Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer in which white blood cells are affected. The plasma cells help us battle infections by producing antibodies that identify and fight germs. When cancerous plasma cells multiply, they create abnormal proteins that can cause severe complications. Here is some important information about this life-threatening disease.

Symptoms
Some of the signs of this multiple myeloma include:

• Excessive thirst pangs
• Weight loss
• Numbness or weakness in legs
• Frequent infections
• Exhaustion or fatigue
• Confusion or mental fogginess
• Appetite loss
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Bone pain, primarily in the chest and spine

Causes
The medical world is not certain as to why multiple myeloma occurs. Doctors understand that it begins in the abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow. A build-up of these cancerous cells can cause problems like kidney and bone damage.

Risk factors
Certain factors put one at risk of developing this form of cancer. They are:

• A personal history of having monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
• A family history of multiple myeloma
• Belonging to the black race
• Being a male
• Being more than 60 years of age

Complications
If not treated on time or with inappropriate treatment, this cancer can cause:

• Low red blood cell count or anemia
• Reduced kidney function
• Bone problems
• Frequent infections

Treating the complications
Complications arising from the cancer can be treated based on what they are:

• Anemia
  The doctor may recommend medications to increase the red blood cell count.
• Bone loss
  The doctor may prescribe bone-building drugs to prevent bone loss.
• Infections
  The doctor might even suggest taking certain vaccines to avoid infections, such as pneumonia and the flu.
• Kidney complications
  Dialysis is a recommended treatment for kidney complications.
• Bone pain
  Pain medicines, surgery, and radiation therapy can help manage bone pain.

Diagnosis
When one visits the doctor, they must inform them about their symptoms, existing medical conditions, current medications, bring a friend or family member along, and write down questions to ask their doctor.

Multiple myeloma can be diagnosed through a series of tests if the doctor suspects that the patient shows the signs of this disease. These include blood tests, urine tests, imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT) scans, and bone marrow examination.

Based on this, the doctor will assign a risk category and stage. Diagnostic tests help determine the disease as stage 1, stage 2, or stage 3. Stage 1 means the cancer is less aggressive. Stage 3 indicates aggressive cancer.

Treatment
Some treatment options for multiple myeloma include:

• Bone marrow transplant
  Also known as stem cell transplant, this process replaces the diseased bone marrow with a healthier marrow.

• Corticosteroids
  These help regulate the immune system to battle bodily inflammation. They are also active against abnormal myeloma cells.
• Chemotherapy
  Chemotherapy uses certain drugs to eradicate cancerous cells. High doses of these drugs are used before a bone marrow transplant.
• Immunotherapy
  Immunotherapy aims to enhance the immune system so that it can fight this condition effectively, since the body’s disease-fighting system cannot combat the cancer cells.
• Targeted therapy
  Drugs in these treatments target certain weaknesses of the cancerous cells. They block the abnormalities, thereby causing cancer cells to die.