What is multiple myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is the most common cancer of its kind and accounts for about 1.4% of all U.S. cancers. However, the rate of incidences have increased by around 1% every year 1975, so that number is bound to rise.

Myeloma first occurs in bone marrow, where many blood cells are produced, including red blood cells and plasma cells. Plasma cells are part of the immune system, which protects the body from infections and diseases, but if genes or the environment distort them, they switch purposes. Instead of protecting the body, they grow out of control into a cancerous tumor. Multiple myeloma is the name for when a person has multiple tumors of this kind; otherwise, it’s just called an isolated plasmacytoma.

Besides a normal biopsy—where some of the bone marrow tissue is removed to be checked for cancer—there are other indicators that one has developed multiple myeloma. For example, the cancer can keep other blood cells from being produced in the bone marrow, leading to anemia (lack of red blood cells), increased bleeding and bruising (low blood platelet levels), and increased infections (decreased white blood cells).

Causing other problems

Further, the cancer can cause bone problems, like fractures. Bones are constantly being built and broken down as the body needs, but in multiple myeloma, the breakdown of bone cells tends to increase. The balance of breakdown and buildup is now skewed to the breakdown side, meaning bones lose cells and become weaker.

Other problems include kidney damage and failure, monoclonal gammopathy (where abnormal proteins are found in the blood), breathing problems, hypercalcemia (a result of bone cells dissolving), and light chain amyloidosis (a buildup of protein deposits in various body tissues).

Depending on how the myeloma affects you, along with your age and other factors, treatment will vary. Treatment for this cancer is tricky, but can include chemotherapy, surgery, stem cell transplant, and drugs known as bisphosphonates. Five-year survival rates are around 47%, but like other cancers, earlier diagnoses greatly increase survival rates (in this case, to nearly 69%)—so if you are concerned, please talk to a doctor.

Many links HERE

Multiple myeloma: Cancer in plasma cells

I urge all of you to have blood work done at least once per year.  Our general practitioner insists on drawing blood yearly.  He was the one that caught Dom's cancer!

Nan

Multiple myeloma also known as plasma cell myeloma is a kind of cancer that begins in the plasma cells. Plasma cells are types of white blood cells and are responsible for producing antibodies, which help in protecting the body from germs and harmful substances. These cells are produced in the bone marrow. “In the case of multiple myeloma, these plasma cells are produced in a large number in the bone marrow. They are then circulated through peripheral circulation. This is how it comes into the general blood circulation,” explains Dr Ajay Kumar Jha, MD, DM Consultant Haematologist, Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Bhaktapur.

No early symptoms 

Multiple myeloma is a disorder of plasma cells in the bone marrow. Smouldering myeloma, which is the first stage of multiple myeloma, is usually asymptomatic. There are usually no signs and symptoms during this stage. People diagnosed with smouldering myeloma aren’t given any treatment. It is usually a wait-and-watch situation, as per the doctor.

Multiple myeloma is usually seen in elderly people, usually around the ages of 70/80 years. It can also occur in younger age groups such as 30-40 years. “There is no specific reason for the occurrence in young ages as such but the cases of multiple myeloma are also reported in young people,” adds Dr Jha.

In addition, the exact cause of multiple myeloma is not yet known.
Bleeding, low count of platelets, anaemia and infection such as pneumonia can be seen in the patients during the later stages. Many people have complaints of bone and back pain. “This is why many patients usually visit orthopaedics in the beginning,” reveals the doctor.

The pain in bones, back pain, fracture of spine and long bones are some of the other symptoms visible in patients. There could be a radiating pain in the patients. “The pain in the back usually spreads to the thigh and legs,” informs Dr Jha.

Along with the problems in bones, some of the patients also show symptoms such as tingling sensation and numbness. This is why before visiting a haematologist many patients go to neurologists in the beginning, as per the doctor.

Multiple myeloma can occur in patients with renal failure. Some other signs of the disease include bone tenderness, weakness, hypercalcemia — increased calcium level in blood. Some of the people even can have an obstruction in excretion and urination.

JUMP

A Wild Few Weeks

I headed solo to PCB a few weeks ago.  Wanted to get home for Dom's 71st birthday last Thursday.

The weather became horrid.  Serious rain all up and down the Florida/Alabama coast.

So, held off.... waiting for the weather to clear.  Luckily, The LIQ is right across the street.

Meanwhile, the Double Red Flags were flying.  "STAY OUT OF THE WATER-dangerous rip-tides".

They pulled about 8 people out of the water.  I know of at least one individual who drowned.

On Thursday, a rescuer went out and saved someone.  He went out a second time....and drowned.

Sad, sad, sad.

Anyway, the new plan was to return home on Friday.  NOPE.  The weather moved into our area in MS. and LA.  Massive flooding, street closures, businesses closed.

I was stranded on the beach until Saturday morning.

A wonderful place opened next to the condo.  The Emerald Cafe.  They don't have a website or Facebook page yet, but they are GREAT.

I ended up having 2 Club sandwiches. On Friday, I had a Double Angus Cheeseburger....12 oz.  OMG!   It's my new favorite place.

Things are getting back to normal here.  Still raining like hell, but we're high and dry.

Mama Raccoon continues to bring her 3 little ones every afternoon.  Adorable!

Hope that all is well with you guys!

Great News!

Met with Slidell Oncologist this morning.

Bone Marrow Biopsy reading was 0.2 !!!!!!!  Apparently, much more definitive than blood work.

We're absolutely tickled!  Thank you all for the kind words and prayers.

Hot Stuffed Banana Pepper Pasta

We have a never-ending supply of both mild and hot banana peppers.  I made this yesterday for Dom's 7th "birthday".  It was a pain in the neck stuffing the peppers, but worth it. Delicious.  Very flavorful.

INGREDIENTS
1 lb sweet Italian sausage
2 T olive oil
2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
12 banana peppers, cleaned of seeds and ribs
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
½ pound pasta cooked
grated cheese (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Spray your baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
Stuff your banana peppers with the sausage. If the sausage is in casings, take them off to stuff the peppers. If you have left over sausage, shape into small meatball bites.
Slice the banana peppers in a few pieces and make sure the sausage is in every piece if possible.
Add your stuffed peppers, excess sausage, tomatoes, spices and olive oil to your baking dish and toss so that everything is mixed well.
Bake for 30 minutes or until the sausage is fully cooked.
In the meantime cook your pasta.
Once the peppers are baked, add to your cooked pasta and serve with grated cheese if you wish.
Also delicious over zucchini noodles if you are gluten free or Paleo.
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Tomorrow morning, we're off to Slidell to meet with our Oncologist to discuss the recent bone marrow biopsy.

LINK