usually begin appearing in the later stages. 

Symptoms of myeloma include the following:

• High levels of calcium in the body
• Pain in the bones
• Abnormal proteins in the blood or urine
• Mental confusion
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Excessive thirst
• Excessive urination
• No appetite
• Anemia
• Fatigue
• Weakness in legs
• Infections

Patients with this disease will not have all of these symptoms and the ones they do experience will vary in severity with each person.

It’s unknown what causes this disease to begin with but multiple myeloma can start with one abnormal plasma cell in the bone marrow. They don’t die the way normal cells do when they mature so they begin to accumulate and slowly wipe out the healthy cells.

Plasma cells circulate throughout the body in the blood stream and this allows the affected cells to move to different locations as well. This disease interferes with the immune system and lowers its ability to fight off infections. It also damages the bones and the tissue surrounding the affected bones.

Most of the time, there is no need for treatment if the patient is not experiencing any symptoms. The health care physician will simply monitor your condition and look for changes. When the medical condition begins to progress or symptoms appear there are several treatments that can relieve some of the pain. Others are designed to help slow down and control the disease to a certain degree. These treatments include chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, corticosteroids, bortezomib, lenalidomide, thalidomide and radiation therapy.

For related information, click on chemotherapy, chemotherapy treatment and cancer radiation treatment.