609-537-6363

609-537-6363

What is Multiple Myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that happens when cells that make up part of the blood, called plasma cells, behave and grow abnormally.

What Are Signs and Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma?

Signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma include the following:

⦁ Bone breaks and bone pain
⦁ Kidney problems
⦁ Too much calcium in the blood
⦁ Anemia, or low levels of red blood cell
⦁ Infections that keep coming back

How is Multiple Myeloma Treated?

The following are the most common treatment options for multiple myeloma:

  • Chemotherapy, or drugs that destroy cancer cells for patients with active symptoms
  • Medications that disrupt the activity of cancer cells
    • Drugs that cut the blood supply of cancerous cells (e.g., thalidomide, lenalidomide, pomalidomide)
    • Drugs that keep cancer cells from reusing useless proteins (e.g., bortezomib, carfilzomib, ixazomib, etc.)
  • Corticosteroids
  • Stem cell transplantation
  • Radiotherapy in areas that have not responded to other treatments
  • Medications to treat complications of multiple myeloma