Multiple Myeloma (cont.)
Supportive care
Multiple myeloma and its treatment can lead to other health problems. At any
stage of the disease, you can have supportive care.
Supportive care is treatment to prevent or fight infections, to control pain
and other symptoms, to relieve the side effects of therapy, and to help you cope
with the feelings that a diagnosis of cancer can bring. You may receive
supportive care to prevent or control these problems and to improve your comfort
and quality of life during treatment.
You can get information about supportive care on NCI's Web site at
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/coping and from NCI's Cancer Information
Service at 1-800-4-CANCER or LiveHelp (http://www.cancer.gov/help).
Infections
Because people with multiple myeloma get infections very easily, you may
receive antibiotics and other drugs.
Some people receive vaccines against the flu and pneumonia. You may want to
talk with your health care team about when to get certain vaccines.
The health care team may advise you to stay away from crowds and from people
with colds and other contagious diseases. If an infection develops, it can be
serious and should be treated promptly. You may need to stay in the hospital for
treatment.
Anemia
Myeloma and its treatment can lead to anemia, which may make you feel very
tired. Drugs or a blood transfusion can help with this problem.
Pain
Multiple myeloma often causes bone pain. Your health care provider can
suggest ways to relieve or reduce pain:
- A brace that relieves pain in the neck or back
- Drugs that fight pain anywhere in the body
- Radiation therapy from a large machine aimed at the bone
- Surgery to fix a compressed (squeezed) spinal cord
Some people get pain
relief from massage or acupuncture when used along with other approaches. Also,
you may learn relaxation techniques such as listening to slow music or breathing
slowly and comfortably.
Thinning bones
Myeloma cells keep new bone cells from forming, and bones become thin
wherever there are myeloma cells. Your doctor may give you drugs to prevent bone
thinning and help reduce the risk of fractures. Physical activity, such as
walking, also helps keep bones strong.
Too much calcium in the blood
Multiple myeloma may cause calcium to leave the bones and enter the
bloodstream. If you have a very high level of calcium in your blood, you may
lose your appetite. You also may feel nauseated, restless, or confused. A high
calcium level can also make you very tired, weak, dehydrated, and thirsty.
Drinking a lot of fluids and taking drugs that lower the calcium in the blood
can be helpful.
Kidney problems
Some people with multiple myeloma have kidney problems. If the problems are
severe, a person may need dialysis. Dialysis removes wastes from the blood. A
person with serious kidney problems may need a kidney transplant.
Amyloidosis
Some people with myeloma develop amyloidosis. This problem is caused by
abnormal proteins collecting in tissues of the body. The buildup of proteins can
cause many problems, some of them severe. For example, proteins can build up in
the heart, causing chest pain and swollen feet. There are drugs to treat
amyloidosis.
Nutrition and physical activity
It's important for you to take care of yourself by eating well, drinking
plenty of fluids, and staying as active as you can.
You need the right amount of calories to maintain a good weight. You also
need enough protein to keep up your strength. Eating well may help you feel
better and have more energy.
However, you may not feel like eating during treatment or soon after. You may
be uncomfortable or tired. You may find that foods do not taste as good as they
used to. In addition, the side effects of treatment (such as poor appetite,
nausea, vomiting, or mouth sores) can make it hard to eat well. Your doctor, a
registered dietitian, or another health care provider can suggest ways to deal
with these problems.
Research shows that people with cancer feel better when they are active.
Walking, yoga, swimming, and other activities can keep you strong and increase
your energy. Exercise may reduce nausea and pain and make treatment easier to
handle. It also can help relieve stress. Whatever physical activity you choose,
be sure to talk to your doctor before you start. Also, if your activity causes
you pain or other problems, be sure to let your doctor or nurse know about it.
Patient Discussions
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Multiple Myeloma - Symptoms
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