Multiple Myeloma Diagnosis & Treatment

Multiple myeloma is cancer of your plasma cells. Plasma cells are a form of white blood cells that are found in your bone marrow. Healthy plasma cells make antibodies, which help to fight infections if you become ill. When you develop multiple myeloma, plasma cells become abnormal (myeloma cells), and multiply. Your plasma cells then rise to an abnormal level. As a result, your health can become compromised. According to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, a diagnosis for multiple myeloma may not even be discovered until routine blood work for other conditions is done. Once you have been diagnosed with the disease, treatments will be necessary to avoid complications.

Blood and Urine

• If your doctor has initially detected multiple myeloma, you will be given another type of blood test and a urine test. When you have myeloma, the myeloma cells produce what are known as monoclonal proteins. According to the Mayo Clinic, a blood test known as serum protein electrophoresis will separate the proteins in your blood, in order to find any presence of M proteins. When you're given a urine test, M proteins can also be detected in the urine. If M proteins are detected in your urine, this is known as Bence Jones proteins.

Imaging

• Your doctor may order an X-ray of your bones if you have been tested for multiple myeloma. When you have the disease, your bones will thin out. An X-ray can detect these thinned out areas within your bones. If an X-ray is unable to detect thinned out areas, other exams may be necessary, such as MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging), CTs (computerized tomography scanning), or PETs (positron emission tomography). These types of tests allow for better imaging of your bones.

Marrow Examination

• A bone marrow examination may be done to see whether myeloma cells are present within the marrow. According to the Mayo Clinic, a needle is placed within the marrow, and bone marrow tissue is extracted (a biopsy). Aspiration of liquid bone marrow can also be done. If there is a presence of above 10 percent plasma cells detected within the marrow, then the diagnosis of multiple myeloma is probable. Once you have been diagnosed, multiple myeloma will fall under three stages, with stage 3 being the most advanced stage.

Standard Treatment

• Standard treatments include medications such as bortezomib and thaliidomide. These drugs are prescribed when you're first diagnosed with the disease. Chemotherapy may also be administered in order to kill any myeloma cells. Radiation therapy can be used to destroy myeloma cells or prevent them from growing. While stem cell therapy is controversial, your own cells can be harvested after you have received chemotherapy to kill myeloma cells. Your own cells can then be placed back into your marrow to replace any diseased or damaged marrow.

Complications

• When you have multiple myeloma, you can develop complications. Multiple myeloma can impare your immune system and make you more susceptible to illnesses, infections, pneumonia, shingles, or bladder and kidney infections. Multiple myeloma can also cause your bones to become brittle and develop fractures. According to the Mayo Clinic, multiple myeloma can also cause "compression of your spinal cord." You can also develop blood diseases, such as anemia and kidney failure.

Treating Complications

• When you develop complications, you will need to treat the causes of your complications as well. If you develop bone pain, pain medications may be prescribed to help alleviate pain symptoms. If you develop severe kidney complications, dialysis will be needed. Antibiotics are used to treat any signs of infections. If you develop bone loss, medications known as bisphosphonates are prescribed to help prevent any further bone damage. For anemia, injections, such as erythropoietin, may be given.