Multiple Myeloma Symptoms and Treatment Methods

What Is Multiple Myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that affects plasma cells, which are found inside the bone marrow and are responsible for producing antibodies that help our body fight diseases. It makes up 10% of hematologic cancers and 1% of all cancers. Multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer, affects the bone marrow, kidneys and bones. Although it is more common in men, it most often affects people over the age of 60. Multiple myeloma is not a hereditary genetic disease, although rare familial cases have been reported. Myeloma is thought to be associated with a number of factors, such as genetic predisposition, ionizing radiation, chronic diseases, chronic antigenic stimulation, autoimmune diseases, viruses, exposure to chemical agents and various occupational conditions. Early diagnosis plays an important role in increasing the success of treatment.

What Are the Risk Factors?

Some individuals have a higher risk of developing multiple myeloma in the following cases.

These include:

Men

People over the age of 50

People who are overweight or obese

People exposed to high levels of radiation

People working in the petroleum industry

What Are the Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma?

The first symptom usually noticed is bone pain, which appears in the back, hips or ribs. As the disease progresses, symptoms vary.

These can include the following:

Increased bone pain and fractures due to decreased bone density

Fatigue and Weakness

Nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, confusion and feeling very thirsty

Weight loss

Unexplained fever

Increased infections

Weakness or numbness in the limbs

Skin that bruises or bleeds easily

What Are the Diagnostic Methods for Multiple Myeloma?

If you come to the hospital with the above symptoms, your doctor will first examine you for diagnostic purposes. Following the physical examination, some tests may be requested. If your doctor suspects multiple myeloma, they can easily make a diagnosis by performing blood and urine tests and a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy.

Blood Tests

Blood tests measure the amount of protein and calcium in the blood. The number of healthy red and white blood cells is analyzed. Blood tests are also used to determine how far the cancer has progressed, and certain specific tests are performed.

Urine Tests

Urine tests are used to detect a type of protein that is frequently found in people with multiple myeloma. For this, the person is asked to collect their urine for 24 hours, and certain specific tests are performed.

Biopsy

During the biopsy, a sample of blood and a small tissue sample are taken from the bone marrow for genetic tests, flow cytometry and aspiration smears. They are sent to the laboratory to check for the presence of abnormal plasma cells. During the biopsy, the area where the procedure will be performed is numbed in advance, and then a portion of the bone marrow is removed with the help of a bone marrow biopsy needle. The sample taken is sent to the pathology laboratory. These samples are evaluated by hematology and pathology specialists, and a diagnosis of multiple myeloma is made.

Imaging Tests

Imaging methods such as computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used to analyze the bones and soft tissues in detail and to determine whether there is any damage.

What Are the Treatment Methods for Multiple Myeloma?

In some patients, multiple myeloma is not active and treatment is not required. These conditions, called MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance) and smoldering myeloma (asymptomatic or indolent myeloma), are monitored with regular outpatient check-ups without treatment. Treatment planning begins when disease symptoms start to appear.

Depending on the severity of the disease, the treatment applied also varies. If the patient has no symptoms, they may not need treatment, but the course of the disease must be monitored through routine check-ups.

For patients with multiple myeloma who have active disease findings, the most suitable form of treatment is decided by taking into account factors such as the person's age, health history and the stage of the disease. Generally, treatment is given as chemotherapy regimens in the form of a combination of several drugs administered intravenously or orally, along with protective antibiotic treatments. The aim here is to destroy cancerous cells, reduce infection and relieve pain.

In addition, radiotherapy and chemotherapy used to target tumors that grow due to the accumulation of plasma cells, and steroids used to reduce inflammation, are also among the treatment options.