Myeloma

Here are some important things you should know about multiple myeloma.

Most symptoms of multiple myeloma become more noticeable in later stages of the disease.

Multiple myeloma begins in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is where blood cells are made, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. As the disease becomes more advanced, these symptoms are possible:

• Bone disease: Tiny fractures make bones weak and easier to break and cause pain in the lower back, pelvis, ribs, and skull.
• Hypercalcemia: A buildup of calcium in the blood can cause kidney damage, fatigue, muscle weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, and confusion.
• Anemia: A lack of growth of red blood cells causes extreme tiredness, weakness, and dizziness.
• Infections: A reduction in white blood cells weakens the immune system and makes it harder for the body to fight off conditions such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and shingles. 
• Nervous system complications: Deteriorating bones can irritate nerves, causing severe pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness.
• Spinal cord compression: One of the most severe effects of myeloma is compression of the spinal cord, causing nerve damage.
• Thickening of the blood: The abnormal proteins produced by myeloma cancer cells can cause a dangerous thickening of the blood that results in bruising, nose bleeds, gastrointestinal bleeding, hazy vision, confusion, numbness, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

Men are 50 percent more likely to develop multiple myeloma than women.

The cause of multiple myeloma is unknown. Certain factors make you more likely to have it, including:

• Age: Growing older increases the chances of getting multiple myeloma.
• Race: Multiple myeloma is twice as common in African Americans than it is in Caucasians. The risk is lowest for Asian Americans.
• Obesity: People who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of developing multiple myeloma.
• Plasma disorders like MGUS: Some people with monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance, also called MGUS, may get multiple myeloma.

Research shows Holden’s treatment approach to be among the most effective.

Tandem autologous transplant treatment is two stem cell transplants done within six months of each other. This treatment process, practiced routinely at Holden, leads to remission in about 80 percent of multiple myeloma patients. Many patients live fulfilling lives for 10 years or more after receiving this treatment.