Multiple Myeloma Treatment

Multiple Myeloma is not easy to cure, but it is not impossible. The treatment may be gradual and last long until patients are totally recovered from the condition. As multiple myeloma is a kind of cancer, the treatments have similarities with those of other cancers. Some of the popular methods of treatment are such as radiation therapy, watchful waiting, induction therapy, and stem cell transplant. In some cases, the different methods of treatments can also be combined to reach the desired effects. Medical practitioners usually determine which treatment to take based on the severance of multiple myeloma and what kinds of symptoms you experience. In patients without symptoms such as fatigue, broken bones, back pain, bleeding, spine cord compression, energy loss, infection, and others, the condition may just be smoldering myeloma and no cancer treatment is needed.

Watchful waiting is treatment where patients are monitored by their doctors so that immediate treatment can be given if there are symptoms related to multiple myeloma. Patients with risk factors but have not faced any symptoms are usually anticipated with watchful waiting, with the namely condition: Stage I myeloma or smoldering myeloma. They do not need treatment but should be aware of potential symptoms so that appropriate treatment can be taken just in time. Earlier treatment may include all the side effects.

While for those who already have the symptoms, induction therapy and even stem cell transplant are usually conducted for treatment. But since myeloma can hardly be cured, induction therapy and stem cell transplant usually result in more controlled symptoms of multiple myeloma only. Induction therapy includes some different types of treatments to kill cancer cells: chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and steroids. Possible side effects may happen in blood cells, hair root cells, and cells that line your digestive tract.

Stem cell transplant can be done twice or even more in some cases. Patients usually get the stem cells from themselves’, family member, other donors, or from your identical twin. Stem cells can be got from bone marrow and blood, either one is just the same. Side effects can be infection due to the large doses of chemotherapy.

Besides the three treatments, there may be other recommended ones that depend on your conditions. You can consult the specialists about your condition and complaints further so that they know what results can be expected and what the possible side effects are. The specialists who are eligible for multiple myeloma are usually hematologists and medical oncologists. Patients with multiple myeloma or other kinds of myeloma may also need health care team to manage their food and nutrient intake.