Multiple Myeloma
Educational information. Individual clinical review of this presentation by Dr. Ehsan is not yet documented. It does not replace personal medical evaluation.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Read the original source
MedlinePlus data edition September 26, 2026. Imported September 27, 2026. These dates do not indicate a new clinical review of the article.
Multiple myeloma is a cancer that begins in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell. These cells are part of your immune system, which helps protect the body from germs and other harmful substances. In time, myeloma cells collect in the bone marrow and in the solid parts of bones.
No one knows the exact causes of multiple myeloma, but it is more common in older people and African Americans. It can run in families. Common symptoms may include:
- Bone pain, often in the back or ribs
- Fractures (broken bones)
- Weakness or fatigue
- Weight loss
- Frequent infections and fevers
- Feeling very thirsty
- Frequent urination
Doctors diagnose multiple myeloma using lab tests, imaging tests, and a bone marrow biopsy. Your treatment depends on how advanced the disease is and whether you have symptoms. If you have no symptoms, you may not need treatment right away. If you have symptoms, you may have chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, radiation, or targeted therapy. Targeted therapy uses drugs or other substances that attack specific cancer cells with less harm to normal cells.
NIH: National Cancer Institute
Symptoms, tests and care options
Further reading selected by MedlinePlus. Links open the original organizations’ websites.
- Beta 2 Microglobulin (B2M) Tumor Marker Test · National Library of Medicine
- Blood Count Tests: MedlinePlus Health Topic · National Library of Medicine
- Bone Marrow Tests · National Library of Medicine
- Bone Marrow Transplantation: MedlinePlus Health Topic · National Library of Medicine
- Drugs Approved for Multiple Myeloma and Other Plasma Cell Neoplasms · National Cancer Institute
- Integrative Medicine and Complementary Therapies · Blood Cancer United
- Multiple Myeloma Symptoms and Causes · Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
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