Live Life Team
Multiple myeloma is an uncommon cancer that generally affects people above 65 years of age. It does not occur in children and very rarely affects younger people. Multiple myeloma is caused when the plasma cell becomes abnormal and cancerous. A plasma cell is a type of white blood cell that lives within the bone marrow. An excessive amount of abnormal plasma is produced when the cancerous plasma cells divide and multiply. These cells may double the number of plasma cells and may clump together to form tumours. These then spread throughout the bone marrow causing pain and wearing of bones. Body’s immune system is affected by this, making a person vulnerable to viruses and infections. This cancer cannot be treated but its progress can be stopped and treatment can ease out the symptoms.
Symptoms of multiple myeloma
There are no early symptoms for multiple myeloma and can be detected only in routine blood test. A person starts experiencing some symptoms as the disease progresses caused by increase in the abnormal plasma cells. Normal production of blood cells, platelets and red blood cells is affected. Some problems that occur due to the production of abnormal antibodies are as follows.
>Bone pain
>Bone erosion
> Hypercalcaemia
> Fractures
Some possible symptoms of multiple myeloma include the following
-Anaemia: The symptoms include tiredness, headaches and breathlessness
– Excessive bleeding after cuts or scrapes: This happens due to the lack of blood platelets produced
– Loss of appetite and weight loss
– Repeated infection: A weakened immune system is responsible for the infection.
Causes of multiple myeloma
The exact cause for this condition is not known. It starts if there is one abnormal plasma cell in the bone marrow. This plasma cell then multiplies uncontrollably resulting in multiple myeloma.This disease generally affects people above the age of 50.Some factors that increase the risk of developing multiple myeloma are
> exposure to radiation
> working in the petrol, leather or rubber industries
> obesity
Myeloma may sometimes develop from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). It is a harmless condition where excessive amount of antibodies are produced. This condition can lead to myeloma but it takes around 20 years to happen.
Treating multiple myeloma
Treatments that can control the progress of myeloma and ease the symptoms are as follows
Chemotherapy
This is the most common treatment for myeloma where a combination of different drugs is prescribed. The drugs depend on the severity of the disease and any other complications due to myeloma such as kidney damage. The drugs try to kill the abnormal cells and stop them from spreading.
Radiotherapy
In this treatment the abnormal cells are damaged and their growth is stopped using radiations from X-rays. The treatment is done taking into account a person’s general health and severity of myeloma.
Stem cell transplant
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may also kill the normal stem cells. A stem cell transplant is required after radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Other treatments
>painkillers
> bisphosphonates
> antibiotics
> kidney dialysis
> erythropoietin injections
