Types of Multiple Myeloma Treatment

Multiple myeloma is otherwise known as Kahler’s disease or plasma cell myeloma. It is a condition wherein the plasma cell, which is one of types of white blood cells that produces antibodies, becomes cancerous. These cells collect and accumulate inside the bones.

This occurrence causes lesions in the marrow of the bones that interferes with normal blood cells production.

Other cases of this disease involve paraprotein production. This is an antibody that is abnormal and causes problem in the kidney and interferes normal antibody production. Due to this, the immune system of a person weakens.

Also, another effect of this is high levels of calcium or Hypercalcemia. Nonetheless, due to the developments in the field of medicine, there is now a number of multiple myeloma treatments.

One of the types of multiple myeloma treatments is Chemotherapy. Usually, this kind of treatment, multiple myeloma is only partially controlled. It rarely leads to remission that is total and complete.

Another treatment is called corticosteroids. This kind of method makes use of prednisone or dexamethasone. Next, we have the use of immune modulating agents like lenalidomide, thalidomide, and bortezomib, which are sometimes used and combined with chemotherapy agents.

Immune modulating agents are considered vital options for myeloma treatment not only for those patients with newly diagnosed myeloma but also those whose diseases have advanced.

The last multiple myeloma treatment available is the transplantation of stem cells using those of the patient, relative, or a donor who is unrelated to the patient but whose stem cells matched the latter’s. This kind of treatment does not actually cure the disease but is prolongs the patient’s life.

Remember, for long time periods, multiple myeloma has the possibility of remaining stable so it is advisable that it be treated as early as possible during such time periods.