Understanding Multiple Myeloma: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
Multiple Myeloma is a blood cancer affecting plasma cells, leading to significant health complications. This article explores its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options, emphasizing the importance of early detection. Risk factors include age, family history, and occupational exposures, with higher prevalence among older adults, males, and African Americans. Treatments like chemotherapy and supportive care improve patient outcomes. Awareness and understanding of MM are crucial for managing this serious condition effectively.
Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a type of blood cancer originating in plasma cells, a vital component of the immune system. Though it is a common blood malignancy, it accounts for just 1-2% of all new cancer diagnoses annually.
The immune system comprises various cells that defend against infections, mainly lymphocytes, including T and B cells. When an infection occurs, B cells mature into plasma cells that produce immunoglobulins to combat pathogens.
These lymphocytes are found in areas like lymph nodes, bone marrow, intestines, and blood. Plasma cells predominantly reside in the bone marrow. Excessive, uncontrolled growth of plasma cells forms tumors called plasmacytomas. If only one tumor is present, it is called a solitary plasmacytoma; multiple tumors indicate multiple myeloma.
This disease often impacts other body systems, including the bone marrow, blood, kidneys, and bones, as well as the immune system. Due to numerous complications, the survival rate for multiple myeloma patients is generally low.
Diagnosis typically involves confirming three key findings: plasmacytosis, lytic bone lesions, and presence of M protein in blood or urine.
The primary treatment approach involves chemotherapy, with drugs like melphalan, cyclophosphamide, or chlorambucil combined with prednisone. Cyclophosphamide is favored due to fewer side effects. Supportive care options address anemia, bone pain, and elevated calcium levels in the blood.
Although the exact cause remains unknown, exposure to radiation, familial history, and certain occupations such as farming, woodworking, leatherworking, or petroleum work seem to increase risk.
The likelihood of developing multiple myeloma increases with age, being rare in individuals under 40 but more common over 68. Men are slightly more affected than women, with African Americans twice as likely to develop the disease compared to Caucasians.
