The doctor spoke about the causes of myeloma and treatment options

Myeloma, or myeloma disease, is a malignant blood disease that can lead to anemia, kidney failure, and destruction of bone tissue. On why it occurs and whether it can be cured, Roman Ivanov, an expert physician at the Hemotest laboratory, told Izvestia on September 22.

"Inside some bones is located bone marrow. This is a very important organ - it produces billions of red blood cells, leukocytes and platelets every minute. In myeloma, leukocytes, or rather, one of their varieties - plasma cells - are under attack. Their main task is to attack and destroy viruses and bacteria. But in myeloma, plasma cells mutate and begin to actively divide, forming a malignant tumor. At the same time, they release M-proteins - substances that interfere with normal hematopoiesis, disrupt the immune system and eventually lead to bone destruction," he explained.

According to the doctor, the causes of myeloma are not yet fully established, but it is known that it can develop after a viral infection or against the background of autoimmune diseases. It has also been proven that people suffering from myeloma disease have certain genetic mutations, he added.

"The risk of developing myeloma is higher in older people - according to statistics, the peak incidence is at the age of 70 and older. Men are diagnosed with myeloma several times more often than women. Obesity also contributes: cells can mutate due to metabolic failures," Ivanov said.

The specialist noted that myeloma disease negatively affects many organs. To the characteristic signs of the disease, he attributed the decline in immunity (abnormal cells replace healthy cells designed to resist infections), anemia, failure of the liver and kidneys, destruction of the spine, skull bones, pelvis and others.

The expert specified that with the progression of the disease, the deteriorating bones begin to squeeze the nerve fibers located near them. Because of this, people are forced to experience excruciating pain, weakness and numbness of muscles, up to partial paralysis.

"Abnormal plasma cells produce substances that make the blood thicker, more viscous. This also affects the work of many internal organs. Characteristic signs of hyperviscosity of blood should include confusion, difficulty with speech, shortness of breath, nosebleeds," the doctor noted.

Ivanov explained that medicine distinguishes two forms of the disease - smoldering (the pathological process is launched, but there are no symptoms yet) and active (accompanied by vivid symptoms). In both cases, modern laboratory and instrumental studies help to make an accurate diagnosis.

"If there is a suspicion of myeloma, the doctor may prescribe a puncture to the patient. During this procedure, he will extract a small amount of bone marrow from the bone and examine the sample under a microscope - determine the number of abnormal plasma cells in it. If they turn out to be more than 10%, then, most likely, the person has active myeloma, and if more than 60% - the tumor is aggressive," - said the specialist.

He emphasized that, like many other types of cancer, myeloma disease is treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The number of sessions and their intensity are determined for each patient individually. Sometimes transplantation of one's own stem cells is resorted to.

"Myeloma is a dangerous disease. According to statistics, only about a third of patients live longer than five years. Without treatment, life expectancy even decreases to 12 months," Ivanov summarized.

In early August, Olga Ulankina, an obstetrician-gynecologist, candidate of medical sciences, expert physician at the Hemotest laboratory, told Izvestia about the first signs of ovarian cancer. She named general weakness, loss of appetite and weight loss, which can be confused with ordinary fatigue or seasonal moping.