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Supportive Care
Infection
Anemia
Pain
Thinning Bones
Too Much Calcium in the Blood
Kidney Problems
Amyloidosis
Multiple myeloma and its treatment can lead to other health problems. You
probably will receive supportive care to prevent or control these problems and
to improve your comfort and
quality of life.
This section tells about health problems that myeloma may cause and describes
the supportive care people may need. Detailed information about supportive care
is available on NCI's Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping and
from NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER.
People with multiple myeloma get infections very easily. You may receive
antibiotics and other drugs to help protect you. Your health care team may
advise you to stay away from crowds and from people with colds or other
contagious diseases. If an infection develops, it can be serious and should be
treated promptly. Some people need to stay in the hospital for treatment.
Myeloma and its treatment can lead to anemia, which may make you feel very
tired. Drugs or
blood transfusions
can help with this problem.
Multiple myeloma often causes bone pain. Your health care provider can suggest
ways to relieve or reduce pain. For example, drugs and local radiation therapy
can help control bone pain. A brace may relieve pain in the neck or back. Some
people get pain relief from massage or
acupuncture
when used along with other
approaches. Also, the patient may learn relaxation techniques such as listening
to slow music or breathing slowly and comfortably. Sometimes surgery is needed
if the spinal cord is compressed (squeezed).
The NCI offers booklets called
Pain Control: A Guide for People with Cancer and
Their Families,
Get Relief from Cancer Pain, and
Understanding Cancer Pain.
Myeloma cells keep new bone cells from forming, and bones become thin wherever
there are myeloma cells. Your doctor may give you drugs to prevent bone
thinning and help reduce the risk of fractures. Physical activity, such as
walking, also helps keep bones strong.
Multiple myeloma may cause calcium to leave the bones and enter the
bloodstream. If you have a very high level of calcium in your blood, you may
lose your appetite. You also may feel nauseated, restless, or confused. A high
calcium level can also make you very tired, weak,
dehydrated, and thirsty.
Drinking a lot of fluids and taking drugs that lower the calcium in the blood
can be helpful.
Some patients with multiple myeloma have kidney problems. If the problems are
severe, they may need
dialysis.
Dialysis removes wastes from the blood. In some
cases, people with serious kidney problems may need a kidney transplant.
Some people with myeloma develop
amyloidosis.
Abnormal protein collects in
tissues of the body. The build-up of protein can cause many problems, some of
them severe. For example, protein can build up in the heart, causing chest pain
and swollen feet. Drugs are used to treat amyloidosis.
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