Dangers Of Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cell, is an incurable but treatable disease. While a myeloma diagnosis can be overwhelming, it is important to remember that there are several promising new therapies that are helping patients live longer, healthier lives. The estimated frequency of multiple myeloma is 5-6 new cases per 100,000 persons per year. Accordingly, in the USA 15,980 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2005. At present there are more than 50,000 people in the United States living with multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma is a malignant proliferation of plasma cells that involves more than 10 percent of the bone marrow. It is a prototype primary malignancy of the bone associated with malignant plasma cells that secrete monoclonal immunoglobulins into the serum, the urine or both.

Multiple myeloma is the most common primary cancer of the bones in adults. The annual incidence in the United States is three to four cases per 100,000 population. Multiple myeloma represents 1 percent of all cancers diagnosed in the United States and 10 percent of all hematologic malignancies. The median age at diagnosis of multiple myeloma is 62 years. Only 2 to 3 percent of cases are reported in patients younger than 30 years.2

The disease is called multiple myeloma because myeloma cells can occur in multiple bone marrow sites in your body. If you have multiple myeloma but aren't experiencing symptoms, your doctors may just need to monitor your condition. If you're experiencing symptoms, a variety of treatments are available.

Blacks in the United States are twice as likely to suffer from multiple myeloma as whites. In fact, multiple myeloma is the most common hematologic malignancy in the U.S. black population.3 Multiple myeloma is rare among persons of Asian descent, with an incidence of only one to two cases per 100,000 population. Standard therapy for multiple myeloma includes alkylating agents administered with prednisone. The most commonly used alkylating agent is melphalan (Alkeran). Melphalan, 9 mg per m2, is given orally with 100 mg of prednisone on days 1 through 4. Courses of therapy are repeated at four- to six-week intervals for at least one year.

About the Author:
Daniel J.Fox
Multiple Myeloma is the most common Cancer of the Plasma Cells. More Info at http://www.eask.info.
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Treatment Of Multiple Myeloma That Has Come Back!

Multiple Myeloma Treatments

There are several blood tests that have significance for the likely development of your myeloma. Your specialist will talk you through these. One test is called serum B2. A low level of this means your myeloma is less active and so is likely to develop more slowly. Another test is called serum albumin – a higher level for this is linked to a better outlook. There are many other tests, including chromosome tests.

It is a good sign if your myeloma responds well to treatment and goes into complete remission. This means that there is no clinical sign of your disease and no longer any abnormal immunoglobulin in your blood or urine. Remission can last for months or years, but unfortunately the myeloma is likely to come back eventually and need further treatment.

Treatment of Multiple Myeloma That Has Come Back!

Your doctor may call this relapsed myeloma. If your myeloma stays in remission for longer than 6 months after your treatment, your doctor may suggest that you have treatment with the same combination of drugs that you had before. But if it comes back sooner than that, the same treatment is less likely to help you a second time. Your doctor may suggest another treatment. This may be a different combination of chemotherapy drugs.

Plasmacytoma

In this type of plasma cell neoplasm, the abnormal plasma cells (myeloma cells) collect in one location and form a single tumor, called a plasmacytoma. A plasmacytoma may form in bone marrow or may be extramedullary (in soft tissues outside of the bone marrow). Plasmacytoma of the bone often becomes multiple myeloma. Extramedullary plasmacytomas commonly form in tissues of the throat and sinuses; these usually can be cured.

Treatment Goals for Multiple Myeloma

The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms, since chemotherapy and even transplant rarely lead to permanent cure. Complete remission is unusual.

Chemotherapy and localized radiation therapy for relief of bone pain or treating a bone tumor may be useful. Bone marrow transplantation in younger patients has been shown to increase disease-free and overall survival, but it has significant risks.

Several promising new treatments including thalidomide, proteosome inhibitors, and arsenic trioxide are currently being investigated in clinical trials. Discuss participation with your doctor.

About the Author:
Melvin H.Gill
Several promising new treatments including thalidomide, proteosome inhibitors, and arsenic trioxide are currently being investigated in clinical trials. Find out more at http://www.eask.info
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Multiple Myeloma: Commonest Form Of Blood Cancer!

Multiple Myeloma is the commonest form of cancer of blood cells, accounting for 15 per cent of all blood cancers. There are about 2500 new cases per annum in the UK, giving rise to 10-15,000 patients with the condition at any one time. The overall incidence is rising, and is higher in Afro-Caribbeans.

Multiple myeloma is treatable, but it cannot be considered a curable condition.

Types of Myeloma
There is really only one main type of myeloma, but in different people, the cancerous plasma cells make different antibodies. Doctors more often call these antibodies 'immunoglobulins'. In each case of myeloma, only one type of immunoglobulin is overproduced, but this varies from patient to patient. There are 5 basic immunoglobulins – A, G, M, D and E. In myeloma, the commonest one that is overproduced is IgG and the rarest IgE.

Controlling your symptoms
Even if it is not possible to get your myeloma into remission, you can have treatment to help control the symptoms it causes. This may be mild chemotherapy to damp it down. Or you may have radiotherapy to any trouble spots in your bones. Bisphosphonates can also be used to try to slow down the progress of the myeloma. And to reduce the levels of calcium in your blood if this is too high. Your doctor may suggest a treatment called plasma pharesis if the level of abnormal immunoglobulin protein is too high in your blood. Too much protein in the blood can make it too thick and plasma pharesis will take out the excess protein.

Smouldering myeloma
You may also hear the term 'smouldering myeloma'. This is a condition that is much the same as MGUS. The only difference is that the immunoglobulin levels are slightly higher than in MGUS. But they are not rising and the condition is usually stable for long periods of time. There is a risk that the condition will speed up and develop into full blown multiple myeloma.

How does one develop myeloma?
The cause of myeloma is not known. It is not inherited and it is not contagious. In common with other blood cancers there is an increased incidence in patients exposed to radiation.

Organic-chemical exposure may increase incidence, but there are no clear data. A recent report suggests that multiple myeloma patients have a higher incidence of infection (up to 80 per cent or more) by a human herpes virus (HHV8) than do normal subjects (up to 25 per cent); these reports are unconfirmed.

About the Author:
Camry James
As with many other types of cancer, the outcome depends on how advanced your cancer is when it is diagnosed. Knowing the signs early can save your life! Find out more about Multiple Myeloma at http://www.eask.info
Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com/article/33606.html
Added: 07 Aug 2006