Also called: Also called: Plasma-cell myeloma
Multiple myeloma is a cancer that begins in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell. These cells are part of your immune system, which helps protect the body from germs and other harmful substances. In time, myeloma cells collect in the bone marrow and in the solid parts of bone.
No one knows the exact causes of multiple myeloma, but it is more common in older people and African-Americans. Early symptoms may include
Myeloma is hard to cure. Treatment may help control symptoms and complications. Options include chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation and radiation.
National Cancer Institute
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Multiple Myeloma(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/multiplemyeloma/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/multiplemyelomaspanish/htm/index.htm
- What Is Multiple Myeloma?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_1x_what_is_multiple_myeloma_30.asp
- What You Need to Know about Multiple Myeloma(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/myeloma/page3
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Multiple Myeloma(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/cancer/types/376.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/cancer/types/376.printerview.html
- Multiple Myeloma: Cancer of the Bone Marrow(International Myeloma Foundation) - Large PDF file - http://myeloma.org/pdfs/imf-ph07-eng_f1web.pdf
- Combination Therapy Helps to Combat Myeloma(08/27/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68624.html
- Thalidomide Continues to Show Benefits Against Myeloma(07/09/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_66771.html
- Can Multiple Myeloma Be Found Early?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_can_multiple_myeloma_be_found_early_30.asp
- Multiple Myeloma(College of American Pathologists) - Links to PDF - http://www.cap.org/apps/docs/reference/myBiopsy/MultipleMyeloma.pdf
- Multiple Myeloma Tests(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/mult_myeloma-2.html
- Myeloma Diagnosis and Staging(Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation) - http://www.multiplemyeloma.org/about_myeloma/2.05.asp
- Myeloma Symptoms(Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation) - http://www.multiplemyeloma.org/about_myeloma/2.04.asp
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Understanding Blood Counts(Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) - http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_mat_toc.adp?item_id=9452
Also available in Spanish http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_mat_toc.adp?item_id=186980
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Bone Marrow Transplantation and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation: Questions and Answers(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/bone-marrow-transplant
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/bone-marrow-transplant-spanish
- Donor Leukocyte Infusion(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/donor_leukocyte_infusion/hic_donor_leukocyte_infusion.aspx
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MedlinePlus: Bone Marrow Transplantation(National Library of Medicine) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonemarrowtransplantation.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/bonemarrowtransplantation.html
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Multiple Myeloma and Other Plasma Cell Neoplasms (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/myeloma/patient/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/mieloma/patient/
- Multiple Myeloma: High-Dose Chemotherapy and Blood-Forming Stem Cell Transplantation (SCT)(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4x_High-Dose_Chemotherapy_and_Blood-Forming_Stem_Cell_Transplantation_SCT.asp?rnav=cri
- Treatment Options by Stage for Multiple Myeloma(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Treatment_Options_by_Stage_30.asp?sitearea=
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Understanding Bisphosphonate Therapy(International Myeloma Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://myeloma.org/pdfs/UnderstandingBisphos_b3.2.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.myeloma.org/pdfs/UBis_Spanish.pdf
- Understanding Quadramet(International Myeloma Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://myeloma.org/pdfs/Understanding_Quadramet.pdf
- Understanding Serum Free Light Chain Assays(International Myeloma Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://myeloma.org/pdfs/UnderstandingFreeLight.pdf
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Understanding Thalidomide Therapy(International Myeloma Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://myeloma.org/pdfs/Understanding_Thalidomide.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.myeloma.org/pdfs/UThal_Spanish.pdf
- Integrative Medicine & Complementary and Alternative Therapies As Part of Blood Cancer Care(Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) - Links to PDF - http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/attachments/National/br_1150734030.pdf
- Multiple Myeloma: What Happens After Treatment?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_5X_What_happens_after_treatment_30.asp?rnav=cri
- Myeloma Bone Disease(Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation) - http://www.multiplemyeloma.org/about_myeloma/2.08.asp
- Amyloidosis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/amyloidosis/DS00431/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Do We Know What Causes Multiple Myeloma?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_2x_do_we_know_what_causes_multiple_myeloma_30.asp
- Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/monoclonal-gammopathy/DS00870/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Understanding Balloon Kyphoplasty and Myeloma-Induced Vertebral Compression Fractures(International Myeloma Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://myeloma.org/pdfs/Understanding_Kyphoplasty.pdf
- What Are the Risk Factors for Multiple Myeloma?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_2x_what_are_the_risk_factors_for_multiple_myeloma_30.asp
- What Should You Ask Your Doctor about Multiple Myeloma?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_5x_what_should_you_ask_your_physician_about_multiple_myeloma_30.asp
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Multiple Myeloma(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/multiplemyeloma/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/multiplemyelomaspanish/htm/index.htm
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Multiple Myeloma(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Multiple+Myeloma%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Plasmacytoma(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Plasmacytoma%22
- Bortezomib Approved for First-Line Treatment of Multiple Myeloma(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/bortezomib0908
- Drug Combination Shows Benefit in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/myeloma0807
- Emerging Therapies(Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation) - http://www.multiplemyeloma.org/treatments/3.08.php
- Lenalidomide Effective in Multiple Myeloma(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/lenalidomide0606
- Thalidomide a Beneficial Option for Elderly Multiple Myeloma Patients(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/thalidomide0208
- Thalidomide Helps Elderly Multiple Myeloma Patients to Live Longer(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/thalidomide-plus-MP0606
- Article: Ophthalmic manifestations of multiple myeloma. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18705423&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Thalidomide maintenance following high-dose melphalan with autologous stem cell support... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18650178&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: An observational, retrospective analysis of retreatment with bortezomib for multiple... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18650176&tool=MedlinePlus
- Multiple Myeloma -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=multiple+myeloma[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary of Terms and Definitions(International Myeloma Foundation) - http://myeloma.org/main.jsp?type=article&id=611
- Access to Care(Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation) - http://www.multiplemyeloma.org/about_myeloma/2.09.04.php
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National Cancer Institute Cancer Centers Program(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/NCI/cancer-centers
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/instituto/hojas-informativas/programa-centros-oncologicos
- American Cancer Society - http://www.cancer.org/
- International Myeloma Foundation - http://myeloma.org/
- Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation - http://www.multiplemyeloma.org/
- National Cancer Institute - http://www.cancer.gov/
- Blood & Marrow Transplant Newsletter(BMT InfoNet) - http://www.bmtinfonet.org/letter.html
- Myeloma Today(International Myeloma Foundation) - http://myeloma.org/main.jsp?type=query&tab_id=13&menu_id=0&id=6
- Cancer Stat Facts: Myeloma(National Cancer Institute) - http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/mulmy.html
- What Are the Key Statistics about Multiple Myeloma?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_are_the_key_statistics_for_multiple_myeloma_30.asp?rnav=cri
- Bone Marrow Diseases - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonemarrowdiseases.html
- Bone Marrow Transplantation - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonemarrowtransplantation.html
- Lymphoma - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/lymphoma.html
- Cancers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cancers.html
- Immune System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/immunesystem.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Multiple Myeloma is the National Cancer Institute - http://www.nci.nih.gov/