What Is Multiple Myeloma And How Is It Treated?

Progression Of Myeloma

As this cancer progresses, the high levels of calcium and proteins overwork the kidneys, which eventually start to fail. The body then begins to fail as it can no longer rid itself of waste or excess fluids and salts. This often causes the legs to swell and feel itchy. Multiple myeloma also has a negative effect on healthy blood cells. As the cancerous cells multiply crowding out the healthy cells, the damaged bone marrow will also lose the ability to create healthy blood cells. This will result in the patient developing anemia (dangerously low supply of red blood cells), leukopenia (very low white blood cell count) and thrombocytopenia (abnormally low count of platelets). Anemia can cause dizziness, shortness of breath and weakness, while the other two conditions weaken the immune system.