Multiple Myeloma Signs and Symptoms

Multiple myeloma is characterized by abnormal plasma cells. There are other plasma cell disorders that also have abnormal plasma cell activity. These disorders can be precursors to multiple myeloma. They include:

• Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) — MGUS is considered pre-cancerous because it can lead to cancers like multiple myeloma and lymphoma.
• Smoldering myeloma (SMM) — An early form of myeloma that does not cause any symptoms or problems. It usually progresses slowly over time but should be closely monitored for any signs of active myeloma.
• Solitary plasmacytoma — A rare disorder characterized by a single, solid tumor of abnormal plasma cells, often located in the bone.
• Light-chain amyloidosis — A protein disorder in which proteins misfold and cause harm to the body’s organs.

The cause of multiple myeloma is unknown; however, there are multiple myeloma risk factors to be aware of. Multiple myeloma risk factors include:

• Older age — The disease is most common in people over 65.
• Gender — Men are at a slightly higher risk of developing the cancer than women.
• Race — African Americans are more than twice as likely as white Americans to be diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
• Family history — Chances of developing multiple myeloma are higher in people who have a genetic predisposition for the disease.
• Being overweight or obese — The risk of having myeloma increases if a person is overweight or obese.
• Other plasma cell diseases — If a person has other plasma cell diseases, they are at an increased risk of developing multiple myeloma. These plasma cell diseases include:
  • Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) — About 1 percent of people with MGUS will go on to develop one of these diseases each year.
  • Solitary plasmacytoma — A type of abnormal plasma cell growth that occurs in the bone.

Often, multiple myeloma will develop and progress without showing any signs or symptoms. In fact, some people with multiple myeloma will experience few to no symptoms whatsoever. Others may experience symptoms such as:

• Anemia, or low blood counts
• Extreme fatigue
• Muscle weakness
• Bone pain
• Prone to infections

Speak with your doctor if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms.

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that is nearly impossible to prevent. Experts do not yet know how to prevent multiple myeloma from developing. Research is currently underway to understand whether treating high-risk smoldering myeloma — often a precursor to multiple myeloma — can assist in multiple myeloma prevention.

While experts are unsure of how to prevent multiple myeloma, an incredible amount of research has propelled treatment options forward. Treatments developed and tested at Winship Cancer Institute have increased survival rates for patients with multiple myeloma, a rare type of blood cancer. In fact, all of the myeloma drugs that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the last two decades were tested in clinical trials at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Georgia’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.