Multiple Myeloma: Symptoms, Treatments, and What You Need to Know

When multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that starts in plasma cells in the bone marrow. Also known as Kahler's disease, it happens when abnormal plasma cells multiply uncontrollably, crowding out healthy blood cells and damaging bones. Unlike solid tumors, multiple myeloma doesn’t form a lump—it spreads through the bloodstream, often hitting bones, kidneys, and the immune system first.

This cancer is closely tied to plasma cells, white blood cells that normally make antibodies to fight infection. In multiple myeloma, these cells turn rogue, pumping out useless proteins called M-proteins that thicken the blood and clog the kidneys. Over time, they eat away at bone tissue, causing pain, fractures, and high calcium levels. Many people mistake early symptoms for arthritis or general aging—bone pain in the back or ribs, constant fatigue, frequent infections, or unexplained weight loss. If you’ve had recurring infections or unexplained anemia, it’s worth asking your doctor about testing.

Treatment has changed a lot in the last decade. Today, doctors don’t just rely on chemo. monoclonal antibodies, laboratory-made proteins that target specific cancer cells like daratumumab and elotuzumab have become key tools. They help the immune system find and kill myeloma cells without wiping out everything else. Other common options include proteasome inhibitors like bortezomib, immunomodulatory drugs like lenalidomide, and stem cell transplants for younger, healthier patients. Even when the disease can’t be cured, many people live years with good quality of life thanks to newer, less toxic therapies.

You’ll notice in the posts below that several articles touch on related conditions and treatments—like how multiple myeloma affects the immune system, how it overlaps with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and how drugs used for other diseases (like domperidone or pyridostigmine) might be part of supportive care. There’s also coverage of how physical therapy helps patients recover strength after treatment, and how caregivers can support someone through long-term management. This isn’t just about the cancer itself—it’s about the whole picture: symptoms, daily life, side effects, and what works in real-world settings.