In multiple myeloma, these abnormal cells reproduce too quickly and form tumors called plasmacytomas.The goal of multiple myeloma treatment is to kill off the abnormal cells so the healthy blood cells have more room to grow in the bone marrow. Please do not make changes to your treatment or schedules without first consulting your healthcare providers. Treatment aimed at symptom relief is called palliative care.It’s understandable for you to become exhausted by your treatment or its side effects. Uncontrolled multiple myeloma can also lead to symptoms like:By slowing the cancer, you’ll reduce your risk of having symptoms. It's important to remember that if you are given a new treatment, there's no guarantee it will be more effective than an existing treatment.There will never be any pressure for you to take part in a trial if you don't want to. Not everyone diagnosed with myeloma needs immediate treatment – for example, the condition may not be causing any problems. Fractures can be extremely painful. Treatment for stage 3 multiple myeloma focuses on reducing the discomfort the patient is experiencing due to the cancer. Radiation can lead to red, blistered skin. You take it as a tablet every day – usually in the evening, as it can make you feel sleepy.Thalidomide can cause birth defects, so should not be taken by pregnant women, and a reliable form of Contact your care team immediately if you develop symptoms of a blood clot, such as pain or swelling in one of your legs, or Bortezomib (Velcade) can help kill myeloma cells by causing protein to build up inside them.

While one in a million might not sound alarming, even one cell can multiply and form many more if given enough time. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Chemotherapy can cause hair loss, nausea, and vomiting. This means additional treatment is needed when the cancer comes back (a relapse). Multiple myeloma (MM) is a heterogeneous hematologic malignancy involving the proliferation of plasma cells derived by different genetic events contributing to the development, progression, and prognosis of this disease. This article is not intended to diagnose or treat illness. You might also have high dose treatment with a stem cell transplant. Later, you’ll get maintenance therapy to stop the cancer from growing again.All of these treatments can have side effects. I had 5 rounds of treatment on a trial with carfilzomib followed by a stem cell transplant. For example:These treatments can each cause side effects and complications. By dropping out of treatment, you’re passing up an opportunity to find the drug or approach that will finally put your cancer to rest.When cancer grows, it pushes into other organs and tissues in your body. It targets one of the proteins on myeloma cells called CD38 and helps kill the cancerous myeloma cells.Daratumumab is given as an intravenous drip on a long-term, regular basis.Your haematologist will discuss the possible side effects with you, but most people tolerate it very well.

But if you stick with your treatment for the long-term, your odds of controlling or even beating your cancer are better than they’ve ever been. They're both taken by mouth and can affect the cells produced by your bone marrow, which can cause:They may also increase your risk of developing a blood clot and have other side effects similar to thalidomide.Let your care team know if you experience any problems or unusual symptoms while taking lenalidomide or pomalidomide.Carfilzomib is a medication similar to bortezomib.

If you’re unhappy with your treatment team or the medication you’re taking, seek a second opinion or ask about trying another drug.

It's also given as an injection into the veins (intravenous) rather than under the skin (subcutaneous).Carfilzomib is a more intensive treatment than bortezomib, and your haematologist will give you advice about which treatment is best for you. But intensive treatment involves higher doses and is followed by a stem cell transplant.The medicines usually include a chemotherapy medicine, a steroid medicine, and either thalidomide or bortezomib.These treatments are often taken in tablet form. Treatment for relapses is similar to initial treatment, although non-intensive treatment is often preferred.

If you’re struggling to stay with your treatment program, talk to your doctor and the other members of your medical team. Getting tested every three months or so will help catch any stray cancer cells and treat them before they can multiply.There’s more than one way to treat multiple myeloma, and more than one doctor available to guide you through treatment.

Multiple myeloma is treatable and, although it remains incurable, the patient prognosis and quality of life has notably improved, so it is not rare to see series with a median survival longer than 5 years. I was diagnosed 2 years ago at the age of 51 with stage 3 Multiple Myeloma. People with less than one myeloma cell out of every million cells in their bone marrow are said to have minimal residual disease (MRD).

Possible side effects include: Thalidomide can help kill myeloma cells. Multiple myeloma is the second most common type of blood cancer after leukemia.