The National Cancer Institute describes multiple myeloma as a kind of cancer that develops from white blood cells that make antibodies, called plasma cells. In multiple myeloma, too many plasma cells are made and crowd out all the normal healthy cells in the bone marrow and form tumors in bones or soft tissue. There are various treatments for this cancer, including chemotherapy, drug therapies and stem cell transplants.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. It is used to treat many kinds of cancers, including multiple myeloma. Typically, more than one chemotherapy drug is used at one time because drug combinations tend to be more effective than single-drug regimens. Commonly used medications used to treat multiple myeloma include cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin and carmustine, according to the American Cancer Society. Corticosteroids are sometimes prescribed with chemotherapy drugs to reduce the amount of nausea or vomiting some of these drugs may cause.
Bisphosphonates
Weak bones can be a side effect of multiple myeloma, because the myeloma cells are crowding out healthy cells and cause bones to become porous and prone to breaking. Bisphosphonates are medications that can help slow down bone loss. Pamidronate (brand name Aredia) and zoledronic acid (Zometa) are commonly used bisphosphonates. A major side effect of these drugs can be something called osteonecrosis of the jaw, which is when part of the jaw bone dies, leaving an open sore or infection of the jaw. Prior to starting treatment with bisphosphonates, you should have a dental checkup to treat any dental problems before taking these medications.
Biologic Therapy
The National Cancer Institute describes biologic therapy as utilizing the immune system to fight cancer, using substances made naturally in the body or in a lab to help the immune system naturally defend the body from disease. Interferon is a biologic therapy that can be used to treat multiple myeloma. Interferon is a hormone-like chemical that is made by white blood cells and bone marrow cells, and can slow down growth of myeloma cells, according to the American Cancer Society. This drug is typically given after chemotherapy to ensure and prolong remission.
Plasmapheresis and Stem Cell Transplantation
Plasmapheresis is when blood is removed from a vein, blood cells are removed from the liquid component of the blood called the plasma, and the blood cells are put back into your body. The plasma that was removed is discarded, and this plasma has antibodies that are abnormal, from the myeloma cells. Donor plasma can then be given to replace the plasma that was discarded. This procedure is used when myeloma cells make proteins that cause thickening of the blood that causes circulation problems; it treats symptoms but does not cure multiple myeloma.
Stem cell transplants can be used in patients who are 70 years old or younger with multiple myeloma, and consists of removing stem cells from the bone marrow. Chemotherapy is then given to eradicate all the cancer cells in the blood, and the stem cells are reinfused into the patient and make new, healthy blood cells.
