1. What are the early symptoms of myeloma?
Common symptoms of myeloma include bone pain—particularly in the lower back—that worsens with activity.Anemia leads to fatigue and pallor, while recurrent infections indicate impaired immune function.
2. How is myeloma diagnosed?
Diagnosis relies on serum protein electrophoresis to detect M-protein and immunofixation electrophoresis to determine the type.Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy reveal that abnormal plasma cells account for more than 10% of the cells.
3. What are the main treatment methods for myeloma?
Primary treatments include targeted therapies (such as proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents), chemotherapy, and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.A three-drug combination regimen is the standard of care for newly diagnosed patients.
4. What is minimally invasive treatment for myeloma?
Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation involves reinfusing the patient's own stem cells after high-dose chemotherapy and is considered a minimally invasive treatment.Percutaneous vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are used to treat vertebral compression fractures.
5. Why do myeloma patients develop bone disease?
Myeloma cells secrete factors that activate osteoclasts and inhibit osteoblasts, resulting in bone resorption.Common clinical manifestations include bone pain, pathological fractures, and osteolytic lesions.
6. What is the role of autologous stem cell transplantation in myeloma?
Autologous stem cell transplantation involves using high-dose chemotherapy to eliminate myeloma cells, followed by the reinfusion of the patient's own hematopoietic stem cells to restore hematopoietic function.Transplantation can prolong progression-free survival and overall survival.
7. What should myeloma patients pay attention to in their daily lives?
Avoid strenuous exercise and heavy physical labor to prevent fractures.Maintain good personal hygiene to prevent infection.Drink plenty of water to promote the excretion of abnormal proteins and protect kidney function.Regularly monitor complete blood counts and kidney function.
