Plasma cells are white blood cells that form part of your immune system and help fight infection.³

When diseased, these plasma cells can turn into cancerous myeloma cells.¹ 

If the myeloma cells multiply, they can crowd the bone marrow and prevent it from making enough red and white blood cells and platelets.^1,2

As a result, people with myeloma may be at risk of anaemia, infection, bleeding, and bruising.^1,2

Myeloma cells may gather in groups that form tumours in the body, usually in the bone marrow and on the surface of bones.^1,2 

The tumours can cause bones to become brittle and easy to break, and can lead to increased calcium in the bloodstream.^2,4

Myeloma symptoms may differ from person to person; early stages of the disease may not present obvious signs or symptoms which can become more noticeable and apparent as the disease progresses.¹ Doctors refer to this as “CRAB”:^1,5

• C for increased calcium
• R for renal (kidney) problems
• A for anaemia
• B for bone changes

People with myeloma may experience a range signs and symptoms such as:^1,4

• Anaemia
• Pain (usually bone pain)
• Fatigue
• Weight loss

Having one or more of these symptoms doesn't necessarily mean that you have myeloma - but it is recommended to make an appointment with your GP or specialist to discuss any questions that you may have.

It's not fully understood what causes myeloma, yet some factors appear to increase the risk, including:^1,6

• Age (usually older persons over 65)
  
• Race
• Sex

If you have one or more of these risk factors, and are concerned or have further questions, it’s best to have a chat with your GP for more information.

If your doctor suspects myeloma, they may order specific tests such as:^1,6

• Blood tests
• Urine tests
• Bone marrow biopsy
• Scans such as computed tomography scan (CT scan), positron emission tomography (PET scan) or others

If you are found to have myeloma, your doctor will discuss the next steps. To determine what stage your cancer is at, your treating doctor may use the Revised International Staging System (R-ISS) which divides myeloma into three stages.⁷

Some of the broad categories that myeloma medications belong to are:^8,9

• Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs)
• Proteasome Inhibitors (PIs)
• Monoclonal antibodies
• Immunoconjugates
• Antibody-drug conjugates
• Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell
• Alkylating agents
• Steroids