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Common Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that was not widely known to people until a few decades ago. It starts in the plasma cells, or while blood cells, which help the body fight infections. When genetic materials change in the white blood cells, mutations occur. This causes the plasma cells to become myeloma cells. There is no cure for multiple myeloma, but treatment includes stem cell therapy, antibody therapy, and chemotherapy. 

Some common symptoms of multiple myeloma include:

1. Bone pain

Pain in the bones including the back, ribs, and the skull. This disease makes the bones weak, and much easier to break. Any bone pain is abnormal, and should be reported to your physician so that testing can be performed to determine if multiple myeloma is present in the body.

2. Unexplained weakness 

Fatigue that will not allow you to do your normal daily tasks is a sign that something is wrong. Sometimes, taking a shower can be exhausting, causing you to either sit, or lie down to gather composure, or regain the energy necessary.

3. Frequent infections

Getting infections and fever often is a definite sign that something is not right inside the body. Blood tests, or other tests to diagnose the underlying cause will need to be performed by your doctor if infections are frequent.

4. Nausea

Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite are common signs of multiple myeloma. Although, these symptoms can be indicative of many other health problems, only your doctor can diagnose the true cause with a series of different medical tests. 

5. Weight loss 

Losing weight without putting forth an effort indicates that there is something going on in the body that needs medical attention. 

6. Leg numbness

Numbness in the legs could also be misdiagnosed as a sign of neuropathy, but a doctor will know what tests to perform to diagnose this symptom properly.

7. Urination changes

Changes in urination habits are not always due to drinking too much, or too little fluids. There may be an increase of bathroom visits that may go unnoticed. If it is suspected that something is amiss in the body, keeping a mental record of how often you visit the bathroom would be helpful to your physician in diagnosing your symptoms.

8. Anemia

People with multiple myeloma may also experienced anemia. In a query to find out why the body is anemic, doctors often find multiple myeloma after a series of tests. Because this is a blood disorder, many of the symptoms go undetected for a long period of time, or there may not be any symptoms at all. Some people who have gone to the doctor for a different reason are informed that they may have the disease. Multiple myeloma is a silent disease, and one that many people with it were not even aware of their risks, or possibility of having it. Any unusual symptoms, even minor ones, should be reported to a physician.