Multiple Myeloma

Symptoms

• Pain in the bones, especially in the back, ribs, and, sometimes, the arm
• Frequent infections
• Fatigue
• A tendency to bleed easily, especially from the nose or gums
• Easy bruising
• A general numbness of the skin
• Severe kidney problems
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Confusion

Diagnosis

• A bone marrow biopsy (a sample of bone marrow is removed and examined)
• X-rays of the long bones in your body, your skull and chest to help confirm the diagnosis and to check for bone weakness
• Blood tests to check for anemia

Expected Duration

• About 15% of patients die within the first three months after diagnosis
• In most cases, the illness progresses slowly for two to five years, followed by a relatively brief period when symptoms rapidly worsen

Prevention

• Avoiding exposure to radiation, benzene or pesticides

Stages of Leukemia

There are four stages of chronic lymphoid leukemia:

• Stage I — few cancer cells have spread through the body, and there may not be any symptoms of the disease.
• Stage II — a moderate number of cancer cells have spread through the body.
• Stage III — a large number of cancer cells have spread through the body. There also can be anemia resulting from a decrease in red blood cells; high levels of calcium in the blood because of damaged bones; more than three bone tumors; or a high level of M-protein in the blood, a reflection of the extent of tumor growth throughout the body.

Treatment

• Several four- to six-week courses of chemotherapy, given over a period of one to two years
• Radiation therapy to treat tumors in the bone
• Intravenous infusions of immunoglobulin to prevent serious infections
• Bone marrow transplant — This may be beneficial for patients younger than 65, especially if done early in the course of the illness