Cancer means the uncontrolled growth of cells. In multiple myeloma, the bone marrow produces excessive amounts of abnormal plasma cells. Unlike other cancers where there is always a tumor, these cancer cells are most often in the bone marrow and in the blood throughout the body, although a tumor can form in the bone or in soft tissues.
The diagnosis of multiple myeloma is confirmed by the presence of myeloma cancer cells (abnormal plasma cells) in the bone marrow and the presence of excess protein in the blood or urine.
Classification and staging
Multiple myeloma may be classified into one of three categories:
* Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) – this condition is a sort of “pre-multiple myeloma,” meaning that the excess protein is present but the level of plasma cells is low. MGUS is by itself harmless, but about 16 percent of individuals with it develop multiple myeloma over time.
* Solitary plasmacytoma - myeloma in only one spot or a single tumor
* Asymptomatic or smoldering multiple myeloma – the blood tests and bone marrow biopsy show the presence of multiple myeloma but symptoms are not present.
* Symptomatic multiple myeloma
Staging a cancer means determining its extent. Is the multiple myeloma confined to the bone marrow, or has the cancer spread to other parts of the body like the bones? The stage of the cancer determines what types of treatment will be needed. Because multiple myeloma can be widespread, its staging is often based on a rough measure of how much cancer is in the body.
Treatment
Individuals with MGUS or no symptoms are usually observed through regular physical examinations and blood tests, but are not treated. Individuals who have symptoms may be treated with:
* Chemotherapy drugs – these may include Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), Alkeran (melphalan), or corticosteroids such as prednisone. The combination of Thalomid (thalidomide) and Decadron (dexamethasone) has also been an effective treatment.
* Radiation therapy
* Stem cell (bone marrow) transplantation – the individual receives healthy bone marrow to replace the diseased bone marrow.
* An anti-cancer drug called Velcade (bortezomib)
In addition, the individual may receive treatment for symptoms, such as receiving a blood transfusion to treat anemia or antibiotics to treat infections.
Blood cancer is a form of cancer which attacks the blood, bone marrow, or lymphatic system. There are three kinds of blood cancer: leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. These malignancies have varying prognoses, depending on the patient and the specifics of the condition, but overall survival rates with blood cancer increased radically in the late 20th century with the development of advanced treatments. When caught early, blood cancer can be very manageable in some cases, which is one very good reason to make regular trips to the doctor a priority for people of all ages.
In the case of leukemia, the cancer interferes with the body's ability to make blood. Leukemia attacks the bone marrow and the blood itself, causing fatigue, anemia, weakness, and bone pain. It is diagnosed with a blood test in which specific types of blood cells are counted. Treatment for leukemia usually includes chemotherapy and radiation to kill the cancer, and in some cases measures like bone marrow transplants may be required. There are several different types of leukemia, including chronic myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and hairy cell leukemia.
Lymphomas are blood cancers which involve the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. They are divided into Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's types. Lymphoma often involves swollen lymph nodes in addition to the symptoms for leukemia listed above, and it is also treated with chemotherapy and radiation. Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer which primarily appears in older people, involving the plasma, another type of white blood cell. Chemotherapy, radiation, and other drug treatments can be used to manage multiple myeloma.
The goal in treating blood cancer is to achieve remission, a situation characterized by the absence of symptoms. Even in remission, a blood cancer can still start up again, so people who have experienced blood cancer may need to attend regular follow-up medical appointments and annual checkups to check for a recurrence of the cancer. Blood cancer does not appear to be preventable, but like other cancers, the risk seems to be reduced among people who eat a healthy diet, exercise, and maintain good mental health.
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People diagnosed with blood cancer can work with an oncologist, a doctor who specializes in cancer, or a hematologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases of the blood. Some patients work with both, attempting to develop a treatment plan which will be as effective as possible. Because individual cases can be quite varied, patients often benefit from second opinions to confirm the diagnosis and treatment plan.
The National Cancer Institute lists radiation exposure, smoking, and benzene exposure as risk factors for certain types of blood cancer. In more rare cases chemotherapy, Down syndrome and certain blood disorders have also been identified as risk factors.
Human T-Cell virus is also a risk factor that can cause a rare type of blood cancer called Adult T-Cell Leukemia. This virus can be passed from person to person through drug use, sexual activity, and mother to child interactions, but the cancer itself is not contagious.
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The symptoms of blood cancers are so varied that it is always best to consult a doctor and have extensive tests. You should then seek a second opinion from a specialist if your doctor hands down the blood cancer prognosis or if you are not satisfied with the first doctor’s diagnosis.
Some blood cancer symptoms are back pain, frequent headaches, weight loss, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, and many other ailments. As you can see, these symptoms are also common symptoms for ailments like migraines, intestinal disorders, gingivitis, high blood pressure, or some other medical problem. While one of these symptoms may not be reason for concern, recurring symptoms or multiple symptoms may be a signal that you should go get checked out.
