Multiple myeloma is a serious form of cancer that originates in the plasma cells, a type of white blood cell found in the bone marrow. It’s estimated that over 30,000 people are diagnosed with multiple myeloma each year. The disease is more common among adults over 65 and is more prevalent in African Americans than Caucasians.
The cause of multiple myeloma is still unknown, but certain risk factors are associated with it. These include exposure to radiation or certain chemicals, age, gender, family history, and pre-existing medical conditions such as weak immune systems. In addition, researchers believe that certain genetic mutations may be the cause of multiple myeloma.
Symptoms of the disease can vary depending on the severity of its progression. Common symptoms include persistent fatigue and lack of energy, difficulty breathing due to anemia caused by low red blood cell counts, frequent infections due to low white blood cell counts, bone pain due to damage caused by osteolytic lesions (the breakdown of bones), and possible kidney problems due to high levels of protein in the urine.
Multiple myeloma is typically treated using chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or stem cell transplants combined with medications or other therapies tailored to an individual's needs. Additionally, supportive care such as physical therapy and nutritional counseling can help improve the quality of life during treatment.
For many people with multiple myeloma, treatments are successful, and they experience long-term remission from the disease. However, despite available treatment, those who experience relapses often have limited options for managing their disease. Newer treatments, such as immunotherapy, are being explored as possible alternatives for treating relapsed cases of multiple myeloma and providing patients with better outcomes in the future.
Numerous diseases share characteristics with multiple myeloma, including other hematologic cancers such as acute leukemia, lymphoma, and Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. These diseases all involve transforming cells within the blood or related tissues into abnormal types of cells, which result in the over-production of a single type of protein. Depending on the disease, this could be either a broad category like monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis or even something as specific as an immunoglobulin M spike in Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. In the future, further research into these similarities between various hematologic cancers will undoubtedly help scientists better understand how to treat them effectively.
Although anyone can be affected by this disease, several studies have shown that Multiple myeloma predominantly strikes African-American men and those of other ethnic backgrounds more than Caucasian descent. Studies suggest that science is just beginning to provide explanations for this discrepancy, opening opportunities for improved patient treatments and outcomes in years to come.
As research continues into identifying new methods for treating this complex form of cancer, more effective approaches will become available to diagnose and treat the condition allowing for better prognoses and improved quality of life for those affected by multiple myeloma.