Multiple Myeloma – What is it, Symptoms and Treatments!

Multiple Myeloma – What it is, Symptoms and Treatments that many are unaware of. Also, Multiple Myeloma is a cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. Multiple Myeloma originally affects the bone marrow .

Plasma cells help you fight infections by making antibodies that recognize and attack germs. Multiple Myeloma  causes cancer cells to accumulate in the bone marrow , where they expel healthy blood cells. Instead of producing helpful antibodies, cancer cells produce abnormal proteins that can cause kidney problems.

Treatment for Multiple Myeloma is not always necessary. If you are not showing signs and symptoms, you may not require treatment. If symptoms and signs develop, several treatments can help manage your Multiple Myeloma .

Causes:  It is unclear what causes myeloma. Doctors know that multiple myeloma starts with an abnormal plasma cell in your bone marrow – the soft tissue that makes blood that fills the center of most of your bones. The abnormal cell multiplies quickly.

Because cancer cells don’t mature and then die like normal cells do, they build up, eventually crushing the production of healthy cells. In the bone marrow , Multiple Myeloma cells crowd out healthy white blood cells and red blood cells, leading to fatigue and the inability to fight off infections.

Multiple Myeloma  cells continue to try to produce antibodies, as healthy plasma cells do, but Multiple Myeloma cells produce abnormal antibodies that the body cannot use. Instead, the abnormal antibodies (monoclonal proteins or M proteins) build up in the body and cause problems such as kidney damage.

A Connection with MGUS:  Multiple Myeloma almost always starts as a relatively benign condition called monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). In Brazil, about 3% of people over the age of 50 have MGUS. Every year, about 1 percent of people with MGUS develop Multiple Myeloma or a related cancer.

MGUS, like Multiple Myeloma , is marked by the presence of M proteins — produced by abnormal plasma cells — in your blood. However, in MGUS, the levels of M proteins are lower and no harm to the body occurs.

Symptoms:  Signs and symptoms of Multiple Myeloma can vary and early in the disease there may be none. When signs and symptoms do occur, they may include:

• Bone pain, especially in the spine or chest
• Nausea
• Constipation
• loss of appetite
• Fog or mental confusion
• Fatigue
• frequent infections
• Weight loss
• Weakness or numbness in the legs
• excessive thirst

When to See a Doctor:  Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent signs and symptoms that worry you.

Risk Factors:  Factors that can increase your risk of Multiple Myeloma include:

• Increase in age. Your risk of Multiple Myeloma increases as you age, with most people diagnosed in their mid-60s.
• Male. Men are more likely to develop the disease than women.
• Black race. Blacks are about twice as likely to develop Multiple Myeloma as whites.
• History of a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Every year, 1% of people with MGUS in the United States develop Multiple Myeloma .

Complications:  Complications of Multiple Myeloma include:

• Frequent infections. Multiple Myeloma cells inhibit your body’s ability to fight infections.
• Bone problems. Multiple Myeloma can also affect your bones, leading to bone pain , thinning of the bones, and broken bones.
• Reduced kidney function. Multiple Myeloma can cause problems with kidney function, including kidney failure. Higher blood calcium levels related to eroding bones can interfere with the kidneys’ ability to filter waste products from your blood. Proteins produced by Multiple Myeloma cells can cause similar problems.
• Low red blood cell count (anemia). As Multiple Myeloma cells crowd out normal blood cells, Multiple Myeloma can also cause anemia and other blood problems.

Tests and Diagnosis :  In some cases, your doctor may accidentally detect Multiple Myeloma when you have a blood test for some other condition. In other cases, your doctor may suspect Multiple Myeloma based on your signs and symptoms. Tests and procedures used to diagnose Multiple Myeloma include:

• Bloodtests. Laboratory analysis of your blood may reveal M proteins produced by myeloma cells. Another abnormal protein produced by Multiple Myeloma cells – called beta-2-microglobulin – can be detected in your blood and give your doctor clues about how aggressive your myeloma is. Also, blood tests to examine your kidney function, blood cell counts, calcium levels, and uric acid levels can give your doctor clues about your diagnosis.
• Urine Tests. Analysis of your urine may show M proteins, which are referred to as Bence Jones proteins when they are detected in your urine. Bone marrow examination . Your doctor may remove a bone marrow sample for laboratory testing. The sample is collected with a long needle inserted into a bone ( bone marrow aspiration and biopsy). In the laboratory, the sample is examined for myeloma cells. Specialized tests such as fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) can analyze Multiple Myeloma cells to understand their chromosomal abnormalities. Tests are also done to measure the rate at which Multiple Myeloma cells are dividing.
• Image Tests. Imaging tests may be recommended to detect bone problems associated with Multiple Myeloma . Tests may include X-ray emission tomography, MRI, CT, or positron (PET).

Assign a Stage and Risk Category:  If tests indicate that you have Multiple Myeloma , your doctor will use information gathered from diagnostic tests to classify your disease as stage 1, stage 2, or stage 3. aggressive and stage 3 indicates an aggressive disease that can affect bones, kidneys and other organs.

