Multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that affects a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. Plasma cells produce antibodies to help fight infection and disease. In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells (myeloma cells) are found in the bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside bones that manufactures blood cells. When myeloma cells accumulate in the bones, they can crowd out normal cells and invade bone tissue, damaging and weakening bones. Clinical Trials Risk Factors Scientists have found few risk factors for multiple myeloma. The risk of this cancer increases with age, with most people diagnosed with this cancer at age 65 or older. Multiple myeloma is almost twice as common among African-Americans as Caucasians, and slightly more prevalent in men than women. In some cases, patients have family members with myeloma. Some studies have suggested that workers in certain petroleum-related industries may be at a higher risk. A study by the American Cancer Society has found that being overweight or obese increases a person’s risk of developing myeloma. Many people with other plasma cell diseases like MGUS or solitary plasmacytoma will eventually develop multiple myeloma. Symptoms Common symptoms of multiple myeloma include bone pain in the back and ribs; broken bones, usually in the spine; feeling weak or tired; excessive thirst; frequent infections and fevers; weight loss; nausea or constipation; and frequent urination. Diagnostic Tests Multiple myeloma is usually diagnosed by a...

What is a stage? When you're first diagnosed with There's no cure for multiple myeloma, but treatment can bring it into The same tests your doctor uses to know if you have multiple myeloma will also help them tell what stage it's in. They include: • Blood tests • Urine tests • Bone marrow tests • X-rays and other imaging tests • Genetic tests of the cancer cells Staging Systems for Multiple Myeloma There are two systems that identify the stages of multiple myeloma. The newer one, which doctors use most often, is the revised international staging system (RISS). It predicts how well you'll do with treatment. It measures four things to figure out how aggressive your cancer is: • Albumin levels. This protein in your blood shows how healthy you are overall. • Beta-2 microglobulin (B2M). Levels of this protein in your blood are high when you have multiple myeloma. • Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). This enzyme can be high if your disease is more advanced. • Genetic changes to your cancer cells mean your myeloma is more aggressive. Stage I • Your levels of albumin, B2M, and LDH are normal or close to it. • The genetic makeup of your cancer cells doesn't make it particularly aggressive. • Multiple myeloma is most treatable at this stage, but most people don't know they have it until it's more advanced. Stage II • Your albumin level is low. • Your B2M is either still normal or a bit high. Stage III • Your B2M levels are high, which shows the disease is widespread and advanced. • You ha...

If symptoms suggest that a person might have multiple myeloma, more tests are done. Lab tests Blood counts The Blood chemistry tests Levels of blood creatinine, albumin, calcium, and other electrolytes will be checked. • Creatinine levels show how well your kidneys are working. High levels mean that the kidneys are not functioning well. This is common in people with myeloma. • Albumin is a protein found in the blood. Low levels can be seen in myeloma. • Calcium levels may be high in people with advanced myeloma. High calcium levels (hypercalcemia) can cause symptoms of fatigue, weakness, and confusion. A blood test to measure lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) levels might also be done. It can be a useful indicator of a patient’s prognosis (outlook). High levels mean the disease is more advanced and may have a worse prognosis. Urine tests A routine urine sample is typically taken to look for myeloma protein that has filtered through the kidney. You most likely also will be asked to give a sample of urine that has been collected over a 24-hour period, so it can measure how much myeloma protein is present. These tests are called urine protein electrophoresis (UPEP) and urine immunofixation. Quantitative immunoglobulins This test measures the blood levels of the different antibodies (also called immunoglobulins). There are several different types of antibodies in the blood: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM. The levels of these immunoglobulins are measured to see if any are abnormally high...

