What is multiple myeloma? – Healthy woman

What is multiple myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a rare type of cancer that begins in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell. Plasma cells make antibodies that help fight infections. They are found in the bone marrow, the soft inner part of the bone where the body makes blood cells.

How does multiple myeloma develop?

When plasma cells become abnormal or cancerous, they multiply rapidly and crowd out healthy plasma cells. Instead of doing their normal job of making antibodies to protect you from germs, cancer cells start making abnormal antibodies called monoclonal proteins (M proteins).

What are the risk factors for multiple myeloma?

There is no clear reason why some people develop multiple myeloma and others do not. However, certain factors can increase your risk of developing the disease.

Some of the risk factors for multiple myeloma include:

• 65 years or older
• being black
• Family history of multiple myeloma
• Living with overweight or obesity
• If you have another plasma cell disorder
• Exposure to radiation and some chemicals, such as pesticides or fertilizers

What are the symptoms of multiple myeloma?

Multiple myeloma may not cause any symptoms. However, if this happens, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Bone pain, especially in the back and ribs
• Broken or fractured bones
• Feeling weak or tired
• unexplained weight loss
• Frequent infections and fever
• always feel thirsty
• Need to urinate frequently

What health complications can multiple myeloma cause?

Multiple myeloma can cause other health conditions, including:

• frequent infections
• Bone problems, including pain, fractures, and thinning
• Kidney problems, including kidney failure, in which the kidneys are unable to properly remove waste from the body
• anemia or low red blood cell count
• High blood calcium levels, known as hypercalcemia

How is multiple myeloma diagnosed?

If your health care provider (HCP) thinks you have multiple myeloma or you have symptoms, you will be tested to confirm the diagnosis. If there are no symptoms, multiple myeloma may be discovered during testing for other health conditions.

• blood and urine tests M protein can be detected. Blood tests can also detect other proteins, such as beta-2-microglobulin, produced by myeloma cells. Other blood tests may include a complete blood count to check kidney function, calcium, and uric acid levels.

• imaging test Tests such as x-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, and positron emission tomography (PET) scans may be used to look for bone problems.

• bone marrow biopsy This is a test in which your health care provider inserts a needle into the bone marrow space, usually in the buttock, to collect tissue for testing. This tissue is studied under a microscope to look for myeloma cells.

Your healthcare provider may use the CRAB criteria to diagnose myeloma. Craps means:

• high aspiratecalcium levels
• RKidney (kidney) problems
• no waywonderful
• rainone damage

If tests show M protein in the blood without other symptoms, it may be a precursor to multiple myeloma.

Both precursors are early-stage myeloma and include:

• Monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS): Considered noncancerous or benign and requires no treatment. About 1% of people with MGUS eventually develop active myeloma.

• Subclinical multiple myeloma (SMM): Considered precancerous and likely to undergo clinical trials if treatment is needed. About 1 in 10 people with SMM will develop myeloma.

When active myeloma is discovered, it is classified into stages 1 to 3. Stage 1 myeloma grows slowly, while stage 3 grows faster and is more aggressive. Determining your stage will help your HCP find the best treatment plan for you.

What are the treatment options for multiple myeloma?

Treatment for multiple myeloma may include:

• targeted chemotherapy — Especially attacks cancer cells
• immunotherapy — Uses the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells.
• stem cell transplant — Replaces cancerous bone marrow with healthy bone marrow.
• CAR-T cell therapy — A type of immunotherapy that uses T cells in the blood to fight cancer
• corticosteroids — Targets and destroys myeloma cells.
• radiation — Rapidly shrinks myeloma cell clumps.

There is no cure for multiple myeloma, but it can be managed with treatment. The five-year survival rate for multiple myeloma is approximately 62%. This means that about 6 in 10 people with myeloma are still alive five years after they were first diagnosed.

Clinical trials are a way to get involved in new myeloma treatments. Talk to your health care provider about your options and check out the National Cancer Institute’s list of ongoing clinical trials for multiple myeloma.