Symptoms of Myeloma

A bone disease that affects plasma cells, myeloma affects approximately 19,000 new patients each year. Myeloma's exact cause isn't known. Symptoms of myeloma may be severe and painful; however, treatments exist to help ease the pain and eventually eradicate the myeloma cells.

History

• Part of the immune system, plasma cells produce antibodies that can handle and respond to many different substances. Sometimes cancer causes an overproduction of plasma cells, which also may result in these cells being abnormal and all the same. These abnormal cells build up in the bone marrow and the outer layer of the bone. Not a bone cancer because it starts in the blood, myeloma is a cancer that affects bones.

Risk Factors

• Risk factors for myeloma include the following:
  -Age
  -Family history
  -Exposure to petroleum or other chemicals
  -Exposure to high amounts of radiation

Bone Pain

• Bone pain is the number one--and frequently the first--symptom of myeloma. This pain is very intense and often doesn't subside with rest or movement. Because of the build-up of myeloma cells in the bone marrow, some people may be more susceptible to bone fractures. Sometimes no symptoms exist at all, and myeloma is only discovered after an accident or during routine blood testing.

Other Symptoms

• Another frequent symptom of myeloma is weakness, including anemia. Caused by malignant plasma cells replacing normal ones, anemia oftentimes accompanies excessive blood loss. Because the bone marrow is producing fewer platelets, more bleeding, nosebleeds, bleeding gums or bruising may occur. Other symptoms include weight loss, repeated infections, nausea, vomiting and constipation.

Treatment

• To diagnose myeloma, doctors will usually use x ray, blood and urine tests, a bone marrow aspiration or biopsy or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Several treatments options exist for those who suffer with myeloma. To control pain, many patients undergo radiation therapy. Sometimes affected plasma cells gather and form tumors, and these may also be treated with radiation therapy. Other treatments include chemotherapy, alpha inferno and bone marrow or stem cell transplantation.