Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer type that begins in the bone marrow. It affects the plasma cells and transforms healthy cells into cancerous cells called myeloma cells. These cells make huge amounts of antibodies and incomplete proteins that stop the bone marrow from producing normal blood cells. Since plasma cells are crucial for building immunity, multiple myeloma leads to decreased immunity and related complications. Read to know more about the disease.

Risk factors of multiple myeloma
While doctors have been able to isolate the causes of some types of cancer, they are still working on identifying the cause of multiple myeloma. However, they have identified some factors that increase the risk of multiple myeloma.

• Men above the age of 60 are at a higher risk
• African-Americans are at a higher risk compared to other ethnicities
• Exposure to radioactive material or chemicals like Nuclear radiation, benzene, chemical pesticides and fertilizers, asbestos, and fumigants
• Certain professionals like carpenters, people who work in paper factories, and firefighters are at a higher risk
• Preexisting diseases like HIV and solitary plasmacytoma of the bone increases one’s risk of this cancer
• Low amounts of M protein

Symptoms of multiple myeloma
A person in the initial stages of multiple myeloma is unlikely to experience any symptoms. These symptoms also mimic symptoms of other health conditions, making it difficult to diagnose in the early stages. Multiple myeloma affects blood count, causes bone thinning, leads to problems in the kidney, and disturbs calcium levels. Some common symptoms associated with these issues include:

• Unexplained fatigue
• Continuous feeling of weakness even after resting
• Frequent infection
• Pain in the bones
• Unexplained loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Increased or decreased urination
• Constant thirst
• Restlessness followed by fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting

Treatment of multiple myeloma
Doctors diagnose multiple myeloma using various diagnostic tests like blood examinations, urinalysis, image studies, and biopsy of bone tissues or bone marrow fluid. Once a doctor confirms cancer, a multidisciplinary team of oncologists, surgeons, physicians, nurses, counselors, and dieticians work together to plan treatment. If a patient has multiple myeloma, but there are no active symptoms, doctors will wait to start treatment to see how quickly cancer spreads. This is called active surveillance, where they continue to monitor a patient’s health and assess symptoms.

If there are symptoms, they plan treatment based on the severity of the symptoms, current health condition, and cancer stage. There is no cure for multiple myeloma, so treatment aims to control myeloma cells and improve symptoms and the quality of life of a patient. The following are the standard treatment options for multiple myeloma:

Corticosteroids: This medication helps in regulating and boosting the immune system and controls inflammation.

Radiation therapy: Doctors shrink or destroy cancer cells using high-powered energy beams through X-rays or protons.

Chemotherapy: Doctors administer chemotherapy drugs orally or intravenously to destroy myeloma cells. They may also use chemotherapy before a patient undergoes a bone marrow transplant.

Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy uses drugs that target only the myeloma cells without damaging nearby cells and tissues.

Immunotherapy: FDA has approved some immunotherapy drugs for multiple myeloma. These therapies use a person’s immune system to destroy cancer cells.

Stem cell transplant: Doctors replace the damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells. Doctors collect stem cells from the patient’s blood and store them. As a next step, they use chemotherapy to destroy the cancerous cells. Finally, they infuse a patient’s stem cells that travel to the bone and begin building the bone marrow again.

Food regime for multiple myeloma patients
The goal of meal plans for multiple myeloma is to improve symptoms and reduce the impact of complications. Complications include anemia, kidney disease, and infections. Hence, a food regime rich in iron, fiber, and protein can help patients recover quickly. Eating bland food, cutting down on processed foods, red meat, alcohol, and sugary desserts is crucial for multiple myeloma patients. Patients must include the following foods in their meals.

Iron-rich food like:

• Lean red meat
• Tropical fruits
• Broccoli
• Sweet potatoes
• Kale
• Spinach
• Bell peppers
• Raisins

Fiber-rich food like:

• Brown rice
• Oatmeal
• Dried fruits
• Apples
• Oranges
• Pears
• Berries
• Nuts
• Beans
• Lentils
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Artichokes