What is Multiple Myeloma? Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a cancer of the immune system that occurs in the white blood cells that compose plasma. While it is a common blood cancer, MM accounts for only about 1-2% of all new cancer cases each year. The immune system is composed of several types of cells, there for the purpose of fighting infections and foreign substances in the body. The main cell types are the lymphocytes, which are composed of the T cells and the B cells. When an infection threatens your body, the B cells mature and transform themselves into plasma cells. In turn, these plasma cells produce antibodies—specifically known as immunoglobulins—which will kill the germs that entered your body. The lymphocytes are located in several areas of your body such as lymph nodes, bone marrow, intestines, and bloodstream. In contrast, the plasma cells are mainly found and reside in the bone marrow. When the number of these plasma cells increases drastically in an unregulated manner, they produce a tumor which is called plasmacytoma. In general it develops in a bone; however, rarely, it could also be found in other tissues. If a patient has only one plasma cell tumor, it is called an isolated (or solitary) plasmacytoma.

Multiple Myeloma : Signs And Symptoms Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer in the bone marrow, mainly manifested by the rapid and uncontrollable multiplication of its cells. The signs and symptoms associated with Multiple Myeloma are as follows: Bone pain and breaks The most common symptom of multiple myeloma is bone pain and it usually involves your back and ribs. Unlike other forms of cancer which could afflict you, the pain in myeloma is suddenly caused and provoked by your movements. If ever there is a persistent pain in a certain site of your body, it could mean that a bone fracture has taken place, which is one of the unfortunate consequences of your disease. Normally, you have two kinds of bone cells that harmoniously work together. These are the osteoclasts and the osteoblasts. The osteoclasts destroy old bones, while the osteoblasts build new ones. When you have multiple myeloma, a certain substance is produced wherein the osteoclasts are given signals to keep on destroying bones. However, the osteoblasts do not receive any kind of signals that they will construct new ones. With this discrepancy, more bones are destroyed rather than constructed. Thus, you have bone destructions if you have the disease.

Multiple Myeloma Diagnosis Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a cancer of the immune system that occurs in the white blood cells that compose plasma. The diagnosis of multiple myeloma is anchored on three findings in your body: the so-called plasmacytosis, presence of lytic lesions, the presence of M component in the plasma or in the urine. Plasmacytosis In your blood, there are three general types of cells; red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The red blood cells are responsible for transporting the oxygen and carbon dioxide in your body while the white blood cells are responsible for fighting infections that enter your body. The platelets act as plugs when you cut any part of your body, thereby stopping the bleeding and prevent you from losing too much blood. There is a particular type of white blood cell which is very much involved in multiple myeloma. These are called plasma cells and when the number of these cells increases in your tissues and other fluids, such as blood, you have what is medically known as plasmacytosis. In multiple myeloma, plasmacytosis is one of the findings that needs to be established if your medical doctors are thinking of multiple myeloma as the disease that currently afflicts you.

Treatment For Multiple Myeloma Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer in the bone marrow, mainly manifested by the rapid and uncontrollable multiplication of its cells. The following are the suggested treatments with Multiple Myeloma Chemotherapy The standard treatment for multiple myeloma is the use of alkylating agent, such as melphalan, cyclophosphamide, or chlorambucil and prednisone. The chosen alkylating agent and prednisone are administered for 4 to 7 days every 4 to 6 weeks for 1 to 2 years. Although the alkylating agents mentioned in the preceding have almost the same efficacy, if your disease develops resistance to one, it becomes resistant to all the others. The usual doses are as follows: melphalan, 8 mg/m2 of body surface area per day; cyclophosphamide, 200 mg/m2 per day; chlorambucil, 8 mg/m2 per day; prednisone, 25 to 60 mg/m2 per day. Since the alkylating agents have almost the same efficacy, most physicians choose to use cyclophosphamide because it has the least side effects. In general, the chemotherapy being used could be considered effective if there is significant reduction in bone pain, hypercalcemia, and anemia. Reduction in the concentration of serum M takes time before it could be realized. It will take 4 to 6 weeks before it falls.

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a cancer of the immune system that occurs in the white blood cells that compose plasma. Staging Staging is the process of grading the severity of the illness. The stage ranges from I to III. Stage I is least severe, while Stage III is most severe. Stage I is labeled when the hemoglobin is greater than 100 g/L, the serum calcium is less than 12 mg/dl, normal bone x-ray or only one lesion, and low production of M-component. Stage III is labeled when the hemoglobin is less than 85 g/L, serum calcium is greater than 12 mg/dL, advanced and several lytic bone lesions, and high production of M-component. If the findings are in between the two, then Stage II is declared. The higher the stage is, the lesser will be your chance to survive the disease. Survival Rates The survival rate of patients afflicted with multiple myeloma is low. Generally, 15 percent of patients die within the first 3 months from the time of diagnosis. Thereafter, 15 percent die every year. The disease will persist for about 2 to 5 years. The, terminal phase ensues wherein pancytopenia (reduction in the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) takes place.