Plasma cells help the body's immune system fight disease by producing substances called antibodies. In multiple myeloma, plasma cells grow out of control and form tumors in the bone marrow.
The excess growth of plasma cells interferes with the body's ability to make red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This causes anemia, which makes a person more likely to get infections and have abnormal bleeding.
As the cancer cells grow in the bone marrow, they can cause pain and destruction of the bones. If the bones in the spine are affected, it can put pressure on the nerves, resulting in numbness or paralysis.
Multiple myeloma mainly affects older adults. A history of radiation therapy raises your risk for this type of cancer.
Symptoms
Bleeding problems
Bone or back pain
Increased susceptibility to infection
Symptoms of anemia (such as tiredness, shortness of breath, and fatigue)
Bone x-rays show fractures or hollowed out areas of bone. If your doctor suspects this type of cancer, a bone marrow biopsy will be performed.
Treatment
The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms.
People who have mild disease or a questionable diagnosis are usually carefully monitored without treatment. Some people have a slow-developing form of multiple myeloma that takes years to cause symptoms.
Ewing's sarcoma (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Ewing''s sarcoma is a malignant(cancerous) bone tumor that affects children.Ewing''s family of tumors; Primitive neuroectodermal tumors(PNET).Ewing''s sarcoma can occur any time during childhood and young adulthood, but usually develops during p...Reviewer: Stephen Grund, MD, PhD, Chief of Hematology/Oncology and Director of the George Bray Cancer Center at New Britain General Hospital, New Britain, CT. Review provided byVeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 03/21/2008
Bone pain or tenderness (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Bone pain or tenderness is aching or other discomfort in one or more bones.Bone pain is seen less commonly than joint pain and muscle pain. The source of bone pain may be obvious, as in a fracture following an accident. Reviewer: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/02/2009
Bone x-ray (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A bone x-ray may detect fractures, tumors, or degenerative conditions of the bone.The test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider''s office by an x-ray technician. You will position the bone to be x-rayed on ...Reviewer: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/02/2009
Cancer - resources(Doctor-Reviewed information)
The following organizations are good resources for information on cancer: American Cancer Society - www.cancer.org; Cancer Care - www.cancercare.org; National Cancer Institute - www.cancer.gov. Reviewer: Jennifer K. Mannheim, CPNP, private practice, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 10/18/2008
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