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Multiple myeloma (also known as myeloma or plasma
cell myeloma) |
Facts
Data have been collected from
more than 2,000 cases (multiple myeloma, 587; pancreas 527; prostate,
1,000) and 2,100 controls approximately equally divided between
blacks and whites. Investigators have studied the role of antigenic
stimulation in the etiology of multiple myeloma, tobacco and alcohol
use and family history in the etiology of prostate cancer, and tobacco
and alcohol use in the etiology of pancreatic cancer. Efforts continue
to evaluate other potential risk factors, including dietary and
nutritional factors, viruses, medical conditions, socioeconomic
status, and occupational exposures
Each year, about 15,000 Americans
learn they have multiple myeloma. Scientists are studying this disease
to find out more about how it develops.
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Multiple myeloma (also known as myeloma or plasma cell myeloma)
is a progressive hematologic (blood) disease. It is a cancer of
the plasma cell, an important part of the immune system that produces
immunoglobulins (antibodies) to help fight infection and disease.
Multiple myeloma is characterized by excessive numbers of abnormal
plasma cells in the bone marrow and overproduction of intact monoclonal
immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgD, or IgE) or Bence-Jones protein (free
monoclonal ? and ? light chains). Hypercalcemia, anemia, renal damage,
increased susceptibility to bacterial infection, and impaired production
of normal immunoglobulin are common clinical manifestations of multiple
myeloma. It is often also characterized by diffuse osteoporosis,
usually in the pelvis, spine, ribs, and skull.
Cells destined to become immune cells, like all
blood cells, arise in the bone marrow from stem cells (see figure).
Some stem cells develop into the small white blood cells called
lymphocytes. The two major classes of lymphocytes are B cells
(B lymphocytes) and T cells (T lymphocytes). Plasma cells develop
from B cells.
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Symptoms
In rare instances, multiple myeloma interferes with blood flow to
the skin, fingers, toes, nose, kidneys, and brain because the blood
thickens (hyperviscosity syndrome).
Common symptoms of multiple myeloma include:
Bone pain, usually in the back
Broken bones, usually in the spine
Feeling weak and very tired
Feeling very thirsty
Frequent infections and fevers
Weight loss
Nausea or constipation
Frequent urination
Most often, these symptoms are not due to cancer. Other health problems
can cause the same symptoms. Anyone with these symptoms should tell
the doctor so that problems can be diagnosed and treated as early
as possible
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There are no guidelines for preventing multiple myeloma
because the cause is unknown
The following tips may help you keep multiple myeloma
under control:
Stay active. Exercise helps keep your bones stronger. If pain keeps
you from being active, ask your doctor about ways to lessen the
pain.
Drink fluids. Drinking fluids can help keep you from becoming dehydrated.
And by drinking plenty of fluids, you help dilute the Bence Jones
protein fragments in your urine, which may help prevent kidney damage.
Eat a balanced diet. One way to promote your overall health and
cope with any form of cancer is to eat well. The amount of M protein
in your system isn't affected by how much protein you eat, so there's
no need to limit protein intake unless told otherwise by your doctor.
Don't take vitamins, herbs or medication without your doctor's approval
because they may interfere with your treatment.
CNN.com
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Diet
Budwig Diet
The Budwig Diet (e.g. flaxseed oil and cottage cheese) has some
profound testimonials for treating MM. However, it should be realized
that I have never seen an authoritative description of her complete
protocol, including all of the supplements she used. Just using
flaxseed oil and cottage cheese would not be a cancer treatment
strong enough for "Stage IV" cancer, such as MM. However,
because this treatment is so simple and so easy to implement, I
endorse it for MM, but not by itself. It should be used as an adjunct
to other alternative treatments. "In a study reported in the
July 1999 issue of The American Journal of Nutrition, the authors
found a consistent pattern of protection against cancers of the
digestive tract. Cancers like multiple myeloma and uterine cancer
were also found to be decreased." Of course, without the cottage
cheese, yogurt or skim milk, the omega-3 in the flaxseed oil (or
walnuts, etc.) is not as effective
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Treatment
for multiple myeloma is focused on disease containment and
suppression. Although allogeneic stem cell transplant might
cure the cancer, it is considered investigational given the
high treatment related mortality of the procedure. In addition
to direct treatment of the plasma cell proliferation, bisphosphonates
(e.g. pamidronate or zoledronic acid) are routinely administered
to prevent fractures and erythropoietin to treat anemia
Commonly
used induction regimens include dexamethasone with or without
thalidomide, and VAD (vincristine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin),
and dexamethasone). Low-dose therapy with melphalan combined
with prednisone can be used to palliate symptoms in patients
who cannot tolerate aggressive therapy. Plasmapheresis can
be used to treat protein proliferation (Hyperviscosity syndrome).
In patients who have good performance status, the next step
in therapy is high-dose chemotherapy, often with melphalan,
followed by autologous stem cell transplantation. This can
be given in tandem fashion, i.e. an autologous transplant
followed by a second transplant. Nonmyeloablative (or "mini")
allogeneic stem cell transplantation is being investigated
as an alternative to autologous stem cell transplant, or as
part of a tandem transplant following an autologous
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Facts
Multiple myeloma occurs more frequently in men than
women (of the estimated 15,980 new cases referenced above, 8,600
are expected to occur in men versus 7,380 in women).
African Americans and Native Pacific Islanders have
the highest reported incidence of this disease and Asians the lowest.
A recent study found the incidence of myeloma to
be 9.5 cases per 100,000 African Americans and 4.1 cases per 100,000
Caucasian Americans. Among African Americans, myeloma is one of
the leading causes of cancer death. Here
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2007 Dreamers |
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