Doctor to Patient
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Pro athletes often seem to know their bodies, and notice bodily changes early when something isn't quite right. This intuition may have led Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to seek medical help when he started to get hot flashes and night sweats last fall. Many people may have ignored these symptoms and sloughed them off as unimportant. Hot flashes may be normal for women in menopause, but not for a male basketball legend. Mr. Abdul-Jabbar's symptoms led to an early diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).
What causes chronic myelogenous leukemia?
Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a rare type of leukemia that tends to affect older males. More than 90% of cases are due to a gene abnormality caused when two chromosomes swap sections with each other. There are 23 chromosomes in humans, and in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia chromosomes 9 and 22 within blood cells exchange bits of genetic material to form a Philadelphia chromosome, named after the city where it was discovered. The new gene on this chromosome makes a protein called tyrosine kinase that allows white blood cells to grow out of control; moreover, these abnormal white blood cells tend not to become old and die. The bone marrow, where red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are made, becomes filled with white blood cells crowding out the normal cells and damaging the bone marrow itself. This can impair the ability of the bone marrow to manufacture normal amounts of blood cells.
Blood cancer is a generalized term for malignancy which attacks the blood, bone marrow, or lymphatic system. There are three kinds of blood cancer: leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
Leukemia is malignancy of cells in the blood. Lymphoma refers to malignant tumors of the lymph system. Myeloma is malignancy of plasma cells. Plasma cells are the cells in bone marrow that produce antibodies. Collectively they are called Hematological malignancies.
Some of the common blood cancer symptoms:
* Weakness, Fatigue, Malaise and Breathlessness
* Minimal body strain results inbone fractures
* Excessive or easy bruising
* Bleeding gums or frequent nose bleeds
* Recurrent infections or fever
* Excessive sweating of body during night
* Weight loss
* Frequent vomiting sensations
* Anorexia
* Lymph node (gland) enlargement
* Lumps or abdominal distension due to enlarged abdominal organs
* Abdominal pain, Bone pain and Back pain
* Delirium and confusion
* Abnormal bleeding in gums nose and cuts, which will result in platelet reduction
* Headaches with occurrence of visual difficulties
* Occurrence of fine rashes on dark spots
* Decreased urination and difficulty while urinating
Some of the specific leukemia blood cancer symptoms are anemia, recurrent infections, bone and joint pain, abdominal distress and difficult in breathing or dyspnea.
In case of lymphomas blood cancer the symptoms depend on location of cancer, where it has spread, and the size of the tumor. It begins with swelling in the neck, underarm, or groin.
The first sign of multiple myeloma is bone pain due to bony destruction by plasma cells. Some of the prominent symptoms include bleeding gums, nose bleeds and easy bruising. Unexplained bone fractures, kidney failure, persistent infections and weight loss are other signs of the disease.
Read the rest of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment »
Latest Statistical Facts about Blood Cancer in United States:
* Symptoms of blood cancer are confirmed using the Diagnostic test – Biopsy.
* After every 4 minutes, an individual from America is diagnosed with blood cancer by such tests.
* Every 10 minutes, this disease takes the life of an individual.
* It means 146 people die every day because of this disease.
* Approximately 1,39,860 people are going to be diagnosed with all the three types of blood cancer in the year 2009.
* These people constitute 9.5% of the total number of new cancer cases ( 1,479, 350 ) diagnosed in the whole country.
* 53,240 people out of the 1,39,860 diagnosed, are estimated to lose their lives this year owing to this dreadful disease.
* The total cancer deaths estimated in the year 2009 are 5,62,340.
* Blood cancer deaths will comprise 9.5% of these deaths.
* Leukemia is the most common type of blood cancer in children affecting the age group of 0-19 years.
* It comprises 31% of cancers affecting the children in United States.
* 2,655 children within the mentioned age group, are estimated to be diagnosed with this disease in 2009.
* The symptoms of blood cancer remain latent and dangerously make the disease apparent in its last stages.
Does Cancer cause Blood Clots ?
Research studies conducted at the University of L’Aquila, Italy suggest that children suffering from Leukemia are at high risks of facing Thrombosis while they are provided the cancer treatment. Thrombosis is the technical name given to clotting of blood in the deep veins of the body. In the research, 1,752 children suffering from this dreadful disease were considered. In 5.2% of these children, the study found the complication of blood clotting. The researchers however were successful in finding out the therapies and medical procedures for addressing the risk of blood clotting.
What is chronic leukaemia?
Leukaemia literally means ‘many white cells in the blood'.
The white cells are part of the body’s immune system, and there are several sub-groups of white cells that have different sorts of roles in recognising and dealing with ‘invaders’ such as bacteria and viruses as well as other types of foreign protein.
All of the blood cells originate in the bone marrow and leukaemia (blood cancer) is a disease where the bone marrow produces large numbers of abnormal white cells. This means that the normal marrow is pushed into smaller and smaller areas. This results in fewer normal cells being produced and gives rise to some of the symptoms.
There are many types of leukaemia, each of which is classified according to the exact cell type affected by the disease.
Chronic leukaemia is a slowly progressive form of leukaemia and tends to involve more mature cell types. It may not need treatment immediately, but if treatment is required it is usually chemotherapy, given in the form of tablets.