Multiple Myeloma Cancer: Signs-Symptoms And Treatment

What is multiple myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer. The cancer is in the bone marrow.

In cancer the cells divide too often. More and more new cells. In multiple myeloma that plasma cells. Plasma cells belong to the group of the white blood cells.

What are the signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma cancer?

Multiple myeloma usually starts with pain in the bones of the spine. This pain may spread to the ribs, neck or pelvis. Over time these bones are weak. They break easily.
Other symptoms include:

1. fatigue due to anemia;
2. infections, particularly in the air and urinary tract;
3. not feel like eating and slimming;
4. thirst by too much calcium in the blood (with bone loss is calcium from the bones into the blood);
5. poorly functioning kidneys;
6. often a nosebleed, bleeding gums or other non-normal bleeding.

What complaints you get depends on how widespread the disease is.
Some people live with the disease for years without getting a lot of complaints. Others in a short time get a lot of complaints.

Unfortunately, multiple myeloma is not curable. In order to slow down the course of the disease will get chemotherapy, radiation therapy and / or medication. Such treatment can take many years.

Diagnosis of multiple myeloma?

The GP recognizes multiple myeloma often not directly. Some symptoms are also common in other diseases viz.

The doctor first asks about your symptoms. Then a physical examination. If necessary, the doctor refers you to an internist. This specialist is doing a comprehensive investigation to determine whether you have multiple myeloma cancer.

1. Bone Marrow Examination.
2. Blood tests. The doctor takes blood and allows testing the blood. A laboratory technician examines how quickly red blood cells sink to the bottom (sedimentation). This works with multiple myeloma usually faster. In addition, the laboratory can aberrant protein detection in the blood. Finally, the technician examines whether there are specific breakdown products in the blood.
3. Urine examination. The doctor will examine whether there are abnormal proteins in the urine.
4. X-ray examination. With this research, the doctor determines whether your bones are affected.
5. CT scan or MRI scan. In these studies, the doctor can see whether malignant plasma cells are outside of the bone marrow.

What is the treatment for multiple myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is not curable. The main treatments to slow down the course of the disease are as follows:

1. chemotherapy;
2. radiation (radiotherapy);
3. the drug Thalidomide, Velcade or Revlimid.

People with multiple myeloma who are younger than 65 years receive a very heavy chemotherapy followed by a stem cell transplant. This heavy treatment, the disease should reduce prolonged.

People older than 65 years with multiple myeloma have a mild form of chemotherapy. This mild form has few side effects. The treatment can last for many years.
In addition to the chemotherapy you receive corticosteroids. This allows you to feel better.

Pain in the back or neck decreases with radiation. Even when you get radiation impending fractures. This occurs mainly in the vertebrae, skull, arms and legs.

The drug Thalidomide, Velcade and Revlimid ensure that diseased cells die.

Supportive treatment in multiple myeloma cancer

For multiple myeloma cancer, you may need a supportive treatment for short or long periods.

1. Blood transfusion. Do you have too few red blood cells? Then you will probably have a blood transfusion.
2. Antibiotics. Infectious diseases (especially to the air or urinary tract) addresses the doctor with antibiotics. This is sometimes required hospitalization.
3. Pain relief. Multiple myeloma often causes pain. There are several ways to control the pain. In severe pain, the doctor can discuss with pain experts. They know everything about pain management.