Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that usually forms in the plasma of the bone marrow. Plasma cells help make antibodies, thereby fighting infections. This type of cancer occurs in the bone marrow by crowding out the healthy blood cells. While the condition has no cure, healthcare professionals recommend treatments to manage the symptoms and improve one’s quality of life. They may consider the stage of multiple myeloma when devising a treatment strategy.

What are the stages of multiple myeloma?
A person suffering from multiple myeloma might go through multiple stages if not given the right treatment.

• Stage I : In this stage, a relatively small number of myeloma cells are present. The quantity of these can be measured by plasma cell index. Due to the presence of these carcinogenic cells, the hemoglobin levels are slightly low. At the same time, bone X-rays tend to show some damage to a particular area of the bone. The low-calcium levels will indicate the said damage. Several other tests like blood and urine tests might indicate the presence of antibodies like proteins.
• Stage II : Being an intermediate stage, the person experiences a rise in myeloma cells. Other factors are a mixture of Stage I and Stage III.
• Stage III : At this stage, the patient’s body experiences an exponential rise in the myeloma cells, as these regenerates aggressively. The hemoglobin levels are at an all-time low, indicating that the normal bone cells are being crowded out. The calcium levels are high because of destruction to large areas of the bone. At the same time, the body experiences an abnormal rise in proteins and other antibodies in blood and urine. This stage requires pomalyst myeloma treatment, which is a type of immunomodulator. It is the final stage in which the body experiences metastasis, wherein the carcinogenic cells infect the lymph nodes and reach various parts of the body.

Are all the stages of multiple myeloma terminal?

• The initial stages of the multiple myeloma have a number of treatment options. This is because of their controlled and localized growth. Hence, the survival rate of a person suffering from Stage I multiple myeloma is higher when compared with the latter advanced stages.
• As the carcinogenic cells multiply they cover a larger area and affect the body’s immune system and its ability to fight the invasion. The prognosis of the disease at this stage is difficult and the survival rates are less than at Stage I.
• Stage III is technically the last stage of this type of cancer. This stage usually experiences relapsed Multiple myeloma which means the person suffers from the same symptoms even after a course of treatment. This stage has fairly fewer treatment options; hence, there are high chances that the multiple myeloma at this stage might be terminal.

What are the causes of multiple myeloma?
It is necessary to know the causes of the disease before we look into treatments for myeloma treatment, some of the causes of multiple myeloma are:

• Researchers world over have found that patients with plasma cell tumors can suffer from abnormalities in the bone marrow cells. This eventually leads to excess plasma growth.
• The bone marrow has certain cells called dendritic cells that release the hormone called interleukin-6, this stimulates normal plasma cells to work. Excessive production of this hormone leads to the development of the initial stages of multiple myeloma.
• Other than this, abnormalities in some oncogenes such as Myc are responsible for developing early course plasma tumors.
• One of the most common findings in multiple myeloma cancer is that the people suffering from this type of bone marrow disorder have the 17 ^th set of chromosomes missing. Chromosomes are entities present in the nucleus of our cells that pack our DNA. The absence of the 17 ^th pair can make multiple myeloma resistant and aggressive to treatment.

How is multiple myeloma diagnosed?
Diagnosing multiple myeloma can be a bit difficult. The doctors will form an accurate diagnosis based on a number of factors. This includes medical history, physical evaluation, and symptoms. Following are some diagnostic procedures:

• Blood count : The complete blood count or CBC measures the RBC, WBC, and the platelet count. Too many myeloma cells in the bone marrow can result in a reduced blood count
• Blood chemistry test : There are three types of blood chemistry tests. The creatinine levels show how well are our kidneys working. High-creatinine levels show kidneys are not functioning well, which is common with people suffering from myeloma. Calcium levels might be high in people suffering from advanced stages of myeloma. Low levels of albumin can be seen in people suffering from myeloma.
• Quantitative immunoglobulins : This helps in diagnosing different antibodies such as IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM. People suffering from multiple myeloma might have high levels of one of these antibodies.