Treatment Options for Multiple Myeloma and Other Plasma Cell Disorders
- Solitary plasmacytomas. These are often treated with radiation therapy. If the plasma cell tumor is not in a bone, it...
- Smoldering multiple myeloma. Smoldering myeloma patients can do well for years without treatment. For many patients,...
- Active (symptomatic) myeloma. Patients with active myeloma or...
Full Answer
Is there a complete cure for multiple myeloma?
There's no cure, but treatments can slow its spread and sometimes make symptoms go away. A type of white blood cell called a plasma cell makes antibodies that fight infections in your body. When you have multiple myeloma, these cells multiply the wrong way.
How do doctors choose the treatment for multiple myeloma?
Treatments for multiple myeloma
- Watchful waiting. ...
- Targeted therapy. ...
- Chemotherapy. ...
- Stem cell transplant. ...
- Radiation therapy. ...
- Surgery. ...
- Supportive therapy. ...
- Follow-up care. ...
- Clinical trials. ...
- Response to treatment. ...
What is multiple myeloma and how is it treated?
With multiple myeloma, the body stops making healthy plasma cells. Instead, they become cancerous and multiply. This lowers your immune response, making it harder to fight off infection.
What to do if your multiple myeloma treatment stops working?
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
- Imaging tests, such as X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, PET scans, and bone density scans
- Bone marrow tests, including aspiration and biopsy, where doctors take samples of your bone marrow to check for signs of cancer
When should you start treatment for multiple myeloma?
Most people with smoldering multiple myeloma start treatment only when their condition becomes active. You and your doctor will know you've reached that point when test results show at least one other symptom, such as: Your bone marrow is 60% or more cancer cells. A major imbalance of certain proteins in your blood.
How do you know when multiple myeloma is getting worse?
As active multiple myeloma gets worse, you'll likely feel sicker, with fatigue or bone pain. You may have anemia, bleeding problems, or a lot of infections. Other symptoms of advanced multiple myeloma include unusual fractures, shortness of breath, weakness, feeling very thirsty, and belly pain.
What is the treatment for early multiple myeloma?
Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs kill fast-growing cells, including myeloma cells. High doses of chemotherapy drugs are used before a bone marrow transplant.
What is advanced stage of multiple myeloma?
In multiple myeloma cases, stage 3 is the terminal stage. This means it's the most advanced stage of this type of rare cancer. Doctors use the international staging system to determine the stage of the cancer. This system is based on the levels of serum beta-2 microglobulin and serum albumin.
What is the 10 year survival rate for multiple myeloma?
around 30 out of every 100 (around 30%) will survive their myeloma for 10 years or more after they are diagnosed.
What happens if multiple myeloma is left untreated?
If left untreated, excess amounts of myeloma protein can cause kidney damage or even renal failure. A kidney biopsy might be performed to determine the exact cause of the kidney damage.
Can you live a normal life with myeloma?
Apart from ongoing monitoring, most myeloma patients are able to live fairly normal lives, with few restrictions on low-impact exercise and other activity.
What is life expectancy with multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is an uncommon cancer of the blood. The median length of survival after diagnosis with multiple myeloma is 62 months for Stage I, 44 months for Stage II, and 29 months for Stage III. Life expectancy depends on many factors, including the person's age, health, kidney function, and more.
What is the most common treatment for multiple myeloma?
Steroids. Corticosteroids help destroy myeloma cells and make chemotherapy more effective. The most common types used to treat myeloma are dexamethasone and prednisolone. Steroids are taken by mouth after eating.
How do I know final stages of multiple myeloma?
But when you have late-stage multiple myeloma, your symptoms may show up as:Being sick to your stomach.Bone pain in your back or ribs.Bruising or bleeding easily.Feeling very tired.Fevers.Frequent infections that are hard to treat.Losing a lot of weight.Not feeling like eating.More items...•
Is myeloma a death sentence?
Today, a multiple myeloma diagnosis is no longer a death sentence because our community's efforts have helped bring 11 new drugs through FDA-approval.
Is multiple myeloma a terminal illness?
Unfortunately, though, myeloma is currently an incurable (terminal) cancer.
What kind of doctor treats cancer?
Based on your treatment options, you might have different types of doctors on your treatment team. These doctors could include: 1 An orthopedic surgeon: a doctor who uses surgery to treat diseases of the bones 2 A radiation oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy 3 A medical oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with medicines such as chemotherapy or targeted therapy 4 A bone marrow transplant specialist: A cancer doctor who specializes in performing bone marrow transplants
What is complementary medicine?
Complementary methods refer to treatments that are used along with your regular medical care. Alternative treatments are used instead of a doctor’s medical treatment. Although some of these methods might be helpful in relieving symptoms or helping you feel better, many have not been proven to work.
