Dr Kausthub Desikachar Shares All About Myeloma – What is Myeloma, Symptoms And Risk Factors

Blood cancer, the most prevalent disease, is parted into three majorly observed types. These types of blood cancer vary with the area in which they affect. In this article,
Dr Kausthub Desikahar shares all about Myeloma – what is Myeloma, symptoms and risk factors, a type of blood cancer that affects the plasma cell that produces blood cells. 

What Is Myeloma?

Dr Kausthub Desikachar explains to us in simple words that, Myeloma is one of the types of blood cancer that affects plasma cells. Now, what are plasma cells? Plasma cells are a sort of white blood cell (WBC) seen in the spongy tissues inside most of your bones, known as bone marrow. These plasma cells produce blood cells and make immunizers and antibodies that help your body fight off infections, viruses and illnesses. 

Myeloma happens when an unusual plasma cell manifests in the bone marrow and replicates itself pretty swiftly. The accelerated generation of deleterious or cancerous myeloma cells gradually exceeds the reproduction of healthy white blood cells and red blood cells.

Dr Kausthub Desikachar adds that, just like how our healthy blood cells make antibodies, the cancerous cells also works towards making antibodies, but these cells produce only abnormal antibodies called monoclonal proteins, or M proteins. When these destructive antibodies accumulate in the body, they can cause several severe complications to health.

Causes Of Myeloma

The exact root cause of Myeloma is unknown yet to Doctors. But, it originates with an individual abnormal plasma cell that swiftly aggregates into many more abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow. 

Symptoms Of Myeloma

Dr Kausthub Desikachar says the symptoms of Myeloma aren’t always obvious and clear to detect. One may not undergo any of the symptoms during the early stages of cancer. As cancer strides, symptoms differ significantly from one person to another.
 

The Most General 5 Symptoms Of Myeloma Include:

1.Fatigue/ Exhaustion/ Extreme Tiredness

Myeloma’s abnormal plasma cells replace your bone marrow with its antibodies, and as a result, your body works much laboriously with fewer healthy antibodies that help in fighting diseases. This process will make one feel very lethargic, exhausted and tire your body quickly.

2. Bone Degeneration

Myeloma can hinder your body from creating new bone cells, creating difficulties like bone pain, feeble bones, and cracked bones.

3. Kidney/ Renal Difficulties

Myeloma cells generate harmful monoclonal proteins or M proteins that cause kidney damage and kidney or renal failure.

4. Low Blood Counts

Myeloma cells exceed healthy blood cells, leading to low levels of red blood counts, known as anaemia and low white blood cells, known as leukopenia. 

5. Frequent Infections/Illness

Fewer healthy antibodies in your blood make combating infections more challenging, and as a result, one may have less immunity and quickly get infected.

Other common symptoms of Myeloma include:

1. Nausea
2. Dizziness
3. Loss of appetite
4. Increased thirst
5. Frequent urination
6. Constipation
7. Weight loss
8. Weakness or numb feeling in the legs
9. Swelling of legs
10. Back pain / Stomach pain
    
    

Risk Factors Of Myeloma

Dr Kausthub Desikachar puts out the factors of Myeloma that may develop your risk of Myeloma:

1. Age Factor

The risk of Myeloma heightens as you grow old. Most people diagnosed with Myeloma are in their mid-60s.

2. Sex 

Men are more prone to develop Myeloma than women.

3. Family History

If a parent, brother or sister has Myeloma, you have an enhanced threat of getting Myeloma.