Description of a Multiple Myeloma Femur Tumor

Multiple myeloma is a cancer where white plasma cells multiply too rapidly, affecting a variety of systems in the body. Tumors are one manifestation of this blood cancer and can occur in bones or in soft tissue.

Tumors

• Plasmacytomas are the tumors produced by multiple myeloma. They form when myeloma cells stick together to form a clump. Multiple myeloma is diagnosed when more than one plasmacytoma is present in the body.

Femur Bone

• The femur bone, sometimes called the thigh bone, is located in the upper leg. It is bellow the hip and above the lower leg.

Femur Tumor

• In multiple myeloma, a femur tumor is a plasmacytoma that is located on the femur bone. This happens when white plasma cells in the bone marrow clump together to form a tumor.

Symptoms

• While some multiple myeloma patients experience no initial symptoms of a plasmacytoma, others will experience bone pain or broken bones.

Treatment

• Treatment of multiple myeloma includes chemotherapy, steroids and radiation. Chemotherapy and steroids slow down the progression and kill myeloma cells, while radiation shrinks tumors and helps relieve pain.

Staging and Prognosis

• There are three stages of multiple myeloma, determined by M protein levels, the percentage of myeloma cells in bone marrow and factors like elevated blood calcium. Your doctor will use your stage and your specific type of multiple myeloma to determine your likely response to treatment and prognosis.