Bone pain is a common symptom. Myeloma cells grow in the bone marrow and bone, causing local bone damage or generalized thinning of the bone, which is called osteoporosis. This makes the bone more likely to break. The back or ribs are the most common sites of bone pain, but any bone can be affected.
Frequent infections. Weight loss. Weakness or numbness in your legs. Excessive thirst.
Some people have multiple myeloma for months or years before they even know they're sick. This earliest phase is called smoldering multiple myeloma. When you have it, you won't have any symptoms, but your test results will show: At least 10% to 59% of your bone marrow is made up of cancerous plasma cells.
Maintain a strong support system.
You might also find that support from a formal support group or others coping with cancer may be helpful. Friends you meet in support groups may be willing to share practical advice for coping with cancer and cancer treatment. Support groups are also available online.
Multiple myeloma can cause pain in affected bones – usually the back, ribs or hips. The pain is frequently a persistent dull ache, which may be made worse by movement.
Low blood counts
Shortages of red blood cells, white blood cells, and blood platelets are common in multiple myeloma and might lead to other symptoms. Anemia: A reduced number of red blood cells that can cause weakness, a reduced ability to exercise, shortness of breath, and dizziness.
What causes the pain associated with myeloma bone disease? Peripheral neuropathy is the term used to describe damage to the nerves in the hands, feet, arms or legs i.e. in the peripheral nervous system. This can cause numbness, tingling, increased sensitivity and pain.
In some people, multiple myeloma can cause the blood to become thicker than normal. This is known as hyperviscosity, which can cause problems such as blurred vision, headaches, dizziness, bleeding from the gums or nose, and shortness of breath.
Myeloma most often grows in the marrow within the bones of the spine, skull, pelvis, rib cage, shoulders, and hips. Usually, the bones of the hands and feet and lower parts of the arms and legs are not affected, preserving the function of these critical areas.
Viruses that damage the body's immune system, such as human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are sometimes associated with multiple myeloma. Exposure to radiation and specific chemicals.
Common symptoms at this stage can include bone pain, fractures, anemia, fatigue, frequent infections, kidney problems, and weight loss. Late-stage multiple myeloma may also involve complications such as hypercalcemia (high calcium levels), spinal cord compression, and impaired kidney function.
Many patients do experience changes in weight, including weight loss. These changes are common and can be caused by a number of factors including poor appetite, fatigue or treatment side effects.
Fatigue. People living with multiple myeloma can feel extremely tired even if they're getting enough sleep. This condition is called fatigue. It's important to recognize the symptoms of fatigue and to report those symptoms to your healthcare team.
Bone marrow biopsy
People with multiple myeloma have too many plasma cells in their bone marrow. The procedure used to check the bone marrow is called a bone marrow biopsy and aspiration. It can be done either at the doctor's office or at the hospital.
Multiple myeloma diagnostic criteria
These features are often referred to by doctors as the CRAB criteria, which stands for high levels of calcium in their blood, kidney (renal) problems, low levels of red blood cells (anemia); and bone damage, such as weakening of the bones or fractures.
The outcomes of several studies of exercise in MM show that physical exercise is feasible for MM patients. Compared with the control groups, the most active participants show better outcomes, such as improvements in their blood counts and in quality-of-life parameters such as fatigue, pain, sleep, and mood.
Stress can be a very destructive force when it comes to myeloma. Stress really disrupts the immune system and myeloma is a cancer of the immune system.
However, coffee consumption was associated with an increased risk of multiple myeloma in UK Biobank in the main analysis (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.30–3.89, p = 0.004), and the association remained after adjustment for genetically predicted BMI (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.37–4.96, p = 0.003),smoking (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.29–3.90, p = ...
You might feel: Sudden, severe back pain. Numbness or weakness, often in your legs. Muscle weakness, often in your legs.
For myeloma, you have blood tests and urine tests looking for an abnormal protein (the myeloma protein is called monoclonal protein, M-protein or paraprotein).
Tests used to monitor myeloma include: full blood count (FBC) serum protein electrophoresis. immunofixation (in some cases)
The bones most commonly affected are the spine, pelvis, ribs, skull, and the long bones of the arms and legs.
The spine is the most afflicted skeletal organ, and vertebral fractures have significantly contributed to its poor prognosis. Early mortality in MM is usually attributed to the combined effects of active disease and comorbid factors. Infection and renal failure are the main direct causes of early mortality.
The International Staging System uses the results of 2 blood tests to stage multiple myeloma – the albumin level and the beta-2-microglobulin level. The liquid part of blood that carries the blood cells.