Why is communicating with your cancer team important?
Communicating with your cancer care team is important so you understand your diagnosis, what treatment is recommended, and ways to maintain or improve your quality of life. Different types of programs and support services may be helpful, and can be an important part of your care. These might include nursing or social work services, financial aid, ...
Why is it important to discuss treatment options with your doctor?
Making treatment decisions. It’s important to discuss all of your treatment options, including their goals and possible side effects, with your doctors to help make the decision that best fits your needs. It’s also very important to ask questions if there's anything you’re not sure about.
How to treat multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma can also be treated using drugs, which can be given by mouth or directly into the bloodstream. These systemic therapies can reach cancer cells anywhere in the body.
What is the difference between a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist?
A radiation oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy. A medical oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with medicines such as chemotherapy or targeted therapy. A bone marrow transplant specialist: A cancer doctor who specializes in performing bone marrow transplants. You might have many other specialists on your treatment team ...
What do people with cancer need?
People with cancer need support and information, no matter what stage of illness they may be in. Knowing all of your options and finding the resources you need will help you make informed decisions about your care.
How many bone marrow transplants are needed for multiple myeloma?
In some situations, doctors recommend two bone marrow transplants for people with multiple myeloma. After your bone marrow transplant, you'll likely receive targeted therapy or immunotherapy as a maintenance treatment to prevent a recurrence of myeloma.
What stage of myeloma is the most aggressive?
Stage I indicates a less aggressive disease, and stage III indicates the most aggressive disease. Your multiple myeloma may also be assigned a risk category, ...
What is the best treatment for myeloma?
Corticosteroids. Corticosteroid medications regulate the immune system to control inflammation in the body. They are also active against myeloma cells. Bone marrow transplant. A bone marrow transplant, also known as a stem cell transplant, is a procedure to replace your diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow.
What is the treatment for bone marrow transplant?
If you're considered a candidate for bone marrow transplant, your initial therapy will likely include a combination of treatments, such as targeted therapy, immunotherapy, corticosteroids and, sometimes, chemotherapy. Your blood stem cells will likely be collected after you've undergone a few months of treatment.
How to cope with myeloma?
Start with the National Cancer Institute and the International Myeloma Foundation. Maintain a strong support system. Having a strong support system can help you cope with issues and anxieties that might occur. Your friends and family may be willing to offer support.
How to cope with cancer?
Coping and support. A cancer diagnosis can be shocking and devastating. With time, you'll find ways to cope with the stress and uncertainty of living with cancer. Until you find what works best for you, consider trying to: Learn enough to make decisions about your care. Learn enough about multiple myeloma so that you're able to participate in ...
What tests are used to detect multiple myeloma?
Specialized tests, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) can analyze myeloma cells to identify gene mutations. Imaging tests. Imaging tests may be recommended to detect bone problems associated with multiple myeloma. Tests may include an X-ray, MRI, CT or positron emission tomography (PET).
How does myeloma affect blood?
Myeloma damages your bone marrow where cells, called stem cells, make new blood. A stem cell transplant can help your body make new, healthy blood cells. You can get new stem cells from a healthy donor. In the standard treatment, your doctor collects some of your own stem cells from your blood and gives them back to you.
What is car T cell therapy?
CAR T-Cell Therapy. This treatment is not approved for multiple myeloma yet, but it is being tested to see how safe it is and how well it works. CAR T stands for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. Doctors take some of your blood and remove the T cells, which are considered workhorses of your immune system.
What does MGUs mean in blood test?
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS): This means your blood tests show a high amount of certain types of proteins that can be a precancerous form of multiple myeloma. Smoldering myeloma: You're diagnosed with myeloma, but it isn't yet causing symptoms.
How to treat multiple myeloma?
The goal of multiple myeloma treatment is to shrink your tumors, stop the cancer from spreading, keep your bones strong, and help you feel better and live longer . To do this, you might get medication, a stem cell transplant, radiation, a type of blood filtering called plasmapheresis, and surgery. The treatment plan that you ...
Can multiple myeloma affect you?
The treatments may not affect you as much as another person. Some, like blood clots, may be serious but are rare. The side effects that you might have from multiple myeloma treatment include: Talk to your doctor about how your treatment makes you feel.
Can stem cells help with myeloma?
Using your own stem cells for a transplant can make myeloma go away for a while, sometimes several years, but it won't cure the disease.
Can plasma help with myeloma?
This is a way to remove myeloma protein from the liquid part of your blood, called plasma. It won' t get rid of your disease, but it may relieve your symptoms for a short time. You'll probably also get chemotherapy or treatment with another drug at the same time.
What is the purpose of proteasome inhibitors?
