MULTIPLE MYELOMA AWARENESS MONTH

Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month is observed annually in March to raise awareness about a rare type of blood cancer that develops in the bones and other parts of the body.

What is Multiple Myeloma?

1. Multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, originates in plasma cells – white blood cells found in the bone marrow.
2. In myeloma patients, these cancer cells grow rapidly, destroying healthy blood cells and leading to various health problems. Additionally, these malignant cells secrete abnormal proteins, which impair bodily function, especially kidney function.

Symptoms and Risk Factors:

The most common symptoms of multiple myeloma include:

1. Easy fatigability
2. Persistent lower back pain
3. Frequent infections and fever
4. Elevated creatinine levels in blood reports
5. Weakened bones, leading to bone pain, high calcium levels in the blood, and fractures with minimal or no trauma

Multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells, primarily affects the elderly population, with the average age of 65 years or older. This disease is found more in men than women. In India, the incidence of multiple myeloma is estimated to be about 1.8 per 100,000 people, with about 50,000 new cases diagnosed every year.

Diagnosis and Staging:

1. For accurate diagnosis, individuals showing the symptoms mentioned above should be evaluated by an oncologist.
2. A definitive diagnosis of multiple myeloma is established through a bone marrow biopsy.
3. Blood tests, imaging studies (X-ray, CT scan, or MRI scan), and urine analysis are also used to assess the extent and stage of the disease.

Treatment Options:

Despite the generally incurable nature of multiple myeloma in most patients, appropriate treatment can provide long-term relief and enhance their quality of life. Treatment strategy is influenced by many factors, including the patient's age, overall health status, and stage of the disease.

1. Younger and fit patients: Induction chemotherapy after autologous stem cell transplantation is the treatment of choice for young and fit patients. It involves high-dose chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells, followed by adding the patient's own stem cells to help rebuild the bone marrow.
2. Older and unfit patients: For patients who are too old or ineligible for transplant, chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment. Treatment usually lasts several months, after which patients are kept under observation. Most patients have a tendency to relapse after a period of time, requiring alternative treatments.

Recent Advancements:

In recent years, several new advances have revolutionized the landscape of myeloma treatment. These include:

1. Anti-CD38 targeted therapies: Monoclonal antibodies like daratumumab and isatuximab can destroy myeloma cells by targeting the CD38 protein on their surface.
2. BCMA-CAR T cell immunotherapy: A revolutionary approach uses genetically modified T cells to target B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) on myeloma cells, causing a strong anti-cancer response.
3. Bispecific targeted antibody therapies: These antibodies are designed to bind to both myeloma cells and the patient's immune cells, bringing them closer for more effective destruction of cancer cells.

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