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Multiple Myeloma (Kahler’s disease) is a cancer of the blood – can it be cured?

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ByIANSlife Features

April 10, 2021 (IANSlife) Multiple Myeloma is a rare type of blood cancer that is slightly more common in men than women. It is a complex disease. It is also known as Kahler’s disease. Multiple myeloma causes the development of cancerous cells in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. Healthy plasma cells help us fight infections by producing antibodies that recognize and attack germs. In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells assemble in the bone marrow and supersede healthy blood cells. Instead of producing helpful antibodies, the cancer cells produce abnormal proteins that often lead to low blood counts, impairing the body’s ability to fight off infection.

Generally, the disease doesn’t show symptoms until it has advanced, so it typically isn’t diagnosed until it has spread. The specific signs, age of onset, and rate of progression of multiple myeloma differ from patient to patient. Multiple myeloma affects more than one part of our body. When multiple myeloma gets worse, the plasma cells spill out of our bone marrow and spread. This results in more organ damage. Some of the symptoms of multiple myeloma may include bone pain, easily broken bones, frequent infections, fevers, excessive thirst, increased urination, nausea, weight loss, weakness or numbness in arms and legs, kidney problems, constipation, etc.

 

There are several risk factors behind the disease. Some of the risk factors are:

  • Increasing age, especially when the age is more than 65 years
  • Male sex
  • Black race
  • Family history
  • Obesity       
  • Being exposed to radiation
  • Being exposed to chemicals used in rubber manufacturing, woodworking, or firefighting, or in herbicides

 

If a doctor suspects multiple myeloma in a patient, going through some blood tests is the first approach to diagnosis. Doctors may suggest a complete blood count (CBC) and along with it, checking the creatinine level in the blood helps to identify if the kidneys are working properly. Sometimes, for being sure whether it is myeloma, doctors recommend bone marrow and biopsy even after getting the blood test results.

There’s no cure to multiple myeloma, but with proper treatment, the progress of the disease can be controlled, and sometimes the symptoms might go away. The treatment of multiple myeloma depends on the overall health condition of the patient and if the patient is observing some symptoms. The treatment is aimed at eliminating myeloma cells, control tumor growth, reduce pain, and allow patients to have an active life. Usually, the treatment of multiple myeloma involves chemotherapy which helps to reduce the numbers of abnormal plasma cells, some drugs are prescribed in order to help fighting infection and to reduce pain. In some cases, a stem cell transplant is suggested. Some patients may undergo radiation therapy which destroys cancer cells and help in reducing bone masses that may develop. While staying under the treatment, it’s important for a patient to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Following a healthy diet in consultation with a dietitian, doing regular exercises to stay active, taking plenty of rest, and being occupied with things that one enjoys – besides treatment, these are some of the necessary regular habits to adopt in order to manage the disease better.

 

(Dr. Rahul Bhargava, Director and Head of Department, Hematology And BMT, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram)

 

 

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IANSlife Features can be contacted at puja.g@ians.in 

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