Multiple Myeloma

Introduction: Multiple Myeloma

Multiple Myeloma: Myeloma cells tend to collect in the bone marrow and in the hard, outer part of bones. Sometimes they collect in only one ... more about Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple Myeloma: A rare malignant cancer that occurs in the bone marrow. More common in skull, spine, rib cage, pelvis and legs. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Multiple Myeloma is available below.

Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma

• No early symptoms - often no noticable symptoms in early stages
• Bone symptoms - the growth of plasma cells in bone marrow causes bone tumors and various symptoms:
  • Bone tumors
  • Pelvic tumor
  • Rib tumor

See full list of 51 symptoms of Multiple Myeloma

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Multiple Myeloma:

• Colon & Rectal Cancer: Home Testing
  • Home Colorectal Cancer Tests
  • Home Fecal Occult Bleeding Tests

Medical Textbooks Online about Multiple Myeloma

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Multiple Myeloma

• Physical exam
• Bone x-rays
• Bone MRI
• Blood tests
• Calcium blood test

See full list of 10 diagnostic tests for Multiple Myeloma

Wrongly Diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma?

• Misdiagnosis of Multiple Myeloma
• Underlying causes of Multiple Myeloma (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Misdiagnosis and Multiple Myeloma

Spitz nevi misdiagnosed as dangerous melanoma skin cancer: One possible misdiagnosis to consider in lieu of melanoma is spitz nevi. See melanoma and spitz nevi....read more »

Psoriasis often undiagnosed cause of skin symptoms in children: Children who suffer from the skin disorder called psoriasis can often go undiagnosed. The main problem is that psoriasis is rare in children, and not often...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Multiple Myeloma

Causes of Multiple Myeloma

Read more about causes of Multiple Myeloma.

More information about causes of Multiple Myeloma:

• Multiple Myeloma as a complication caused by other conditions
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Multiple Myeloma

Treatments for Multiple Myeloma

• Chemotherapy - the main type of treatment for multiple myeloma.
  • Prednisone
• Radiation therapy - the main type of treatment for a single plasmacytoma.
• Surgery
  • Surgical tumor removal

See full list of 20 treatments for Multiple Myeloma

Videos for Multiple Myeloma

Patient Surveys for Multiple Myeloma

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Multiple Myeloma
  Take Survey  View Results

Prognosis for Multiple Myeloma

More about prognosis of Multiple Myeloma

Reseach about Multiple Myeloma

Visit our research pages for current research about Multiple Myeloma treatments.

Clinical Trials for Multiple Myeloma

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Multiple Myeloma include:

• Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Multiple Myeloma - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - dexamethasone,doxorubicin HCl liposome,vincristine
• Melphalan, Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Multiple Myeloma - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - cyclophosphamide,cyclosporine,filgrastim,melphalan,mycophenolate mofetil,paclitaxel
• Combination Chemotherapy Plus Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation in Treating Patients With Multiple Myeloma - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - bone marrow ablation with stem cell support,cyclophosphamide,etoposide phosphate,melphalan,topotecan
• Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Refractory Multiple Myeloma - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - cisplatin,cyclophosphamide,dexamethasone,etoposide,filgrastim,thalidomide
• Thalidomide and Prednisone Following Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation in Treating Patients With Multiple Myeloma - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - prednisone,thalidomide

See full list of 558 Clinical Trials for Multiple Myeloma

Statistics for Multiple Myeloma

• Medical statistics for Multiple Myeloma
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Multiple Myeloma
• Death and Mortality statistics for Multiple Myeloma
• Society statistics for Multiple Myeloma

Medical Guidebooks and Ebooks for Multiple Myeloma

• Medifocus Guidebook for Multiple Myeloma
• Icon Health Sourcebook for Multiple Myeloma

See all guides and ebooks for Multiple Myeloma

Stories from Users Related to Multiple Myeloma

• Multiple Symptoms, Just No Answers...
• Four years of multiple symptoms
• Odd, Multiple Symptoms - Can you help?
• Multiple conditions - can't get diagnosis
• Multiple symptoms - doctors helpless
• Multiple Symptoms with no diagnosis.. doctor is at a loss....
• multiple symptoms and no help..suggestions please.
• Multiple disability symptoms-doctor does not know
• multiple symptoms
• multiple symptoms - need help please
• Multiple Symptoms
• multiple symptoms
• multiple symptoms for years - help!!!!
• Multiple Tests and still no answer. Please help
• Multiple symptoms, no real answers
• 17 yrs. old with multiple unexplained sympthoms
• Multiple Symptoms--Need some help.
• multiple symptoms
• Multiple Symptoms....Need Help!
• multiple symptoms

Related forums and stories:

• Blood Conditions (92)
  • Anemia - ice chewing
  • small red spots on arms legs back chest
  • Low Platelets, Low white blood count
  • Magnesium Deficiency
  • tingly, heavy arms
  • More user stories
• Bone Conditions (55)
  • anyone with osteoid osteoma
  • Son has Marfan's Syndrome
  • bone infection
  • after effects of broken femur??
  • extreme pain in elbow
  • More user stories

User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Multiple Myeloma, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Multiple Myeloma

Myeloma cells tend to collect in the bone marrow and in the hard, outer part of bones. Sometimes they collect in only one bone and form a single mass, or tumor , called a plasmacytoma . In most cases, however, the myeloma cells collect in many bones, often forming many tumors and causing other problems. When this happens, the disease is called multiple myeloma. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Multiple Myeloma: NCI)

Definitions of Multiple Myeloma:

A bone marrow-based plasma cell neoplasm characterized by a serum monoclonal protein and skeletal destruction with osteolytic lesions, pathological fractures, bone pain, hypercalcemia, and anemia. Clinical variants include non-secretory myeloma, smoldering myeloma, indolent myeloma, and plasma cell leukemia. (WHO, 2001) -- 2003 - (Source - Diseases Database)

Myeloma that develops in several places at the same time - (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Multiple Myeloma is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Multiple Myeloma, or a subtype of Multiple Myeloma, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)