MULTIPLE MYELOMA

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Oncology

ABOUT THE DISEASE

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that starts in the plasma cells in the bone marrow and is a disease in which the body makes too many plasma cells. Bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue found inside most bones. It is responsible for making blood cells.

Plasma cells develop from B lymphocytes (B cells), a type of white blood cell that is made in the bone marrow. Normally, when bacteria or viruses enter the body, some of the B cells will change into plasma cells which make antibodies to fight the infectious agents.

With multiple myeloma, plasma cells grow out of control in the bone marrow and group together to form tumors in the bone. They kill the bone cells around them and keep other blood cells from being made.

SYMPTOMS

• Bone pain, especially in the back, ribs and hips
• Frequent bone fractures
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Fever for no known reason or frequent infections.
• Trouble breathing

When a tumor gets formed it can damage the bone and cause hypercalcemia (a condition in which there is too much calcium in the blood). This can affect many organs in the body, including the kidneys, nerves, heart, muscles, and digestive tract, and cause serious health problems.

Hypercalcemia may cause the following symptoms:

• Loss of appetite.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Feeling thirsty.
• Frequent urination or Constipation.
• Feeling very tired.
• Muscle weakness.
• Restlessness.
• Mental confusion or trouble thinking.

In rare cases, multiple myeloma can cause organs to fail. This may be caused by a condition called amyloidosis. Antibody proteins build up and may bind together and collect in organs, such as the kidney and heart. This can cause the organs to become stiff and unable to work the way they should.

CAUSES

The cause of multiple myeloma is currently unknown. This cancer usually occurs in people older than 60 years of age. It is slightly more common in men than in women. It can often run in families. Past treatment with radiation therapy raises the risk of this type of cancer

DIAGNOSIS

- CBC (Complete blood count)
- Albumin level
- Calcium level
- Total protein level
- X-Ray to identify areas of bone loss
- MRI Scan to identify multiple myeloma of the spine
- PET Scan to identify tumors in the body
- Bone marrow aspiration

TREATMENT METHODS

No treatment is prescribed when the diagnosis is not certain or a mild form of the disease is diagnosed, however they are closely watched over a prolonged duration of time.

In other cases treatment includes medicine to relieve pain, and chemotherapy to destroy abnormal cells and to slow the development of the disease. Sometimes accompanied by radiation therapy to relieve bone pain or treat a bone tumor.

In any case it is always advised to try to stay active. Staying active helps keep the calcium in the bones instead of in the blood, which helps keep the bones strong.

One recent treatment plan which has turned out to be very effective is:

High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant

Two types of stem cell transplants could be tried:-

- Autologous bone marrow or stem cell transplantation - using the person`s own stem cells.
- Allogeneic transplant - uses someone else’s stem cells.