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Signs & Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer affecting the plasma, which is found of bone marrow. As with most cancers, early detection and treatment helps to ensure a better prognosis for sufferers. There are many symptoms associated with the disease, although many of them are vague and can often be mistaken for other illnesses.

  1. Kidney Disease

    • Excess calcium and protein in the blood, caused by multiple myeloma, can result in kidney disease and renal failure. This can lead to a host of symptoms associated with kidney problems, if not the cancer directly. These include increased urination, increased thirst, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, muscle weakness and fatigue.

    Pain in the Bones

    • Multiple myeloma often results in accumulated plasma in the bones, which can lead to fractures. This often causes pain in the ribs and the lower back; the pain can range from a mild ache to extreme discomfort.

    Fatigue

    • Anemia is common in those who suffer from multiple myeloma, and anemia can cause fatigue and pale skin. Fatigue is categorized as more than just "feeling tired." It is prevalent all day and affects everyday activities and functions, and it is not directly related to getting adequate sleep.

    Infection

    • Patients with multiple myeloma are much more likely, up to 15 percent, to get infections. The most common is pneumonia, but also frequent are urinary tract infections, shingles and overall slowed healing and infections resulting from injuries like cuts and scrapes.

    Numbness

    • Many patients begin experienced numbness in any location of the body, and it might be accompanied by tingling and overall discomfort.

    Rare Symptoms

    • Hyperviscosity affects a small number of patients, causing the blood to become thick and sticky inside the veins. Symptoms include shortness of breath, confusion and chest pain. Other rare symptoms include cryoglobulinemia, which causes sensitivity in cold weather, and amyloidosis, which produces a starchlike substance in the blood and can affect normal organ function as a result.

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