Your Multiple Myeloma may also be assigned a risk category, which indicates how aggressive your disease is. Your Multiple Myeloma stage and risk category help your doctor understand your prognosis and treatment options.

Treatments:  If you are experiencing symptoms, treatment can help relieve pain, control disease complications, stabilize your condition, and slow the progress of the disease. If you have Multiple Myeloma but are not experiencing any symptoms (Multiple Myeloma Serum ), you may not need treatment.

However, your doctor will regularly monitor your condition for signs the disease is progressing. This may involve periodic blood and urine tests. If you develop signs and symptoms or your Multiple Myeloma shows signs of progression, you and your doctor may decide to start treatment.

Myeloma Treatments:  While there is no cure for Multiple Myeloma , with good treatment results, you can usually return to near-normal activity. Standard treatment options include:

• Targeted therapy. Targeted drug treatment focuses on specific abnormalities within cancer cells that allow them to survive. Bortezomib (Velcade) and carfilzomib (Kyprolis) are targeted drugs that block the action of a substance in multiple myeloma cells that break down proteins. This action causes Multiple Myeloma cells to die. Both drugs are given through a vein in the arm.
• Biological therapy. Biological therapy drugs use your body’s immune system to fight myeloma cells. The drugs thalidomide (Thalomid), lenalidomide (Revlimid), and pomalidomide (Pomalyst) boost immune system cells that identify and attack cancer cells. These medicines are taken in the form of pills.
• Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs kill fast-growing cells, including myeloma cells. Chemotherapy drugs can be given through a vein in the arm or taken in pill form. High doses of chemotherapy drugs are used before stem cell transplantation.
• Corticosteroids. Corticosteroids such as prednisone and dexamethasone regulate the immune system to control inflammation in the body. They are also active against myeloma cells. Corticosteroids can be taken in pill form or given through a vein in the arm.
• Stem cell transplantation. A stem cell transplant is a procedure to replace your diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow.

Before a stem cell transplant, blood-forming stem cells are collected from your blood. You are then given high doses of chemotherapy to destroy your diseased bone marrow. Then, your stem cells are infused into your body, where they travel to your bones and begin rebuilding your bone marrow .

• Radiation therapy. This treatment uses beams of energy, like X-rays, to damage Multiple Myeloma cells and stop their growth. Radiation therapy can be used to rapidly shrink Multiple Myeloma cells in a specific area – for example, when a collection of abnormal plasma cells forms a tumor (plasmocytoma) that is causing pain or destroying bone.

How Treatments Are Used:  Which combination of treatments you are likely to receive will depend on whether you are considered a good candidate for stem cell transplantation. This depends on the risk of your disease progressing, your age, and your general health.

• If you are considered a candidate for stem cell transplantation, your initial therapy will likely include a combination of treatments, such as targeted therapy, biologic therapy, corticosteroids, and sometimes chemotherapy. Your stem cells will likely be collected after undergoing a few months of treatment. You may have the stem cell transplant soon after the cells are harvested, or the transplant may be delayed until after a relapse if it occurs. In some cases, doctors recommend two stem cell transplants for people with Multiple Myeloma . After stem cell transplantation, you will likely receive targeted therapy or biologic therapy as a maintenance treatment to prevent a myeloma recurrence.
• If you are not considered a candidate for stem cell transplantation, your initial therapy will likely include chemotherapy combined with corticosteroids, targeted therapy, or biological therapy. In selected cases, doctors use a reduced-intensity stem cell transplant in older people who are in good health but cannot tolerate the strong doses of chemotherapy used in a traditional stem cell transplant. A low-intensity or “mini” stem cell transplant uses lower doses of chemotherapy.
• If your Multiple Myeloma recurs or doesn’t respond to treatment, your doctor may recommend repeating another course of treatment that helped you initially. Another option is to try one or more of the other treatments typically used as first-line therapy, alone or in combination. Research on a number of new treatment options is ongoing and you may be eligible for a clinical trial to gain access to these experimental treatments. Talk to your doctor about which clinical trials may be available to you.

Treating Complications:  As Multiple Myeloma can cause a number of complications, you may also need treatment for these specific conditions. For example:

• Bone Pain. Pain medications, radiation therapy, and surgery can help control bone pain.
• Kidney Complications. People with severe kidney damage may need dialysis.
• infections. Your doctor may recommend certain vaccines to prevent infections, such as the flu and pneumonia.
• Bone loss. Your doctor may recommend medications called bisphosphonates, such as pamidronate (Aredia) or zoledronic acid (Zometa), to help prevent bone loss.
• Anemia. If you have persistent anemia, your doctor may recommend medication to increase your red blood cell count.

Alternative Medicine:  No alternative medicine has been found to treat Multiple Myeloma . But alternative medicine can help you deal with the side effects of multiple myeloma and myeloma treatment. Talk to your doctor about your options, such as:

• Acupuncture
• aromatherapy
• Massage
• Meditation
• relaxation techniques

Talk to your doctor before trying any of these techniques to make sure they don’t pose a risk to you.