Description
Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that targets the plasma cells in the human body. The plasma cells generate the body’s immunity to fight infections. Therefore, by weakening and destroying the plasma cells, multiple myeloma destroys an individual’s immunity. Multiple myeloma develops in the bone marrow before entering the bloodstream.1 Its symptoms are severe bone pain, frequent infections, damaged kidneys, and fatigue. The level of multiple myeloma in an individual varies depending on the number of myeloma cells in the body. Principally, the disease affects a person in three stages, and it is essential to diagnose it early for effective treatment.
The Disease-Causing Agent
The exact cause of multiple myeloma remains unknown. However, there are positive speculations that the disease is linked to high-level radiation and viruses like HIV. Fundamentally, scientists argue that excessive exposure to radioactive material and a history of viral infections increases the risk of developing multiple myeloma.1 Still, the disease is confirmed to be non-hereditary; therefore, it is rare to have multiple family members suffering from it. Principally, the condition arises from abnormal mutation and division of the plasma cells in the body.
Historical Treatments
Chemotherapy
Historically, chemotherapy was an effective remedy for multiple myeloma worldwide. Drugs such as cyclophosphamide and melphalan were heavily used in the medical response to the disease.2 Chiefly, the drugs would work by reducing the number of plasma cells in the bone marrow. Furthermore, they would hinder abnormal cell division or mutation, making them practical for the problem. Nevertheless, the historical chemotherapy drugs had several side effects which could get severe with time. The most common were complete or partial hair loss, nausea, and vomiting. Luckily, the chemotherapy process for multiple myeloma has evolved to include drugs with fewer side effects.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids were also effective traditional drugs to treat multiple myeloma. The drugs reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system in myeloma patients. Like chemotherapy drugs, corticosteroids effectively control the growth of abnormal plasma cells.2 Nevertheless, they had significant side effects such as mood changes, uncontrolled weight gain, and an increased risk of infection. Consequently, their use has declined, and new technologies have made it possible to develop improved drugs that target specific proteins involved in the growth and survival of abnormal plasma cells.
Current Treatments
Treatment methods for multiple myeloma have been improving with technological advancements. Principally, chemotherapy is still in use to treat the disease. However, there are significant modifications in the oral and intravenous drugs administered during the process. These drugs interfere with and reduce the abnormal division of the plasma cells. Another modern remedy to myeloma is the administration of immunomodulatory drugs.2 This treatment method modifies the immune system to attack the malignant cells in the body. Immunomodulatory drugs are taken orally. The third treatment method is stem cell transplant, usually for patients with advanced myeloma. This process involves a bone marrow transplant and is often complex and costly. Finally, proteasome inhibitors interfere with the proteasome’s normal functioning, killing the abnormal plasma cells.
The Impact on Society
Patients with multiple myeloma require frequent hospitalizations and treatment. Principally, these processes are costly and time-consuming and often make myeloma patients suffer reduced quality of life due to the disease’s symptoms and the treatment’s side effects. It is common to experience mental stress when suffering from this type of cancer. Still, the intensified research on multiple myeloma has led to advances in cancer research and the invention of treatments for other types of cancer.
Works Cited
Gupta, Anubha, et al. “SEGPC-2021: A Challenge & Dataset on Segmentation of Multiple Myeloma Plasma Cells from Microscopic Images.” Medical Image Analysis, vol. 83, 2023, p. 102677. Web.