Multiple Myeloma Essay

Multiple Myeloma is mainly caused by the Monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance, or MGUS, and other uncontrollable factors. “MGUS is an asymptomatic blood disorder characterized by an abnormally elevated level of monoclonal protein, often discovered incidentally during testing for other disorders. Monoclonal proteins, or "M-proteins," are produced by plasma cells in the bone marrow.” Although it is not clear why, people who already been diagnosed with MGUS will most probably get multiple myeloma in a year or so. An uncontrollable factor includes the age. Most cases occur after the age of seventy. Scientists have discovered it occurs more frequently on african americans than any other race. Furthermore, immediate family members are more
likely to pass down the disease. To conclude, controllable factors are obesity, and work environment. People who were working with pesticides or harsh chemicals may trigger the cancer later on, as they age, and people who are obese are more prone to develop this cancer. Multiple Myeloma is not something that doctors diagnose everyday. In fact, only one in one hundred and forty three get diagnosed. According to research, thirty thousand cases are diagnosed per year, with men taking the lead. However, when it comes to death rates, both come to a close number. The American Cancer Society Statistics Center, show proof that of all cancers, the incidence rate of multiple myeloma is 6.2%, while the death rate is 3.3%, as of 2010. Although it is half, the death rate is still high. Texas has a prediction that there will be approximately 2,340 new cases. The cancer cannot be detected early, but there are very common and alarming symptoms.
Multiple Myeloma affects mainly the bones. The overproduction of proteins will weaken the bones, causing pains in parts of the body that an individual put more stress on like the back and hips, but may also suffer from the skull. Also, it can cause either anemia or hypercalcemia. With multiple myeloma, there may be a lack of red blood cells, which causes dizziness, the inability to move as desired, and overall weakness, Hypercalcemia occurs when there is a high level of calcium in the blood, causing extreme thirst, abdominal pain, weakness, possible kidney failures, among
others. Multiple Myeloma will also affect the nervous system gravely. Since it weakens the bones, it will affect one of the most important part of the body: the spinal cord. If spinal cord compression occurs, it will require immediate doctor attention, because it can change a person’s life if it is not treated right away. The individual may lose the ability to walk or have a severe back pain. Furthermore, Multiple Myeloma will affect the the blood and weaken the immune system. It can cause the blood to thicken, known as hyperviscosity, which can then make it difficult for the brain to receive the correct amount of blood and oxygen. This can cause confusion, and slurred speech. This symptom can be easily treated with a medical procedure. However, patients will frequently get infections, and will take a long amount to recover, which can be dangerous. They can get many severe diseases and then it can be difficult for the doctor to treat the patient. The cancer can be often confused as Malignant Lymphoma, Metastatic Bone Disease, and Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia.
Lymphoma and Myeloma both work with white blood cells, but, they affect different part of the body. Although Lymphoma will eventually weaken the immune system, Myeloma abnormal cells tend to stay in the bones. When there are gathered too close together, they create the tumor, whereas lymphoma just stays in the lymphatic system. “Metastatic bone disease occurs when cancer spreads from a primary organ site to bone. The spine is the most common location of metastatic disease.” It is slightly different from Myeloma, in the way that it starts straight from the organs, not because of overproduction of plasma
cells.. Multiple Myeloma cannot be determined with one lab test, which is why they run physical tests, and check personal history as well. A blood cell count is done to determine any abnormalities in the blood level. For example, if it is too low, he or she may have developed anemia which is one of the major symptoms. Also, doctors use lab tests to determine how much protein is in the body to see how much the cancer has progressed. Urine tests are also run to asses how much damage the liver has undergone, if any. Inevitably, doctor will perform bone marrow exams like imaging study, biopsy, and cytogenetic analysis. CT scans and positron emission tomographies are firstly done to see the bone structure changes, and how many tumors are found within the bones. Biopsys, which are examinations of tissue removed from the body, should be done to accurately rule the percentage of cancerous cells in the bone marrow. Finally, to assess damages or alterations to the DNA, which will give a view of how serious the disease is, doctors will make the patient undergo cytogenetic analysis.
Multiple Myeloma cannot be cured but it can be managed to help the patient live for many healthy years. Treatment options include medications, stem cell transplants, Bisphosphonates, and therapies. However, it all depends on the patient’s age, health problems, and how the treatment first reacts. Chemotherapy is of course the most widely known, and probably used. The drugs in these treatments are mainly to stop the growth of cancerous cells. Targeted therapy is also used to avoid damaging normal cells. With the stem cell transplant, “Stem cells are removed from the blood or bone marrow of the patient or a donor and are frozen and stored. After the chemotherapy is completed, the stored stem cells are thawed and given back to the patient through an infusion. These reinfused stem cells grow into (and restore) the body's blood cells”. Bisphosphonate therapy is used to slow bone loss, and is also used for osteoporosis, There are many new trials, that are still being tested to help find a cure or at least a faster and healthier treatment than radiation.