Q: 8) What is the best treatment for multiple myeloma?

Treatments for myeloma options include: Targeted therapy: Targeted drug treatment focuses on specific abnormalities within cancer cells that enable them to survive. They do this by blocking the action of a substance in myeloma cells that breaks down proteins, which causes myeloma cells to die. Targeted-therapy drugs may be administered through a vein in your arm or in form of pills. Biological therapy: Biological therapy drugs use your body's immune system to fight cancer cells. Commonly taken in pill form, these medications enhance the immune system cells that identify and attack cancer cells. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs kill fast-growing cells, including myeloma cells. Corticosteroids : Corticosteroids regulate the immune system to control inflammation in the body. They are also active against myeloma cells and can be taken in pill form or administered through a vein in your arm. Bone marrow transplant: A bone marrow transplant, also known as a stem cell transplant, is a procedure to works by replacing your diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow. Radiation therapy: This treatment uses beams of energy to damage myeloma cells and stop their growth.

Question 1

1) What is multiple myeloma?

Accepted Answer

In multiple myeloma, a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell multiplies out of control. Normally, they make antibodies that fight infections, but in multiple myeloma, release too much protein called immunoglobulin into your bones and blood, and the builds up throughout your body of this protein causes organ damage.

The plasma cells also crowd normal blood cells in your bones, releasing chemicals that trigger other cells to dissolve bone, weakening the areas of bone, creating regions called lytic lesions.

As multiple myeloma gets worse, those plasma cells begin to spill out of your bone marrow and
spread through your body, which causes more organ damage.

Question 2

2) How is myeloma different from leukemia?

Accepted Answer

While leukemia is cancer of the blood cells usually which starts in bone marrow and travels through the bloodstream, multiple myeloma is cancer that develops in the bone marrow and affects antibodies producing plasma cells. In myeloma, when plasma cells become cancerous, they may accumulate in the marrow and damage or weaken bone, causing pain. In leukemia, the bone marrow produces mutated cells and spreads them into the blood, where they grow, crowding out healthy blood cells.

Question 3

3) Is multiple myeloma cancer curable?

Accepted Answer

The cancer is treatable, but not curable. The most common multiple myeloma treatment has typically been chemotherapy succeeded by stem cell transplants. As the illness is not curable, this method of treatment aimed to create longer and longer extents of time during which it did not progress. Now, however, notable advances in research have dramatically improved not only the prognosis but the treatment that is offered. In fact, treatments have advanced so much that there is an increasing debate among the scientific community as to whether a stem cell transplant should be performed after diagnosis or if it is better to delay the transplant until a relapse.

Scientists are currently experimenting with different combinations of medications to improve the survival rate, and efforts are being made to combine certain drugs that not only have diminished side effects but that also lengthen stretches of progression-free survival of the diseases.

Question 4

4) What are the first signs of multiple myeloma?

Accepted Answer

The most common signs of multiple myeloma include:

Bone problems. The disease can prevent your body from making new bone cells, causing problems like bone pain, weakened bones, and broken bones.
Fatigue. Healthy cells allow your body to fight invading germs easily, but as myeloma cells replace bone marrow, your body has to work much harder with fewer disease-fighting cells, and because of which you tire more easily.
Kidney problems. Myeloma cells produce harmful proteins that can cause kidney damage and even cause failure.
Low blood counts. Myeloma cells crowd out healthy blood cells, leading to low red blood counts and low white blood cells.
Frequent infections. Fewer antibodies in your blood make fighting infections more challenging for your body.

Other common symptoms of multiple myeloma include:

Nausea
Constipation
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Weakness or loss of feeling in your legs
Swelling in your legs
Increased thirst
Frequent urination
Confusion
Dizziness
Pain, especially in your back or belly

Question 5

5) Is Multiple Myeloma a fatal disease?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Multiple Myeloma is a fatal disease, but due to the recent advancement, the survival rate of patients with myeloma has improved a lot.

Question 6

6) What do multiple myeloma patients die from?

Accepted Answer

The most common cause of death related to myeloma is the infection, with pneumonia being the most common fatal infection. Other common causes of death are bleeding (from low platelet counts), kidney failure, complications of bone fractures, and blood clots in the lungs.

Question 7

7) How do I know the final stages of multiple myeloma?

Accepted Answer

The final stage of myeloma is marked by the presence of many cancer cells in the body.
Characteristic of this stage include:
Anemia
Hypercalcemia
Advanced bone damage (3 or more bone lesions)
High levels of M protein in the blood or urine

Question 8

8) What is the best treatment for multiple myeloma?

Accepted Answer

Treatments for myeloma options include:

Targeted therapy: Targeted drug treatment focuses on specific abnormalities within cancer cells that enable them to survive. They do this by blocking the action of a substance in myeloma cells that breaks down proteins, which causes myeloma cells to die. Targeted-therapy drugs may be administered through a vein in your arm or in form of pills.
Biological therapy: Biological therapy drugs use your body's immune system to fight cancer cells. Commonly taken in pill form, these medications enhance the immune system cells that identify and attack cancer cells.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs kill fast-growing cells, including myeloma cells.
Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids regulate the immune system to control inflammation in the body. They are also active against myeloma cells and can be taken in pill form or administered through a vein in your arm.
Bone marrow transplant: A bone marrow transplant, also known as a stem cell transplant, is a procedure to works by replacing your diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow.
Radiation therapy: This treatment uses beams of energy to damage myeloma cells and stop their growth.

Question 9

9) Why is multiple myeloma not curable?

Accepted Answer

Myeloma is currently considered treatable and not curable. This is because we don't have any treatment method that could prevent Myeloma from returning.

Question 10

10) How long a person can live with multiple myeloma?

Accepted Answer

Multiple myeloma 5-year survival rate is 50% but some patients beat the odds and live 10 to 20 years or more.

Question 11

11) What foods should I avoid with multiple myeloma?

Accepted Answer

Since multiple myeloma makes the immune system weaker, the patient needs to steer clear of any foods that could make him or her sick, including:

Raw meat or fish
Runny eggs
Unpasteurized drinks
Sushi
Unwashed fruits and vegetables

Question 12

12) Cost for myeloma treatment in India?

Accepted Answer

The cost of treatment depends on the stage of cancer, and the estimated cost of Multiple Myeloma Treatment in India is INR 8 Lakh to 10 Lakh.

Multiple Myeloma

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of Multiple Myeloma start to appear at a later stage and include-

Diagnosis

Treatment

Multiple Myeloma can be treated in the following ways:

Risks

A Bone Marrow Transplant entails the following risks:

After Procedure

Multiple Myeloma from one of the best multi-speciality hospital: Fortis Malar Hospital, Adyar, Chennai

Dr. Raghava Bharadwaj

Dr. Karthikeyan A