Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that begins in white blood cells called plasma cells. It’s the most common type of plasma cell cancer. Each year in the U.S., 20,000 people are diagnosed with the disease.
About Multiple Myeloma
A plasma cell is found in the bone marrow. Healthy plasma cells make antibodies to protect your body from germs and to fight off infection.
Cancer develops when abnormal plasma cells divide and duplicate out of control. These abnormal cells are called myeloma cells. The myeloma cells collect in the bone marrow to form several tumors inside the bones. This is called multiple myeloma.
Multiple myeloma can crowd out healthy blood cells, causing conditions like anemia, bruising and uncontrolled bleeding. Multiple myeloma also weakens your body’s immune system.
Although multiple myeloma affects the bones, it is not technically bone cancer. Bone cancer begins in the bone cells, not blood cells.
Who’s at Risk?
Multiple myeloma usually develops in people over the age of 65. More men than women are diagnosed with the disease. African Americans are also at a higher risk.
Risk Factors
The following factors have been found to increase the risk of multiple myeloma:
MGUS (Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance): A benign condition in which abnormal plasma cells develop M proteins that can be found in the blood. People with MGUS are monitored carefully for symptoms of multiple myeloma.
Treatment
Stem cell transplantation is an effective treatment for advanced multiple myeloma. In this procedure, your healthy stem cells are removed and stored. You then receive an extremely high-dose of chemotherapy to destroy the cancerous cells. After the chemo, your stem cells are put back in your body so they can begin producing healthy blood cells.
Cancer Care Northwest’s Dr. Hakan Kaya, director of the Northwest Inland Northwest Myeloma/Lymphoma and Transplant Program, is the region’s only physician with formal fellowship training in stem cell transplantation.
Some information on this page is provided by the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society.