What is Multiple Myeloma? How Is It Treated?
What is multiple myeloma? Multiple myeloma (say: mull-tip-ul my-el-oh-ma) is a kind of cancer. It’s caused when cells in the bone, called “plasma cells,” grow too much. When this happens, the plasma cells kill the bone around them. The plasma cells also make too much of something called “immunoglobulins.” The immunoglobulins cause problems in the blood. What causes myeloma? We don’t know what causes myeloma. This cancer usually happens in people older than 55 years of age. Slightly more men than women get it. It doesn’t usually run in families. Myeloma is more common in blacks than in whites. Fertilizers and insecticides might cause myeloma. This may be why myeloma is more common in farmers. How does my doctor know I have myeloma? Several tests can tell if you have myeloma. First, you’ll need x-rays to check the areas where you feel pain. Your doctor might take some blood tests. One test measures the kind of immunoglobulins in your blood. Other tests tell if you’re anemic (low iron in
