Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells which are a type of white blood cell present in the bone marrow.
The disease is called multiple myeloma because these abnormal cells can occur in multiple bone marrow sites in the body.
In multiple myeloma, abnormal plasma cells (myeloma cells) are formed which may interfere with the function of the bone marrow and immune system, which can lead to anemia and infection.
Multiple myeloma can also cause kidney problems and erosion of bones.
Causes
The exact cause of Multiple Myeloma is not clear.
Risk factors
These include:
- Age. Most persons diagnosed with multiple myloma are around age 70.
- Sex. Men are more likely to develop the disease than are women.
- Race. Blacks are about twice as likely to develop multiple myeloma as are whites.
- Obesity. The risk of multiple myeloma is increased in overweight or obese persons.
Symptoms
Common symptoms include:
- Bone pain
- Fatigue
- Presence of abnormal proteins - which can be produced by myeloma cells - in the blood or urine called monoclonal, or M, proteins.
- High level of calcium in the blood from erosion of bones and symptoms include:
- Excessive thirst and urination
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Mental confusion
- Bone pain, particularly in your back or ribs
- Unexplained bone fractures
- Repeated infections - such as pneumonia, bladder or kidney infection, or sinusitis
- Weight loss
- Weakness or numbness in your legs
Diagnosis
Blood and urine tests
A blood test called serum protein electrophoresis to detect the presence of M proteins, called an "M spike", in the blood and parts of M proteins may also be detected in a test of the urine and they are referred to as Bence Jones proteins.
Other tests include:
- Imaging. X-rays of your skeleton can show whether the bones have any thinned-out areas, common in multiple myeloma.
- Bone marrow examination to remove a small sample of bone marrow tissue to check for myeloma cells.
Complications
Multiple myeloma can result in several complications:
- Impaired immunity may make a person more likely to develop infections, such as pneumonia, sinusitis, bladder or kidney infection, skin infections and shingles.
- Multiple myeloma can affect the bones leading to erosion of bone mass and fractures and compression of the spinal cord.
- Impaired kidney function due to higher calcium levels in the blood which can interfere with your kidneys' ability to filter the body’s waste.
- Anemia
Treatment
Standard treatment options include:
- Chemotherapy involves using medicines either taken orally as a pill or given through an intravenous (IV) injection to kill myeloma cells.
- Corticosteroids.
- Stem cell transplantation. This treatment involves using high-dose chemotherapy along with transfusion of previously collected immature blood cells (stem cells) to replace diseased or damaged marrow.
- Radiation therapy uses high-energy penetrating waves to damage myeloma cells and stop their growth.
