A Simple Guide to Multiple Myeloma

A Simple Guide to Multiple Myeloma
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What is Multiple Myeloma?
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Multiple myeloma is cancer of the bone marrow which occurs from the uncontrolled growth of plasma cells, a form of immune-protective white blood cells.
Normally plasma cells make antibodies to fight infections.
The disease is called multiple myeloma because myeloma cells can occur in multiple bone marrow sites in your body.

What are the Risk factors in Multiple Myeloma?
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1.Age. The majority of people who develop multiple myeloma are older than 50, with most diagnosed around age 70.

2.Sex. Men are more likely to develop the disease than are women.

3.Exposure to radiation and working in petroleum-related industries.

4.History of a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.

5.Obesity. Your risk of multiple myeloma is increased if you're overweight or obese.

What are the causes of Multiple Myeloma?
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The exact cause of Multiple Myeloma is not known.
However doctors do know that multiple myeloma begins with one abnormal plasma cell in your bone marrow . This abnormal cell then starts to multiply. Because abnormal cells don't mature and then die as normal cells do, they accumulate slowly reducing the number of healthy cells.
Myeloma cells may circulate in low numbers in the blood, populating other bone marrow sites far from where they began. Uncontrolled plasma cell growth can damage bones and surrounding tissue.

What are the Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma?
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Common symptoms include:
1.Anemia or pallour can occur as myeloma cells replace oxygen-carrying red blood cells in your bone marrow,
2.fatigue
3.Bone pain.
4.Nausea
5.Loss of appetite
6.Mental confusion
7.Presence of abnormal proteins produced by myeloma cells in your blood or urine. These proteins which are antibodies are called monoclonal, or M, proteins.
8.High level of calcium in your blood. This can occur when calcium from affected bones dissolves into your blood. A high calcium level in your blood may cause symptoms such as:
9.Excessive thirst and urination
10.Constipation

How do you diagnose Multiple Myeloma?
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Multiple myeloma can be diaqgnosed before you ever have symptoms through blood and urine tests.Blood and urine tests
1.blood test called serum protein electrophoresis separates your blood proteins and can detect the presence of M proteins in your blood.
When found in urine, they're referred to as Bence Jones proteins.
2.Another blood test to check for beta2-microglobulin — another protein produced by myeloma cells
3. Imaging.
a.X-rays of your skeleton can show whether your bones have any thinned-out areas, common in multiple myeloma.
b. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) scanning.
4.Bone marrow examination is done by using a needle to remove a small sample of
bone marrow tissue. The sample is then examined under a microscope to check for myeloma cells.

What are the Complications of multiple myeloma?
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Multiple myeloma can result in several complications:
1.Impaired immunity. Myeloma cells inhibit the production of antibodies needed for normal immunity which may make you more likely to develop infections, such as pneumonia, sinusitis, bladder or kidney infection, skin infections and shingles.

2.Bone problems. Multiple myeloma also can affect your bones, leading to erosion of bone mass and fractures. The condition may cause compression of your spinal cord. Signs of this medical emergency include weakness, or even paralysis, in your legs.

3.Impaired kidney function.
Higher calcium levels in the blood related to eroding bones can interfere with your kidneys' ability to filter your blood's waste. The proteins produced by the myeloma cells can cause similar problems, especially if you become dehydrated.

4.Anemia. As cancerous cells crowd out normal blood cells, multiple myeloma can also cause anemia and other blood problems.

What are the Treatment of Multiple myeloma ?
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There is no cure for multiple myeloma.
However, with good treatment results you can usually return to near-normal activity.
The appropriate multiple myeloma treatment depends on the stage of the illness, medical status and general health.
Chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy involves using
1.Anti Cancer medicines taken orally as a pill or given through an intravenous (IV) injection to kill myeloma cells. Chemotherapy is often given in cycles over a period of months, followed by a rest period.
2.Corticosteroids. Corticosteroids such as prednisone and dexamethasone (Decadron) have been used for decades to treat multiple myeloma.
3.Thalidomide is currently FDA-approved in conjunction with the corticosteroid called dexamethasone for the treatment of newly diagnosed cases of multiple myeloma. This drug is given orally.

Radiation therapy.
This treatment uses high-energy penetrating waves to damage myeloma cells and stop their growth. Radiation therapy may be used to target myeloma cells in a specific area to more quickly shrink a tumor that's causing pain or destroying a bone.

Stem cell transplantation.
This treatment involves using high-dose chemotherapy usually high doses of melphalan along with transfusion of previously collected immature blood cells (stem cells) to replace diseased or damaged marrow. The stem cells can come from you or from a donor, and they may be from either blood or bone marrow

Treating complications
Back pain. Taking pain medication or wearing a back brace can help relieve the back pain you might experience with multiple myeloma.
Infections. Antibiotics may be necessary to help treat infections or to help reduce your risk of them.
Bone loss. You may take medications called bisphosphonates which bind to the surface of your bones and help prevent bone loss.
Anemia. If you have persistent anemia, your doctor may prescribe erythropoietin injections. Erythropoietin is a naturally occurring hormone made in the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells. .
Kidney complications. People with severe kidney damage may need dialysis