Understand the main causes of Multiple Terminal myeloma

Multiple myeloma is chronic blood cancer (long -term) which affects plasma cells made in the bone marrow, which is the spongy tissue found inside the bones. While people with multiple myeloma can live for years with treatment, the condition can become fatal when it no longer responds to treatment or when it progresses and damages the main organs, such as kidneys.

Plasmocytes are a type of white blood cells that form in the bone marrow and make antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that help your body combat infections. In multiple myeloma, abnormal plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and evolve healthy blood drilling cells, in particular red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Plates are small parts of larger cells that help form clots and stop bleeding.

When someone with multiple myeloma dies, it is generally not cancer himself, but complications that the condition causes. Cancer plasma cells produce abnormal antibodies called M proteins which cannot fight infections. These proteins can also accumulate in the body and damage bones, kidneys and other organs, causing deadly and deadly complications.

The causes of death in multiple myeloma often affect the immune system and several body organs.

Altered immune function

Infections are the main cause of death in people with multiple myeloma. Multiple myelome weakens your immune system, Make it more difficult for your body to fight infections. This happens for several reasons. First, myeloma cells multiply in the bone marrow and evolve healthy cells forming blood, including white blood cells that help protect and fight infections.

Healthy plasmocytes make antibodies to combat microorganisms causing infections, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. In multiple myeloma, cancer plasma cells produce large quantities of an abnormal antibody, the M protein, which cannot fight infections. Not being able to correctly fight infections weakens the immune system, making you more vulnerable to infectious diseases.

Certain treatments for multiple myeloma, such as chemotherapy and steroids, can also remove the immune system. These drugs can reduce the number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cells that help fight bacterial infections. When neutrophil level levels drop too low (a condition called neutropenia), the risk of infection increases.

People with multiple myeloma run a higher risk of serious infections, including:

• Pneumonia
• Urinary tract infections (useful infections)
• Gastrointestinal infections
• Bardons, reactivation of the Zoster / Pouleur herpes virus.
• Sepsis

Damage caused by the kidneys

Kidney failure is the second most common cause of death in people with multiple myeloma. At the time of diagnosis, Half of all people with the condition already show signs of low renal function. People with kidney damage when diagnosed with multiple myeloma have a higher risk of complications and deaths.

Your kidneys filter waste, excess liquids and blood toxins. In multiple myeloma, cancer plasmaocytes make abnormal proteins called Monoclonal light chains. These proteins are too large for the kidneys to be able to filter properly. As they accumulate, they can obstruct the nephrons of the kidneys, the tiny tubes that filter blood waste, causing permanent renal lesions. These protein -related blockages are responsible for around 85% of kidney complications in people with multiple myeloma.

When the renal function decreases, your body cannot filter and eliminate the waste correctly. This can lead to an accumulation of toxins, edema (fluid overload) and imbalances in electrolytes, which can be fatal.

Progression of the disease

Multiple myeloma is a relapse disease and putting back, which means that it can respond to treatment for a while and disappear temporarily (discounts), but often comes back (relapses). Each relapse can be more difficult to treat than the previous one. Over time, Cancer can stop responding completely to therapyBecoming what is called a multiple myeloma resistant to treatment or refractory.

As the disease progresses, cancer plasma cells multiply quickly and can oust healthy cells in the bone marrow. This prevents your body from making enough red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

A serious drop in red blood cells (anemia) lowers the amount of oxygen reaching your organs. A small number of white blood cells weakens your immune system, which makes you more likely to obtain serious infections. A small number of plates increases the risk of uncontrolled bleeding. When these complications progress and no longer respond to treatment, vital organs can start to stop, which can lead to death.

Bone loss and hypercalcemia

Multiple myeloma can weaken bones and increase the risk of fractures (Breaks) When cancer plasma cells stop the normal degradation and bone reconstruction process. While the bones decompose, calcium, a mineral that helps maintain the health of bones and teeth, is released in the blood circulation. This can lead to hypercalcemiawhich is a condition where there are high levels of calcium in the blood.

Symptoms of hypercalcemia include:

Severe hypercalcemia is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment to reduce blood blood rates. Without rapid treatment, hypercalcemia can disrupt normal heart function, leading to cardiac arrest and death.

Complications of the heart and lung

Multiple myeloma and some of its treatments, in particular immunomodulators (Imids), increase the risk of blood clots, such as deep venous thrombosis (TVP) or pulmonary embolism (PE). A PE occurs when a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, as in a leg, goes to the lungs and blocks the blood flow, which can be fatal.

Certain drugs on myelome can damage the heart or lungs and increase the risk of heart failure. Generally, the more drugs you take to treat multiple myeloma, the higher your risk of heart and pulmonary complications, which can be deadly without rapid treatment.

Life expectancy with multiple myeloma varies from person to person. Several factors influence your prognosis (result), including your age, stage and myeloma subtype when you receive a diagnosis and your overall health. A subtype, in this case, is a more specific type of myelome, such as the multiple myeloma that broods.

Based on current cancer statistics in the United States, The overall five -year -old relative survival rate for people with multiple myeloma is 62.4%. This means that around 62 people out of 100 with myeloma are still alive five years after the diagnosis.

Research progress and new treatment discoveries have improved the prospects of people with multiple myeloma in recent years. Modern therapies, including targeted drugs, immunotherapy and stem cell transplants, help many people get long periods of remission. Although there is no cure for multiple myeloma, these treatments have allowed many people to live an fulfilling active life for years after their diagnosis.

Multiple myeloma is blood cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. People with multiple myeloma can move away from complications such as serious infections due to a weakened immune system, renal failure, progression of the disease with cancer resistant to treatment or cardiac and pulmonary complications linked to the disease or their treatments.

Although the overall five-year survival rate is around 62%, the results can vary depending on age, condition, subtype and overall health. With current progress in treatment, many people with multiple myeloma live for years with good quality of life.