CALL US NOW 75000 75111

Taking Action Against Myeloma Cancer! Know all about the Disease

Dr. Pankaj Mandale 290 Views
Published: 24 Jun 2024
Updated: 24 Jun 2024

Multiple myeloma cancer is a type of blood cancer that is often detected during routine blood tests or when specific symptoms arise. Also known as Kahler’s disease, this condition has no cure. However, you can opt for treatments that have the potential to alleviate the symptoms while slowing down their progression. Timely detection and taking action is the key to managing this condition and living a quality life.

To help you learn more about multiple myeloma cancer, from its symptoms to its treatments, here is an elaborate blog.

Stages of Multiple Myeloma Cancer

Multiple myeloma has three stages- 1 to 3. It enables the healthcare practitioner to assess the proliferation rate of the cancer cells. If you have stage 1 multiple myeloma cancer, your cancer cells are growing slowly. With each proceeding stage, the adversity of myeloma increases. That means, at stage 3, the myeloma gets worse with little scope to treat and manage it.

Who is Prone to Multiple Myeloma Cancer?

Researchers say that multiple myeloma cancer can affect anyone, but below are the primary causes of multiple myeloma, along with risk factors associated with the disease.

  • Older people above 65 years old.
  • Men, on a larger basis
  • People belonging to African American community
  • There is a prior history of Multiple Myeloma in the family
  • People who are obese
  • You've come into touch with chemicals used in pesticides, carpentry, rubber manufacture, or extinguishing fires.
  • Those people who have been exposed to radiation for a longer time

Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma Cancer You Shouldn’t Ignore

While there are many symptoms associated with multiple myeloma cancer, bone pain is frequently the first one to be noticed. Additional signs and symptoms consist of :

  1. Numbness or weakness in legs, and fragile spine bones which may even break if intense pressure is applied.
  2. The body may feel weak and fatigued to the point that carrying out daily tasks also becomes hectic. 
  3. One might feel nauseated all the time. 
  4. Getting fever without a cause, which may indicate bacterial illness.
  5. The body might fail to make enough platelets; therefore, more bruises and marks are visible.

How is Multiple Myeloma Diagnosed?

In addition to performing a physical examination and inquiring about your symptoms and family medical history, healthcare professionals use several methods for multiple myeloma diagnosis. To verify a diagnosis, they could perform several blood tests, imaging tests, and bone marrow tests. They will then classify the situation in light of the information they have gathered, enabling them to ascertain the disease's stage as well as the size and location of the cancer tumours.

How can we Treat Multiple Myeloma Cancer?

Depending on the severity of your illness and your symptoms, there are several multiple myeloma cancer treatments. Following may be some of the ways to treat or reduce the risk of health due to myeloma cancer :

Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy

The three main multiple myeloma therapies are- chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Medical professionals employ chemotherapy to lower the quantity of aberrant plasma cells. On the other hand, immunotherapy boosts your immune system and helps your body produce more cells that fight cancer. Radiation therapy is used to shrink bone tumours and destroy cancer cells.

Targeted Therapy

In this treatment process, medicines targeting certain chemicals in the cancer cell are used. By inhibiting these substances, targeted treatments kill the cancer cells.

Steroids

Excessive doses of corticosteroids can lower inflammation and destroy cancer cells.

Stem cell transplants

Your bone marrow contains specialised cells called stem cells that can aid in producing healthy plasma cells. Autologous stem cell transplants are usually recommended by medical professionals. During this procedure, your body's healthy stem cells are used to replace any damaged or diseased ones.

CAR-T Cell Therapy

Also known as Chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy, this treatment is focused on training the immune system to fight against the myeloma cancer cells.

Painkillers and Antibiotics

People frequently experience severe bone pain. More infections may result from a compromised immune system. Antibiotics may be prescribed by your doctor to treat certain illnesses.

Immediate Treatment May Not Be Needed

In a condition called smouldering multiple myeloma, patients are asymptomatic. Individuals with this condition may not require treatment right away. However, regular monitoring is essential in this case. Oncologists check for the adversity of the myeloma and decide on starting the treatment regime once the symptoms show.

Takeaway

Multiple myeloma cancer requires early diagnosis to manage it for a long term. One should look for the symptoms carefully and consult doctors to avoid adversities. Even though the complete cure is still not available, one can keep their symptoms and cancer progression in check with various treatment options available.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

  1. Can you recover from myeloma cancer?

    Answer:- Myeloma is often incurable, necessitating further therapy if the malignancy recurs.

  2. Is Multiple Myeloma cancer a very serious health disorder?

    Answer:- Although myeloma is incurable, it is not usually regarded as terminal (i.e., an illness that is fatal and cannot be cured). For myeloma patients, several efficient therapies help manage the malignancy and extend life.

Request a call back

Get a call back from our Health Advisor

Related Test

Component : Immunotyping, Serum Qualitative, Protein Electrophoresis, Beta-2-Microglobulin, Serum, Free Light Chain (Kappa & Lambda) Assay, Serum Immunoglobulin IgG, IgM, & IgA

Include : parameters

Specimen : serum

Report Delivery :

9500

Component : Multiple Myeloma Panel (Flowcytometry), Hemat Disorder Karyotyping, Multiple Myeloma By FISH, IGH Gene Rearrangement By FISH

Include : parameters

Specimen : BM/WB EDTA and Sodium Haperin

Report Delivery :

27000

Component : Vitamin D 25 - Hydroxy, Phosphorus, Parathyroid Hormone, Intact (iPTH)

Include : parameters

Specimen : Serum + EDTA Plasma

Report Delivery :

2200

Component : Bone marrow Aspiration Smears

Include : parameters

Specimen : Bone marrow Smear + Peripherial Smear

Report Delivery :

1200

Recent Blog

© 2024 Pathkind Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved | Unsubscribe

Download Our App
Pathkind Labs