Multiple myeloma or plasma cell myeloma, mainly is a cancer of plasma cells. The plasma cells are a sort of white blood cell that involves in producing antibodies.
Usually, the symptoms of multiple myeloma develop gradually over time and may not become apparent until the condition progresses to an advanced stage. The early signs, which may affects individuals, include:
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Constipation
- Excessive bruising or bleeding
- Unexplained bone fractures
- Recurrent infections
- Increased thirst and urination
- Unintended weight loss
- Bone pain, specifically in the spine and ribs.
Treatment:
The treatment of your myeloma will depend upon several factors, including:
- Outcome of your physical exam and diagnostic testing such as blood, urine and bone tests.
- The stage or condition of your disease.
- The type of prognostic indicators any individual may have.
- Your age as well as general state of health.
- The symptoms you have, such as fractures or bone pain.
Each and every patient should be assessed individually. What may be useful for a particular patient may not be useful for someone else. Whatever multiple myeloma treatment you are recommended, the goals of therapy remains identical:
- Block the production of myeloma cells.
- Strengthen your bone in order to prevent fractures.
- Enhance the count of hemoglobin and reduce fatigue.
- Reduce the risk of your infections.
- Provide you a quality of life.
The standard treatment options for myeloma are as follows:
- Observation
- Radiotherapy
- Standard chemotherapy (intravenous or oral)
- Steroids (dexamethasone or prednisone)
- High dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation.
- Bortezomib (Velcade)
- Lenalidomide (Revlimid)
- Pomalidomide (Pomalyst)
- Thalidomide (Thalomid)
- Clinical trials
The multiple myeloma medications or treatment are commonly recommended in different combinations, such as melphalan and prednisone with bortezomib or lenalidomide and dexamethasone. Apart from this, numerous new and emerging treatment therapies are becoming available.
