What is Myeloma? British woman diagnosed with a rare blood cancer that erodes bones

Having migraines? It could be much more than just a headache, it could be cancer! A woman's severe migraines were ignored by doctors till she ended up in the hospital, diagnosed with a deadly and rare blood cancer that led to holes in her ribs, pelvis, spine and skull. After a series of migraines, she got a headache so severe that Simone began displaying symptoms of a stroke, including slurred speech and paralysis on the right side of the body.

Upon reaching the hospital, she was initially diagnosed with sarcoidosis- an inflammatory condition but later investigations revealed that she was suffering from myeloma , an incurable blood cancer.

By the time her diagnosis was confirmed, the cancer had spread to lesions in her ribs, pelvis and spine and soft spots in her skull, demanding chemotherapy as soon as possible.

Though now in control, the cancer has made the woman's bones so weak that she has broken her neck twice in the past seven years. “When I was first diagnosed seven years ago, it was literally elderly people on leaflets who were smiling,” she told The Sun in an interview.

What is Myeloma?
According to the American Society of Hematology, Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells . These are white blood cells that produce antibodies that fight infections and diseases. The cells in this cancer produce an overabundant amount of antibodies that don't provide protection against infection. They commonly produce substances that lead to bone destruction in the form of pain and/or fractures.

These cells are produced in the bone marrow, the soft tissue inside the bones and can travel through the bloodstream to other places in the body. If myeloma occurs at different sites in the body, it is called multiple myeloma.

What are the signs and risks of myeloma?


The signs of the cancer are hypercalcemia, anemia, kidney failure, osteoporosis, high protein levels in the blood and/or urine and weight loss. It mostly occurs in males, over the age of 50, those with Gaucher's disease, family history of myeloma, obesity, and those who have been exposed to radiation before.

How is myeloma treated?


As per the American Society of Hematology , the treatment of myeloma depends on the health and stage of the disease. Treatment options include chemotherapy, anemia drugs, radiation therapy, stem cell transplant, immunotherapy, immunomodulators and more.