Myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow that can cause bone pain, infections, anemia, and kidney failure. Diagnosis involves blood and urine tests, imaging, and a biopsy. While there is no cure, treatment can suppress symptoms and disease progression, with chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation being common options. Survival rates vary depending on the stage of the disease.
Myeloma is a condition in which plasma cells, the cells in the bone marrow that produce antibodies, become cancerous. It is sometimes referred to as plasma cell dyscrasia or plasma cell myeloma and more commonly as multiple myeloma (MM). Multiple myeloma is the most common form seen in patients and is so called because it involves multiple sites in the body. The cells begin growing at an uncontrollable rate and develop into tumors at numerous sites. However, a small percentage of patients develop these cells outside the bone marrow and others have solitary myeloma, meaning the disease affects only a single area.
This condition often presents with bone pain, mainly in the spine and ribs, although other sites are also commonly affected. The pain typically gets worse with movement. Other common symptoms include chronic or acute infection, anemia, and kidney failure. However, myeloma is so diverse in its formation and development that symptoms can be equally varied.
Diagnosis of myeloma typically follows a physical exam and history taking, combined with laboratory tests of blood and urine. Elevated paraprotein and calcium levels are laboratory indicators. If myeloma is suspected, further diagnoses include a skeletal examination or computed tomography (CT) scan, along with a bone marrow biopsy. The method of diagnosis depends on the attending physician.
The prognosis for myeloma is generally not good. While there is currently no cure, treatment is an option. Treatment revolves around containing the disease and suppressing both symptoms and disease progression.
Underlying symptoms, including anemia and renal failure, if present, should be treated first. Steroids and chemotherapy are standard treatment options for myeloma. In some cases, stem cell transplantation is a suggested treatment.
Most patients who have been treated for this condition and at some point achieve clinical remission. According to the International Staging System (ISS) for myeloma, the median survival prognosis for stage 1 is 62 months, stage 2 is 49 months, and stage 3 is 29 months.
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