HealthInfo Aoraki South Canterbury
Myeloma
Wētoto orotā
Myeloma (also called multiple myeloma) is a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow.
Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell made in your bone marrow, which is found in the centre of large bones. In myeloma, abnormal plasma cells build up in your bone marrow and release large amounts of a single antibody called a paraprotein.
Unlike many cancers, myeloma doesn't appear as a lump or tumour.
Myeloma can stop your bone marrow making enough healthy cells. It can also affect your kidneys.
Symptoms of myeloma include:
- tiredness
- bone pain
- recurrent infections, bruising or bleeding
- bone disease, which can cause fractures.
Myeloma is diagnosed using blood and urine tests, X-rays of bones and a bone marrow biopsy.
Treating myeloma
The treatment for myeloma varies and can include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and stem cell transplant.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand – Myeloma
This page explains how myeloma happens and the different types. It also has a link to a booklet with more details about myeloma.
- Myeloma UK
Detailed information about myeloma, including treatment and symptoms. It includes videos of interviews with myeloma experts, patients, and carers.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed May 2023.
Sources
Review key: HILEU-52883