Proteasome inhibitors are a staple of multiple myeloma treatment and are used throughout all stages of disease. Proteasomes are protein complexes that help cells — including cancer cells — dispose of old proteins so they can be replaced by newer versions.
What antigen is used in Darzalex?
Darzalex and Sarclisa recognize an antigen called CD38 that is made by myeloma cells and helps flag these cells for destruction and kills them directly. Several new monoclonal antibodies are being studied in clinical trials by the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
What is monoclonal antibody?
Monoclonal antibodies are a type of immunotherapy. These drugs enhance the cancer-fighting abilities of a patient’s own immune system by introducing antibodies into the body that target specific proteins found on multiple myeloma cells.
How to treat multiple myeloma?
Steroids. Steroids are a staple of multiple myeloma treatment and are used at all stages of the disease. In high doses, steroids can kill multiple myeloma cells. They can also decrease inflammation by stopping white blood cells from flowing to the disease-affected areas, helping relieve pain and pressure.
What are the best drugs for multiple myeloma?
The main types of drug therapies used to treat multiple myeloma are proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), steroids, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, antibodies and chemotherapy. Each works in a different way, but with the common goal of controlling and destroying multiple myeloma cells.
What is the mainstay of the immunotherapy regimen used to treat multiple myeloma?
Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) This class of immunotherapy drugs is the mainstay of standard regimens used to treat multiple myeloma. IMiDs work by regulating certain aspects of the immune system. They can activate certain immune cells, prevent certain types of growth signals for cancer cells and directly kill myeloma cells.
How does Jessie take control of her life?
Jessie is determined to not let her diagnosis define her and dominate her life; therefore, she has taken control of the situation by continuing her research and education on her diagnosis and learning the importance of practicing self-awareness and self-advocacy for her own health. She has become dedicated in her efforts to incorporate being health-conscious in her lifestyle. Prior to her diagnosis, Jessie’s sense of self was connected to her career. Now, she's revisiting this and learning how to reinvent herself and the lifestyle she plans to lead.
What is it called when you get stem cells from a donor?
Sometimes, stem cells are collected from a donor, typically a sibling, instead. This is called an allogeneic stem cell transplant .
What is immunotherapy used for?
Immunotherapy is used for: induction therapy and maintenance therapy in those receiving a stem cell transplant. treatment of individuals that aren’t eligible for a stem cell transplant. multiple myeloma that’s relapsed or has been resistant to other treatments.
What is the disease that crowds out blood cells?
Takeaway. Share on Pinterest. Tom Werner / Getty Images. Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells in your bone marrow. When plasma cells divide out of control, they crowd out healthy blood cells like red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, causing the symptoms of multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma isn’t a very common type of ...
What is ixazomib used for?
ixazomib ( Ninlaro) Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors: HDAC inhibitors block enzymes that are vital for the growth and division of cancer cells. An example of an HDAC inhibitor for multiple myeloma is panobinostat (Farydak).
What is the best medication for multiple myeloma?
The corticosteroids used as a part of multiple myeloma treatment are typically dexamethasone (DexPak) or prednisone (Rayos). These medications are taken orally. Corticosteroids are used in both those that can receive a stem cell transplant and those that cannot.
What is the purpose of stem cell transplant?
A stem cell transplant uses a high dose of chemotherapy to kill the cells in your bone marrow, including both healthy and cancerous cells. Afterward, you receive a transplant of healthy stem cells to replace the cells in your bone marrow.
What is radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. It can be used along with high-dose chemotherapy during a stem cell transplant or to treat bone disease that happens due to multiple myeloma.
Diagnosis
Treatment
- If you're experiencing symptoms, treatment can help relieve pain, control complications of the disease, stabilize your condition and slow the progress of multiple myeloma.
Clinical Trials
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
Alternative Medicine
- No alternative medicines have been found to treat multiple myeloma. But alternative medicine may help you cope with the stress and side effects of myeloma and myeloma treatment. Talk to your doctor about your options, such as: 1. Art therapy 2. Exercise 3. Meditation 4. Music therapy 5. Relaxation exercises 6. Spirituality Talk with your doctor bef...
Coping and Support
- A cancer diagnosis can be shocking and devastating. With time, you'll find ways to cope with the stress and uncertainty of living with cancer. Until you find what works best for you, consider trying to: 1. Learn enough to make decisions about your care. Learn enough about multiple myeloma so that you're able to participate in decisions about your treatment and care. Ask your doctor about your treatment options and their side effects. Y…
Preparing For Your Appointment
- If you have any signs or symptoms that worry you, make an appointment with your doctor. If you're diagnosed with multiple myeloma, you'll likely be referred to a doctor who specializes in treating blood and bone marrow disorders (hematologist) or a doctor who specializes in treating cancer (oncologist). Because appointments can be brief and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared. Here's some information t…