Myeloma, also called multiple myeloma, is a type of plasma cell cancer. These cancerous cells destroy normal cells, find the marrow of our bones and replace the cells with tumors and abnormal lesions. These tumors cause bone damage, which results in pain or fractures. Multiple myeloma risk factors involve gender, age, and ethnic disparities. For example, this bone cancer affects more men than women; people over the age of 50 are more affected; and African-Americans are more commonly affected.

The damage caused by multiple myeloma may include bone damage where excess calcium in the blood puts a strain on the kidneys. For this reason early detection and treatment is critical. Also, anemia as well as low white blood cell counts lessens the body’s ability to fight infections. The symptoms of multiple myeloma do not affect all patients in the same way. The most common myeloma warning signs are:

1. Ostalgia
The bone pain (ostalgia) experienced are a result of the cancer-causing weakness, fractures, and tumors that affect the body’s nervous system. Under an x-ray, myeloma is said to look like holes within the bones. Myeloma is a long-term disease. When the nerves are affected, not only do individuals experience chronic bone pain, but chronic tingling sensations.

2. Loss of appetite and nausea
Nausea and appetite loss with myeloma are more likely associated with the type of the cancer-related medications you are taking. As a form of cancer multiple myeloma causes chronic pain whereby you don’t feel like eating and have bouts of nausea. However, the common cause for nausea and appetite loss is from prescription drugs and cancer treatments.

3. Constipation
The causes of constipation in myeloma are varied and can include the following:

• Side-effect of certain medications
• Lack of appetite
• Dehydration
• Lack of mobility

4. Mental fogginess
Cancer of any kind comes with memory and thinking problems. First, you are taking medications that give you a mental fog or the chemo treatments you are taking causes focus problems. Yes, cancer itself can be blamed for mental fog episodes, but because you are stressed, you are not eating, you experience insomnia due to pain, further contributes to why you have bouts of mental fogginess.

5. Fatigue
Fighting myeloma is more than just being tired. Exhaustion that is associated with myeloma is a common side effect. This condition is not healed by simply taking a nap or going to bed early. it is a health condition that paralyzes your daily life. It is experienced due to all the therapy treatments you must undergo. Depression brings about fatigue.

6. Depression
Cancer-related depression is more than an emotion we feel at certain times. Depression when you have been diagnosed with a cancer like myeloma is almost a daily emotion. You develop feelings of numbing emotions, coping with severe pain, and crying bouts. Antidepressants are prescribed for myeloma patients.

7. Chronic infections
Multiple myeloma patients are at risk for frequent infections due to their weakened immune system. Myeloma cancer cells are eating away at the body’s healthy antibody cells. Unfortunately, people with myeloma experience frequent infections like bacteria, fungal, and viral infections that affect the kidneys. However, pneumonia is a more common infection.

There is no cure for myeloma, at least now. Early detection and treatment is critical. Great advancements are being discovered in early diagnosis and treatment. Due to early detection and treatment progress, myeloma cancer patients are now surviving 5 years longer than they did during the past ten years.