What is multiple myeloma?

What is multiple myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a rare type of cancer that begins in serum cells, a type of white blood cell. Serum cells produce antibodies that are useful in fighting infection. 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 serum cells become abnormal or cancerous, they multiply rapidly and crowd out healthy serum 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 may increase your risk of developing this disorder.

Risk factors for multiple myeloma include:

• Must be 65 years or older.
• being black
• Family history of multiple myeloma
• Living with overweight or obesity
• If you have other serum cell disorders
• 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 tired or worn out
• unexplained weight loss
• Frequent fever and infections
• Always feel thirsty
• If you have to urinate frequently

What medical complications can multiple myeloma cause?

Multiple myeloma can cause other medical disorders, including:

• frequent infections
• Bone problems, including pain, fractures, and loss of bone mass
• 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 levels of calcium in the blood, known as hypercalcemia.

How is multiple myeloma diagnosed?

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

• blood and urine tests M protein can be detected. Blood tests can also check for other proteins, such as β2 microglobulin, produced by myeloma cells. Other blood tests may include a complete blood count to evaluate kidney function and calcium and uric acid levels.

• imaging test X-rays, CT, MRI, and positron emission tomography (PET) scans may be used to detect bone problems.

• bone marrow biopsy A test in which a health care provider inserts a syringe into the bone marrow space, usually in the buttocks, to collect tissue for testing. This tissue is analyzed under a microscope to look for myeloma cells.

Your healthcare provider may use the CRAB criteria to diagnose myeloma. The abbreviation CRAB stands for:

• high level aspirateKnow
• problem Renals (of the kidneys)
• no waywonderful
• bone injuries (rainone, in English)

If M protein is detected in the blood without other symptoms, it may be diagnosed as a precursor disease to multiple myeloma.

Both precursors are early-stage myeloma and include:

• Monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS): This is considered noncancerous or benign and does not require treatment. About 1% of people with MGUS will develop active myeloma over time.

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

When active myeloma is confirmed, it is classified into stages 1 and 3. Stage 1 myeloma spreads slowly, while stage 3 myeloma spreads more quickly and aggressively. Determining your stage will help your health care provider figure out which treatment plan is best for you.

What are the treatment options for multiple myeloma?

Treatment for multiple myeloma may include:

• targeted chemotherapy attacking Especially in cancer cells
• immunotherapy It uses the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells.
• stem cell transplant Products that replace cancerous bone marrow with healthy bone marrow
• Treatment using CAR T lymphocytesA type of immunotherapy that uses T lymphocytes in the blood to fight cancer
• corticosteroids Destroys and specifically targets myeloma cells
• radiation Rapidly reduces the mass of myeloma cells.

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

New treatments for myeloma can be accessed by participating in clinical trials. Talk to your health care provider about your options and review the National Cancer Institute’s list of ongoing multiple myeloma clinical trials.