Severe bone pain could be multiple myeloma

• May 4, 2024

A continuous and intense pain in the lower back , presence of anemia , as well as discomfort in bones and unexplained fractures, are some characteristics of multiple myeloma said the doctor Eduardo Reynoso , Head of Hematology Spanish Hospital .

In an interview for GetQoralHealth , the health expert pointed out that the excess fatigue , as well as kidney problems, are also warning lights to be able to make a diagnosis on time:

"The multiple myeloma It has different causes and represents 10% of the hematological neoplasms and between 0.5 and 1.0% of all the tumors. This does not mean that it is unimportant, since this disease is extremely painful. "

The multiple myeloma it's a cancer produced by a lot of plasma cells (Its function is to synthesize and secrete antibodies, molecules that belong to a family of specific proteins called immunoglobulins) in the bone marrow , that of not being detected in time they end with the life of the people. According to Reynoso, the shape of this type of cells is similar to that of a starry egg:

The progress of this type of Cancer destroys the bones, which causes people who suffer it to be practically paralytic; their quality of life is diminished: "This disease is more common in African-Americans, but it is not exclusive of them. It affects a little more men than women, especially in the sixth and seventh decade of life, "said Reynoso. Here is a sample of how the bones in the brain are destroyed; the dark spots are the myeloma tumor:

Despite the fact that 10 years ago, the only alternative was to transplant the bone marrow , to have control of the myeloma and prevent it from becoming a metastasis, a new drug has been on the market for a year now, and those who have taken it say that it has given them back their lives:

"We have many cases of people who have been treated with the REVLIMID . It is approved in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma ”.

With this drug, life expectancy has doubled; on average it was 3 to 4 and now it is 7 to 8 years. People can move, walk and have an active life. However, some of the side effects of REVLIMID they are the formation of some clots, fatigue and it is not recommended that they be used by women who are pregnant or wish to do so, since the baby could be born with genetic malformations.

Video Medicine: What is Multiple Myeloma? - The Nebraska Medical Center (May 2024).