What is the hallmark symptom of multiple myeloma?

The hallmark symptom of multiple myeloma is bone pain. It often occurs in the back, the hips, and sometimes the skull. Some patients may experience pain that is worse at night, which disrupts their sleep. When you have multiple myeloma, your bones may easily break.

What is usually the first symptom of multiple myeloma?

Multiple myeloma causes many symptoms, but bone pain often is the first symptom people notice. Other symptoms include: Weakness in your arms and legs and/or a sensation of numbness in your arms and legs. Multiple myeloma can affect the bones in your spine, causing them to collapse and press on your spinal cord.

What are the red flags for multiple myeloma?

High blood levels of calcium

Extreme thirst, leading to drinking a lot. Urinating (peeing) a lot. Dehydration. Kidney problems and even kidney failure.

Which of the following is the most common presenting symptom for patients with multiple myeloma?

Bone pain is the most common presenting symptom in MM. Most case series report that 70% of patients have bone pain at presentation.

What is the mnemonic symptoms multiple myeloma?

The acronym CRAB summarizes the most typical clinical manifestations of multiple myeloma, these being hypercalcemia, renal failure, anemia, and bone disease.

What are the signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma?

What confirms diagnosis of multiple myeloma?

Bone marrow biopsy

This test is required to confirm the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. A needle is inserted into the bone marrow space to remove a small sliver of bone marrow. Our hematopathologists examine the tissue under a microscope to determine if there are myeloma cells in the bone marrow.

What labs are indicative of multiple myeloma?

Laboratory analysis of your blood may reveal the M proteins produced by myeloma cells. Another abnormal protein produced by myeloma cells — called beta-2-microglobulin — may be detected in your blood and give your doctor clues about the aggressiveness of your myeloma.

What are the three major presenting findings of multiple myeloma?

Major symptoms of multiple myeloma may include bone pain, especially in the back and the ribs; low levels of circulating red blood cells (anemia) resulting in weakness, fatigue, and lack of color (pallor); and kidney (renal) abnormalities.

What bones does multiple myeloma affect first?

The bones most commonly affected are the spine, pelvis, ribs, skull, and the long bones of the arms and legs.

Where does multiple myeloma pain start?

Multiple myeloma can cause pain in affected bones – usually the back, ribs or hips. The pain is frequently a persistent dull ache, which may be made worse by movement.

What is the gold standard in diagnosing multiple myeloma?

Plain radiography remains the gold standard imaging procedure for staging newly diagnosed and relapsed myeloma, according to an International Myeloma Working Group consensus statement.

What is the most common complaint of multiple myeloma?

About 85% of people with multiple myeloma have some type of bone damage (osteolytic lesions) or loss (osteoporosis). The most commonly affected areas are the spine, pelvis and rib cage. With weakened bones, people with multiple myeloma often experience bone pain and have an increased risk for fracture.

How long can you have multiple myeloma and not know it?

Some people have multiple myeloma for months or years before they even know they're sick. This earliest phase is called smoldering multiple myeloma. When you have it, you won't have any symptoms, but your test results will show: At least 10% to 59% of your bone marrow is made up of cancerous plasma cells.

When should you suspect multiple myeloma?

Your Doctor May Suspect Multiple Myeloma Before You Do

Low red blood cell counts, white blood cell counts, and platelet counts, which are common in multiple myeloma. High levels of calcium in your blood, called hypercalcemia. Abnormal proteins in your blood or urine.

What part of the body does multiple myeloma affect?

Multiple myeloma affects the plasma cells (a type of blood cell) inside the bone marrow. Myeloma does not usually take the form of a lump or tumour. Instead, the myeloma cells divide and expand within the bone marrow, damaging the bones and affecting the production of healthy blood cells.

Where does myeloma spread to first?

At first, the cells reproduce in the bone marrow of the spine. From there, they enter the bloodstream and travel to bone marrow in other parts of the body. They collect in the bone marrow and the hard, outer part of the bones. As this progression happens, the plasma cells can cause multiple tumors.

What is the most common site for bone disease in multiple myeloma?

Bone disease is observed in almost 80% of newly diagnosed symptomatic multiple myeloma patients, and spine is the bone site that is more frequently affected by myeloma-induced osteoporosis, osteolyses, or compression fractures.

Where is bone pain in multiple myeloma?

Spinal Problems

Back pain is often the first symptom of multiple myeloma. Because back problems are common, they might not initially be associated with the disease. However, a backache that lasts for months can be a signal that multiple myeloma is affecting the bones in the spine or ribs.

What comes before multiple myeloma?

A precancerous condition called monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) A single tumor of plasma cells (solitary plasmacytoma) Smoldering myeloma, a precancerous condition that affects the plasma cells and can turn into multiple myeloma.

What protein is elevated in multiple myeloma?

The myeloma cells can cause an overproduction of certain proteins such as Interleukin 6 (IL-6) (also known as osteoclast activating factor or OAF) resulting in activation of osteoclasts which are cells in the body that break down bone.

What is the best test to diagnose multiple myeloma?

Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy.

Bone marrow has both a solid and a liquid part. A bone marrow aspiration removes a sample of the fluid with a needle. A bone marrow biopsy is the removal of a small amount of solid tissue using a needle. This is important for making a diagnosis of myeloma.

What triggers myeloma?

What Are Its Causes? Exposure to toxic chemicals, atomic radiation, anything that interferes with the immune system, or infection with cancer-causing viruses, may potentially be linked to the developing myeloma.

What are the symptoms of myeloma in the spine?

The bone damage caused by myeloma can also cause pressure on your spine, known as spinal cord compression. You should get help immediately if you experience symptoms of spinal cord compression because it needs urgent treatment. The main symptoms are: weakness, pins and needles or numbness in your legs or arms.

What is the main cause of multiple myeloma?

Scientists still do not know exactly what causes most cases of multiple myeloma. However, they have made progress in understanding how certain changes in DNA can make plasma cells become cancerous. DNA is the chemical that carries the instructions for nearly everything our cells do.

How do you rule out multiple myeloma?

Diagnosing multiple myeloma includes blood work, a 24-hour urine collection, a bone marrow biopsy, imaging studies (such as x-rays, MRIs, PET scans) and bone density tests.