Multiple Myeloma - Symptoms, Evolution and Treatment

What is multiple myeloma?

This is a type of cancer that affects the bone marrow. The cells in the bone marrow which are cancerous are plasma cells. The work of plasma cells in the bone marrow is to produce antibodies or immunoglobulin to help fight against infection in the body. Multiple myeloma occurs when the plasma cells start producing immunoglobulin in excess quantity and the entire bone marrow becomes densely populated with these plasma cells.

As such bone marrow transplants have shown some positive results but as such people suffering from multiple myeloma have a very small percentage level of survival. This type of cancer has been found more commonly in older people. Multiple myeloma is treatable but then the rate of survival depends upon the diagnosis and to the extent on their spread of tumor cells in the body. Chemotherapy has been the most effective mode of treatment.

What are the signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma?

Some of the most common symptoms that can be found in multiple myeloma patients is that they complain of pain in the bones especially the ribs and the back bone, they have the tendency too breakage of bones especially the spine bones, feeling of lethargy and tiredness is a common complaint, subjected to frequent fevers and prone to infections, weight loss, some complain of constipation while some have a nauseating feeling, urge to urinate etc. These are not the indication of cancer but then these indicate that they are suffering from certain health problems and this should be brought to the notice of the doctor to help diagnose the problem and rule out any chances of multiple myeloma.

How does the doctor evaluate and treat multiple myeloma?

After the performance of all tests the final test that the patient is subjected to confirm multiple myeloma is the biopsy of the bone marrow. Surgery is the best option to remove the tumor and after the surgery chemotherapy is resorted to destroy the remaining affected plasma cells to prevent the recurrence of the same. Radiation therapy has not shown any positive results thus radiation therapy is not recommended.

Like all the other types of cancer the treatment leaves behind a few permanent side effects as well as temporary side effects. The temporary side effects due to chemotherapy are loss of hair, loss of memory, fatigue, loss of appetite etc. All these symptoms of side effects wear off after the treatment cycle but then certain permanent side effects are very hard to deal with. The permanent side effects of multiple myeloma are it affects the kidneys; you are rendered anemic, heart ailments etc.

People who have a family history of this disease are more at a risk of developing this type of cancer. Apart from this research has proved that certain types of chemicals and certain types of viruses or germs are known to cause this disease, eating certain foodstuffs are also known to increase the risk factor. Obesity is also linked with the development of multiple myeloma.