Charity No. 1078183
What is myeloma
- Myeloma is cancer of the plasma cells. Plasma cells are responsible for producing antibodies which help the body fight infection. When a plasma cell becomes cancerous it is described as a myeloma cell.
- Every year more than 3,300 people in the UK are diagnosed with the disease.
- As myeloma usually develops at several bone marrow sites in the body it is usually referred to as multiple myeloma. The most common sites in the body are pelvis, spine, ribs, shoulders and hips but it can also occur in the long bones of the arms and legs.
Causes
- The cause of myeloma is unknown. However there are several factors which are known to affect your risk.
Risk Factors
- Age: The older you are the greater your risk. The disease is most common in people aged 50 and older.
- Ethnicity: People of African decent have a doubled risk of myeloma.
- Radiation: People who have been exposed to high levels of radiation may have a greater risk of developing the disease.
- Signs & Symptoms
- Multiple myeloma may not cause symptoms in the early stages. As with the other types of blood cancer the symptoms can be quite vague including:
- Pain in your joints or bones
- Fatigue
- Anaemia
- Fevers
- Repeated infections
- Unexplained fractures
- Bruising and bleeding
- Night sweats
- Weight loss
If you have any of the symptoms mentioned you would be advised to see your doctor. In most cases they will not mean you have cancer. However, if you do have cancer it is important to be assessed as soon as possible.
Diagnosis
- To diagnose myeloma the doctor is likely to carry out the following tests: blood, urine, bone marrow and x-ray.
Treatment
- Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy involves using anti-cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy is the most common treatment for multiple myeloma.
- Radiotherapy: Radiotherapy involves using high energy rays to kill cancer cells in the bone and shrink the cancer. Radiotherapy is used to target areas of localised bone damage.
- Steroids: Steroids are often used in combination with chemotherapy to treat myeloma.
- Biological Therapy: Biological therapies involve using treatments that use natural body substances to target cancer cells. It is often used following chemotherapy to lengthen the time of remission.
- Intensive Therapy: Depending on age, general fitness and stage of myeloma intensive treatment in the form of a combination of chemotherapy or radiotherapy with a stem cell transplant may be offered. This is a very physically demanding regimen that will only be offered to people who are generally fit.
- Supportive Treatments: These include blood transfusion and drugs to treat anaemia, antibiotics to fight infections and painkillers and drugs for bone damage.
Smear of bone marrow from patient with myeloma showing numerous plasma cells
With acknowledgment to the Institute of Cancer Research.
