What is multiple myeloma?

4 May 2021

It is a type of blood cancer that develops in the plasma cells, which are responsible for producing antibodies to fight any infection. However, in this case, cancer cells accumulate in the bone marrow, displacing healthy cells that begin to create abnormal proteins that can cause various complications, such as kidney damage.

Until now, the cause of the appearance of multiple myeloma is unknown, but it has been identified that this type of cancer develops with the presence of abnormal blood cells in the bone marrow that grow rapidly and without control, affecting various organs, including the bones.

Multiple myeloma usually begins as a condition called monoclonal gammopathy, also characterized by the presence of abnormal blood cells, but in this case, the protein levels are not as high, so the organs are not affected.

Several factors can increase the risk of developing multiple myeloma, such as:

Family members who have suffered from it.
Having or having had monoclonal gammopathy.
Being an older adult.
Being male.

Signs and symptoms Multiple myeloma

Symptoms are variable and at the beginning of the disease there may be no symptoms, but the most frequent consist of:

Decreased body weight.
Exhaustion.
Mental confusion.
Stiffness and weakness of the lower limbs.
Aching bones.
Constipation.
Recurrent infections.
Nausea.
Lack of appetite.
Feeling of extreme thirst.

Among the complications that can result from multiple myeloma are:

Anemia.
Kidney failure.
Recurrent infections.
Bone damage.

Diagnosis and treatment Multiple myeloma

To detect multiple myeloma, your doctor, in addition to performing a physical examination and checking your medical history, will request blood and urine tests, as well as the following tests:

Bone marrow exam.
X-rays.
MRI.
Computed tomography.
Positron emission tomography.

Depending on the degree of progress, the oncologist will determine the treatment to follow, but in cases of a certain severity, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and bone marrow transplant will be included. Since its opening in 2009, our Cancer Center offers chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments at the level of the best medical centers in the world through a comprehensive care model for cancer patients.

Related centers and departments Multiple myeloma

Cancer Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

cancer.org
cancer.net
cancer.gov
mayoclinic.org
msdmanuals.com
medigraphic.com
López-Lievanos MÁ, Mendoza-Gómez JL, Albarrán-Moreno M. Mieloma múltiple y COVID-19. Med Int Mex. 2021;37(3):448-453.
Fernández-Vargas OE, Ron-Magaña AL, Barrera-Chairez E, et al. Mantenimiento con lenalidomida postrasplante autólogo de células progenitoras hematopoyéticas en pacientes mexicanos con mieloma múltiple. Rev Hematol Mex. 2020;21(3):129-135.
Pineda-Galindo LF, Moranchel-García L, Sánchez-Uribe M, et al. Púrpura de Henoch-Schönlein como manifestación inicial de mieloma múltiple. Med Int Mex. 2018;34(4):638-644.
Tarín-Arzaga LC. Identificando al precursor del mieloma múltiple. Rev Hematol Mex. 2020;21(2):73-75.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the Saludora Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is multiple myeloma?

Signs and symptoms Multiple myeloma

Diagnosis and treatment Multiple myeloma

Related centers and departments Multiple myeloma

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Multiple myeloma