A cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow is known as multiple myeloma.

Plasma cells are a form of white blood cells that create antibodies to fight against infections and diseases by attacking the germs that cause the infections and diseases. A plasma cell that is malignant or cancerous is called a myeloma cell. The disease is called multiple myeloma or plasma cell myeloma.

Multiple myeloma causes myeloma cells to accumulate abnormally and push out the healthy cells in the bone marrow. This accumulation has multiple effects in the bone marrow and surrounding areas, especially the bones. One function of the bone marrow is to produce red blood cells and hemoglobin. Myeloma cells disrupt this function that is reflected by an anemic condition. This may be accompanied by low white blood cell or platelet count. Furthermore, myeloma is involved in the invasion and destruction of the surrounding bone tissue.

As in many cancer-related cases, the exact cause of multiple myeloma is unknown. What is known is that the disease starts with one abnormal plasma cell that multiplies faster than normal plasma cells. These abnormal or cancerous plasma cells do not have a natural life cycle like normal plasma cells do; they continue to multiply almost indefinitely, thus impairing the normal functions of the healthy plasma cells and surrounding bone and bone marrow tissue. Myeloma cells continue their attempt to produce antibodies as their healthy counterparts do, but succeed only producing harmful antibodies that are not useful for the body’s fight against infections. These abnormal antibodies build up in the system and eventually harm the bones and kidneys.

Multiple myeloma almost always begins with a mild condition called MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance). It has been found that almost 3% of people aged over 50 have been found to have MGUS. Of these, about 1% have developed multiple myeloma or other related cancers.

However, there are risk factors and other triggers that lead to the destructive process of multiple myeloma. The risk factors include:

• Age – people in their mid-60s face a higher risk of being diagnosed with multiple myeloma
• Race – people of African-American descent are known to be twice as vulnerable than their Caucasian counterparts
• Weight – people with higher than normal body weight are prone to many ailments, including cancers
• Exposure to certain toxic chemicals and other harmful substances – substances such as exhaust fumes, certain fuels, benzene, some cleaning products, agricultural chemicals, and dioxins are linked with the causes of multiple myeloma. Thus, people working in the petroleum industry have a higher chance of contracting multiple myeloma.
• Exposure to radiation – people who have been exposed to high doses of radiation (atomic testing and reactor sites, manufacturing facilities) are prone to this disease.
• Cancer-causing viruses – HIV, other retroviruses, hepatitis virus, and herpes viruses have been linked to increased incidence of multiple myeloma.
• Family history – about 3% to 5% of myeloma patients have close relatives diagnosed with MGUS or multiple myeloma.
• Suppressed immune system – Suppressed immune system always creates an environment for harmful and destructive substances to thrive and multiply.