Multiple Myeloma - better hope with new treatments

Multiple myeloma is a cancerous disease arising from the bone marrow of a patient typically suffering from persistent back pain, fractures, minor trauma or bone pains despite routine treatment. It may also be detected incidentally during a health checkup or if the person is suffering from any particular disease like kidney failure or heart failure. Rarely it causes other soft tissue tumors in the body around the spine or the muscles. At times, a patient might suffer from paralysis due to the compression of the spinal bones (vertebrae).

The condition, multiple myeloma, is caused when plasma cells produce a monoclonal protein (an abnormal protein called immunoglobulin that is produced by the body) which then circulates through the blood and affects different parts of the body (hence 'multiple' myeloma).

While it is an incurable disease, there have been rapid advances in the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of this condition. Some of these treatments can be either done at home (oral tablets) or even at a daycare facility, making the process extremely patient friendly while still being effective.

Exciting treatments both orally and intravenously have changed the paradigm of the treatment of myeloma. The use of the drug 'Bortezomib', administered intravenously is the most important advance in reducing the myeloma load rapidly, and will soon be available as an injection and as a tablet as well.

Thalidomide, Lenalidomide and pomalidomide collectively called IMIDs (Immunomodulatory drugs) are a group of agents that can be used orally and are extremely effective, especially when combined with Bortezomib in treatment. These time tested steroids have not fallen behind and are incorporated into the above two drug regimens extremely effectively.

Once the patient achieves a good control called remission or plateau state, the he/she can be treated with a autologous (self)bone marrow transplantation. The only problem that may arise is if the patient is not a candidate for an autologous transplant, then the he/she can continue the same treatment over a period of time to ensure that the disease is under as much control as possible. Unfortunately, the disease is known to relapse despite many efforts. In such cases the same drugs can be used in different combinations to control the condition.

Multiple myeloma is not as common as other solid tumors such as breast cancer or intestinal cancers, but an early pick up ensures a good survival as is seen with any cancer. In the early stages, the patient can survive well for up to even 45 to 60 months while the third stage survival is about 30 months.

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

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