Breathing
Problems and Backaches? It May Be Cancer!
By Melvin H.Gill
Multiple Myeloma
In multiple myeloma, abnormal plasma cells (myeloma cells)
build up in the bone marrow, forming tumors in many bones of
the body. These tumors may prevent the bone marrow from making
enough healthy blood cells. Normally, the bone marrow produces
stem cells (immature cells) that develop into three types of
mature blood cells:
1. Red blood cells that carry oxygen and other materials to all
tissues of the body.
2. White blood cells that fight infection and disease.
3. Platelets that help prevent bleeding by causing blood clots
to form.
As the number of myeloma
cells increases, fewer red blood
cells, white blood cells, and platelets are made. The myeloma
cells also damage and weaken the hard parts of the bones.
Sometimes multiple myeloma does not cause any symptoms. The
following symptoms may be caused by multiple myeloma or other
conditions.
A doctor should be consulted if any of the
following problems occur:
1. Bone pain, often in the back or ribs.
2. Bones that break easily.
3. Fever for no known reason or frequent infections.
4. Easy bruising or bleeding.
5. Trouble breathing.
6. Weakness of the arms or legs.
7. Feeling very tired.
A tumor can damage the bone and cause hypercalcemia (a
condition in which there is too much calcium in the blood).
This can affect many organs in the body, including the kidneys,
nerves, heart, muscles, and digestive tract, and cause serious
health problems.
Other factors affecting prognosis
There are other factors that can affect your prognosis, apart
from the stage of your cancer. One consideration is how well
you are overall. Doctors call this your ‘performance status’.
You may see this written PS. A score of 0 means you are
completely able to look after yourself. A score of 1 means you
can do most things for yourself, but need some help. The scores
continue to go up, depending on how much help you need.
This is
relevant to survival because overall, the fitter people are, the
better able they are to withstand their cancer and treatment.
This is particularly important in myeloma because fitter
patients can withstand more intensive treatment.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy uses anti cancer or ‘cytotoxic’ drugs to destroy
cancer cells. They work by disrupting the growth of cancer
cells. As they circulate in the blood they can reach cancer
cells wherever they are in your body.
Chemotherapy by mouth
Your doctor is more likely to suggest treatment with tablets if
you are aged over 70 or are not fit enough to have a stem cell
transplant. You will usually have the chemotherapy drugs
melphalan or cyclophosphamide. Doctors often give a steroid
drug called prednisolone with this chemotherapy. So you may see
or hear it called MP or CP.
Occasionally doctors use chemotherapy tablets as initial
treatment for people going on to have a stem cell transplant.
They might use the chemotherapy drug idarubicin (Zavedos) with
steroids. This combination is called Z-Dex.
About The Author: Chemotherapy uses anti cancer or ‘cytotoxic’
drugs to destroy cancer cells. Find out more about Multiple
Myeloma at
http://www.eask.info
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