What is Multiple Myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells in your blood

Plasma cells are white blood cells that make antibodies, which help your immune system to recognise and fight infections.
Plasma cells originate and collect in the bone marrow – the soft, spongy inner core of the bones; they then travel into the blood stream and circulate throughout the body.

Multiple myeloma results when the cells that give rise to plasma cells are damaged and produce genetically damaged plasma cells

These damaged plasma cells – called myeloma cells – collect in the bone marrow and continue to divide and multiply in an uncontrollable way.
The condition is called ‘multiple’ myeloma because – when it occurs – it typically affects multiple sites within the bone.

The type of antibody produced by myeloma cells is called M-protein

Your doctor may test the level of M-protein in your blood to monitor your disease and assess how well you are responding to treatment.
An abnormal increase in a person’s M-protein level is commonly known as an M-spike Unfortunately, M-protein is not effective at fighting infection; this means that:
As myeloma cells continue to divide, multiply and ‘crowd out’ healthy plasma cells, one of the body’s most important weapons against disease is taken away.
People who have multiple myeloma are at increased risk of serious infection (e.g. pneumonia).

Myeloma cells can also cause damage to the bones (leading to development of bone pain and/or fractures) and the kidneys.