Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that affects the white blood cells in the bone marrow. Its plasma cells are responsible for making antibodies and consequently, are an integral part of the body’s immune system. If there is a build-up of plasma cells in the bone marrow, which leads to tumor formation in the bones, it means one is suffering from multiple myeloma. Cancer grows in the marrow within the bones of the pelvis, spine, skull, shoulders, rib cage, and hips. These cells damage or weaken the bones depending upon the different stages of multiple myeloma, which are discussed below.

Different stages of multiple myeloma

• Stage I
  Many patients who are suffering from Stage I of myeloma do not show any symptoms because the cancer cells are localized. If cancer affects the functioning of the kidney, then the condition might become worse and show obvious symptoms irrespective of the stage.
• Stage II
  At this stage, cancer still has better chances of being cured than later on in the condition. The number of cancerous cells in the body increase but the condition hasn’t progressed enough to be classified as stage III.
• Stage III
  In this stage, the presence of cancerous cells in the body is high and the patients are likely to suffer from advanced bone damage, high levels of M protein in the blood or urine, and hypercalcemia.

If one is suffering from multiple myeloma, the signs and symptoms can become more persistent and obvious depending on the different stages of the condition, i.e., the signs at the early stage of the disease might be different from that of the advanced stage. Some simple or unusual symptoms of the disease are fatigue, bone pain, bone fracture, shortness of breath, nausea, constipation, increased thirst, increased urination, fevers, etc.

Other symptoms or signs of the disease that one can also face include the following:

• Kidney problems
  Since there is a rise in abnormal antibody proteins and blood calcium levels, this affects the kidney of the patient.
• Low blood count
  As malignant cells replace the normal blood-forming cells in the marrow, the disease results in anemia. The low blood cell count causes problems like weakness, shortness of breath, leucopenia, and fatigue.
• Hypercalcemia
  Since the bone marrow is affected in this disease, calcium is released into the blood. The presence of a high level of calcium in the blood causes excessive thirst, nausea, urination, dizziness, mental confusion, and constipation. The level of the calcium that is released directly in the bloodstream depends upon the different stages of multiple myeloma.
• Spinal cord compression
  Another sign of this cancer is unusual pain the bones. Multiple myeloma causes collapsing bone structures which may further lead to spinal cord compression. If one feels pain, numbness, or a tingling effect in your spine, then they shouldn’t ignore it.