An Introduction to Multiple Myeloma
If you, or someone you care for, have been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, it may now feel as if everyone around you is speaking another language. You may be reading or hearing words and phrases such as M-protein, antibodies, or free light chains. Not knowing what these terms and phrases mean may be confusing, so being able to find answers and review important information on your own time, at your own pace, may be just what you need.
And, that's why this site was created:
- To help you learn about multiple myeloma
- To encourage you to become proactive in your health
As you may know – or be learning – multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that affects a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. Some of the more common symptoms of multiple myeloma include bone pain, fatigue, and infection.
Over time, myeloma cells collect in the bones and bone marrow, which may eventually lead to the removal of some of the solid parts of the bone, causing soft spots called osteolytic lesions. Because myeloma cells travel though the bloodstream, they have the potential to affect many bones in the body, resulting in many lesions. With the occurrence of many lesions on many bones, the disease is so named "multiple myeloma." (If there was only one lesion on one bone, the condition would be called "solitary plasmacytoma").
A large amount of research has already gone into understanding multiple myeloma – and it continues to be an area of ongoing investigation and importance to the medical community. At this time, scientists don't fully understand what causes multiple myeloma, and currently there is no cure.
The content presented here is intended to help you better understand multiple myeloma. It is not intended to replace conversations with your healthcare team. Please do not hesitate to contact your healthcare team with any questions or concerns you may have.
As the saying goes, the more you know the more you can do.
A QUICK OVERVIEW OF MULTIPLE MYELOMA
Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that affects a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell.
- It may make you tired and easily exhausted, can cause kidney damage, bone damage and pain.
- It may also reduce your ability to fight infection.
- Over time myeloma cells collect in the bones, either in the marrow or on the outer surfaces of the bone.
- Myeloma cells travel through the bloodstream, potentially to many different bones in the body, resulting in multiple lesions in the bone. This is where the disease gets the name "multiple myeloma."
- Scientists don't fully understand what causes multiple myeloma, and currently there is no cure.