Many doctors refer to late-stage Because • High levels of calcium in your • • Large amount of monoclonal immunoglobulin (a type of protein) in your blood or • Low levels of protein molecules in your red blood cells that carry oxygen (hemoglobin) • Three or more areas of bone damage from cancer Symptoms of Late-Stage Multiple Myeloma Some people don’t have any complications from their multiple myeloma. You may find out about it if you have a blood or urine test for another condition. Having more than the normal number of proteins is a red flag. But when you have late-stage multiple myeloma, your symptoms may show up as: • Being sick to your • Bone pain in your back or ribs • Bruising or bleeding easily • Feeling very • • Frequent infections that are hard to treat • Losing a lot of weight • Not feeling like eating • Weakness in your arms and legs As multiple myeloma speeds up the process of bone breakdown, large amounts of calcium may drain into your bloodstream. This is called hypercalcemia. Symptoms can include: • Confusion • • Kidney problems and even kidney failure • Peeing a lot • Severe thirst • Severe If the calcium levels get too high in your blood, you may even slip into a Myeloma can also damage your nerves and cause a “pins and needles sensation.” This is known as If you start to notice such symptoms, tell your doctor. They may take a detailed medical history and do a Life Expectancy With Stage III Multiple Myeloma There’s no cure for multiple myeloma. However, do...

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that occurs when an atypical plasma cell develops in the bone marrow and reproduces quickly. The rapid reproduction of cancerous, myeloma cells eventually overtakes the production of healthy cells in the bone marrow. The cancerous myeloma cells produce atypical antibodies called monoclonal (M) proteins that can cause kidney damage and other serious health issues. Multiple myeloma is rare. In the United States, the National Cancer Institute estimates that there will be In this article, we take a look at the symptoms of multiple myeloma, along with what causes it and how it’s treated. There are two main types of multiple myeloma: • Indolent myeloma. This type usually develops slowly without noticeable symptoms. It doesn’t cause bone tumors, only small increases in M protein and M plasma cells. • Solitary plasmacytoma. This type causes a tumor to form, typically in the bone. It usually responds well to treatment, but it needs close monitoring. The symptoms of multiple myeloma vary depending on the person. Initially, symptoms may not be noticeable. However, as the disease progresses, most people will experience at least one of four major types of symptoms. These symptoms are generally referred to by the acronym CRAB, which stands for: • C = calcium (elevated levels) • R = renal failure • A = anemia • B = bone damage High levels of calcium symptoms High levels of calcium in your blood come from affected bones leaking calcium. Too much calciu...

Multiple myeloma is a rare type of cancer that affects the bone marrow and alters your blood’s plasma cells. Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell and are responsible for recognizing foreign infections and making antibodies to fight them. Multiple myeloma plasma cells Plasma cells live in your Multiple myeloma leads to an accumulation of cancer cells in your bone marrow. Eventually, the cancer cells overtake healthy blood cells, and your body becomes unable to produce disease-fighting antibodies. Instead, it creates harmful proteins that damage your kidneys and cause other signs and symptoms. Knowing the most common signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma may help you detect it before it becomes advanced. Make an appointment with your doctor if you notice any of the potential warning signs. While doctors are still unsure of the exact cause of multiple myeloma, they do know it involves changes in the genes that are in charge of plasma cell growth and division. According to the • oncogenes such as MYC and RAS • tumor suppressor genes such as p53 genes • deletion of chromosome number 17 Dendritic cells in bone marrow can also contribute to multiple myeloma. They release a hormone called interleukin-6 (IL-6) to stimulate cell growth in plasma cells. However, overproduction of IL-6 can promote abnormal cell growth and an increased risk for plasma cell tumors. Signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma aren’t always easy to detect. You may not experience early symptoms of multi...

Survival rates tell you what percentage of people with the same type and stage of cancer are still alive a certain amount of time (usually 5 years) after they were diagnosed. They can’t tell you how long you will live, but they may help give you a better understanding about how likely it is that your treatment will be successful. Keep in mind that survival rates are estimates and are often based on previous outcomes of large numbers of people who had a specific cancer, but they can’t predict what will happen in any particular person’s case. These statistics can be confusing and may lead you to have more questions. Ask y our doctor, who is familiar with your situation, how these numbers may apply to you . What is a 5-year relative survival rate? A relative survival ratecompares people with the same type and stage of cancer to people in the overall population. For example, if the 5-year relative survival ratefor a specific stage of multiple myeloma is 60%, it means that people who have that cancer are, on average, about 60% as likely as people who don’t have that cancer to live for at least 5 years after being diagnosed. Where do these numbers come from? The American Cancer Society relies on information from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, maintained by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), to provide survival statistics for different types of cancer. The SEER database tracks 5-year relative survival rates for myeloma in the United States, bas...