Best Multiple Myeloma Treatment in Mumbai

Myeloma: Is it curable? Symptoms, causes, treatment and prognosis

Myeloma is a blood cancer that starts from plasma cells, a type of white blood cell. Plasma cells are produced in the bone marrow - the soft tissue inside your large bones and where blood cells are made. Plasma cells make antibodies or immunoglobulins that help fight infection, playing a vital role in the body’s immune system. Myeloma is often referred to as multiple myeloma because it affects many parts of the body, where bone marrow is active. While there is no cure yet for myeloma, advances in treatments have significantly improved outcomes.

Fortis Hospital, Mulund, offers comprehensive care for myeloma, including advanced therapies and personalised treatment plans. Our haematologists and bone marrow transplant specialists, who are recognised internationally for their expertise in comprehensive speciality treatments, explore all options and tailor a plan that best suits your unique needs to improve outcomes and achieve disease remission.

This article explains what myeloma is, its signs and symptoms, causes, and risk factors, as well as the treatments available and the outlook for people with this condition. 

What is myeloma?

Myeloma, or multiple myeloma, is a rare blood cancer that affects your bone marrow. Your bone marrow produces plasma cells that make antibodies to help defend the body from infections. 

With myeloma, plasma cells in the bone marrow turn into abnormal cells that multiply quickly, overtaking the healthy or normal cells that protect your body from infections. These abnormal or cancerous cells produce too many abnormal proteins called monoclonal proteins (M proteins). This crowds the bone marrow, affecting how your body makes normal white and red blood cells and platelets. High levels of M proteins in the body can cause serious health issues, including kidney damage.

What are the signs and symptoms of myeloma?

Many people might not notice any symptoms until myeloma has progressed to a later stage. That’s why multiple myeloma is usually diagnosed during a routine blood test or urinalysis. 

Common symptoms of myeloma include:

• Bone pain - particularly in the spine, ribs or shoulders
• Bone fractures
• Recurring infection
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Fatigue
• Feeling drowsy or confused
• Feeling thirsty
• Unexplained weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Kidney problems
• Abnormal blood counts
• Frequent urination
• Weakness or numbness in the arms and legs

Having one or two of the above symptoms doesn’t mean you have myeloma, but it’s important to get them checked by a doctor. 

What causes myeloma?

The exact cause of myeloma is still unidentified, although it begins with one plasma cell in the bone marrow transforming into a cancerous myeloma cell that grows and multiplies rapidly. This mutation crowds out the healthy cells and impairs your body. These myeloma cells keep making abnormal antibodies or M-proteins that spread through the bloodstream quickly and reach different parts of your body, causing various health issues such as organ damage. 

Risk factors of myeloma include:

• Advancing age, particularly in people aged 65 years or over
• Being male
• Being Black
• Being overweight or obese
• Exposure to radiation and certain chemicals
• A family history of myeloma
• Having monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
• Having some medical conditions

How is myeloma diagnosed?

Myeloma is often detected during routine blood tests before the symptoms appear. If your doctor suspects you may have myeloma, you’ll likely be asked to do several tests to confirm a diagnosis, including:

• Blood tests, including complete blood count
• Urine tests
• Imaging tests such as an X-ray, CT scan, MRI scan, or PET scan
• Bone marrow biopsy

If test results confirm a diagnosis, your doctor may use further tests to see how far myeloma has progressed, called staging, which is crucial for determining your treatment options and outlook. The stages of myeloma range from 1 to 3 - with stage 3 being the most advanced.

Is myeloma treatable?

Yes, doctors treat myeloma often using a combination of therapies, which can be very effective at managing the symptoms or slowing the progression of the disease. Some people with MGUS or SSM, pre-cancerous forms of myeloma, may need ‘close watching’ (treatment is not given immediately if myeloma isn’t causing symptoms). At Fortis Hospital, Mulund, our specialists will recommend a treatment plan depending on your symptoms, the extent of your myeloma, as well as other factors like your general health and preferences. Treatment options may include:

• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Stem cell transplantation

Your care team may also prescribe medicines to help ease bone pain and antibiotics to clear up infections.

Can you prevent myeloma?

There’s no definitive way to prevent myeloma. Research is being done to keep precursor diseases (MGUS and SMM) from becoming symptomatic myeloma.

You can also take steps to help reduce your risk by making healthier lifestyle choices and taking preventive measures:

• Engaging in regular physical activity
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Avoiding exposure to certain chemicals

What is the outlook for myeloma?

The outlook for people with myeloma, like most types of cancer, depends on various things such as the symptoms, stage of disease, a person’s age and overall health, etc. For instance, people who receive early diagnosis and treatment may live 10 years or more, whereas the condition of those diagnosed at an advanced stage may worsen quickly.

Myeloma is a blood cancer that currently has no cure, and being diagnosed with the condition can feel overwhelming. But with the right treatment, many people can manage their disease effectively for years. Treatments for myeloma are, perhaps, constantly improving, bringing the disease into remission and helping patients live longer. Yet, with myeloma, regular treatment and tests will be a part of a person’s life. 

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with myeloma and needs expert care.  At Fortis Hospital, Mulund, our experienced myeloma specialists can create a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs and lifestyle.