Risk Factors for Developing Multiple Myeloma
What is Multiple Myeloma?
According to the American Cancer Society, this non-contagious blood disorder is a type of cancer that arises from plasma cells, a type of white blood cells that make up an important part of the human immune system and that are found within bone marrow. It begins when plasma cells change from benign to malignant and start growing wildly. They produce a tumor known as a plasmacytoma. When a patient has more than one plasma cell tumor, the condition is known as multiple myeloma.
Plasma cells normally produce proteins. In patients with this type of malignancy, the levels of abnormal proteins in the blood usually rise. Sufferers experience health problems related to the immune system, bones, kidneys and red blood cell count, the Mayo Clinic reports.
Sometimes patients experience periods when they're asymptomatic. During such times, doctors typically just monitor them.
This illness has no cure but is considered treatable. The standard treatment options include the use of several individual medications, chemotherapy, corticosteroids, radiation therapy and stem cell transplants. The goal of all of them is to try to help control the symptoms of the disease.
Among those who have succumbed to the disorder is former Vice-Presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro, who battled the illness for 12 years before dying at 75.
Risk Factors
Reseachers studying multiple myeloma have determined that individuals with specific factors face an elevated risk of developing the disorder:
MGUS connection. Patients diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) have excess amounts of antibody protein due to abnormal plasma cells. While this condition doesn't usually affect their overall health, over time, many of them develop multiple myeloma, lymphoma or amyloidosis. The risk factor is around one percent a year.
Age. Most patients who develop the disorder are past the age of 50. While a majority are in their mid-60s, this type of cancer sometimes strikes those under 40.
Race. The highest risk occurs among African-Americans and is about twice that of Caucasians. Those of Asian descent face the lowest risk, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Sex. Experts don't know why around 11,200 men versus 8,700 women contract multiple myeloma each year in the United States.
Weight. Individuals who are obese or even overweight face an increased risk of the disorder.
Family history. Studies have suggested that an individual's risk could be higher if a close relative had this type of cancer.
Researchers are studying a number of other potential risk factors. One of them is exposure to specific chemicals or germs, particularly viruses.
Other possible risks are having alterations in certain genes and following a diet that includes a number of specific foods. However, the majority of individuals who have risk factors for multiple myeloma never develop cancer.
Sources:
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/MultipleMyeloma/DetailedGuide/multiple-myeloma-what-is-multiple-myeloma
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/multiple-myeloma/DS00415
http://www.observer.com/2011/politics/remembering-geraldine-ferraro
Published by Vonda J. Sines
Vonda J. Sines has been a writer and an editor her entire adult life. She left a conventional 8-to-5 career to pursue her passion of writing from dawn to dusk. She has worked as a horse, dog and cat rescue... View profile