According to the Mayo Clinic, multiple myeloma is a chronic and progressive disease in which abnormal plasma cells increase in production. Plasma cells produce antibodies, specialized proteins that circulate in your body to fight off any foreign invaders such as bacteria. Multiple myeloma's common manifestations include bone pain, pelvic pain, bloody urine, high calcium levels in your blood (hypercalcemia) and anemia (low red blood cells and constipation).
Medications
The Mayo Clinic says medications such as bortezomib and lenalidomide are initial treatments for multiple myeloma. Bortezomib is an antineoplastic medication used to destroy these cancer cells, says Bortezomib. MedlinePlus says bortezomib's common side effects include nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, muscle cramps, trouble following asleep and anxiety. This drug can also cause trouble sleeping and muscle cramps. Bortezomib is given as an intravenous (through your vein) injection twice a week. Then there's a gap of 10 days in which you don't receive this medication. Your doctor decides the duration of your bertezombib treatment.
Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory agent that works to destroy old cells and produce new ones in bone marrow, says MedlinePlus. You shouldn't take lenalidomide if you're pregnant; it can lead to birth defects. Other adverse effects include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, depression and blurry vision. Sometimes lenalidomide can cause shortness of breath, muscle cramps and a fast heartbeat. Lenalidomide is a capsule that is taken every day for 21 days, says MedlinePlus. Then you don't take it for seven days. Your doctor decides how long you continue this treatment.
The Mayo Clinic also says thalidomide is another medication used to treat multiple myeloma. It says that in the 1950s, this medication was once used to treat the morning sickness of pregnancy and led to birth defects. The Food and Drug Administration approved this drug in 1998 as an oral medication for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma sufferers.
Chemotherapy and Radiation
The Mayo Clinic says chemotherapy and radiation is another way to manage multiple myeloma manifestations. Chemotherapy involves receiving intravenous (through the vein) treatments of certain medications (melphalan, cyclophosphamide and vincristine) that destroy your high levels of plasma cells. Unfortunately, chemotherapy drugs also destroy healthy cells. This treatment is typically given in the hospital or clinic. Your doctor develops a chemotherapy regimen for you based upon the severity of your multiple myeloma. As your plasma cell levels decline, you enter a state of remission and chemotherapy is discontinued.
Radiation involves utilizing high-energy waves to decrease the number of plasma cells in your body.
Stem Cell Transplant
Stem cell transplant involves receiving high doses of melphalan (chemotherapy treatment) to destroy cells. Following this, you get an infusion (continuous injection) of stem cells, immature cells that can form the many cells in your body such as red or white blood cells and platelets. Complications of a stem cell transplant include organ failure, graft versus host disease (the body recognizes the stem cells as foreign) and damage to blood vessels. It may also cause other cancers and even death.
