Multiple myeloma can present itself in a myriad of ways, but unfortunately, these symptoms can be identical to the symptoms of old age, such as back and bone pain and increased fatigue.
It's important to note that the symptoms of multiple myeloma can vary from person to person, and some individuals may not experience any symptoms in the early stages of the disease.
Common symptoms or presentations of multiple myeloma include the following:
Bone Pain: Bone pain, particularly in the back, ribs, and hips, is a common symptom. This pain can be persistent and worsen with movement or at night.
Fatigue: Many people with multiple myeloma experience fatigue, weakness, and a general feeling of being unwell. This is often due to the impact of the disease on bone marrow function.
Anemia: Multiple myeloma can lead to a decrease in red blood cell production, resulting in anemia. Anemia can cause fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath.
Frequent Infections: Myeloma can weaken the immune system, leading to an increased susceptibility to infections.
Kidney Problems: Multiple myeloma can damage the kidneys, leading to symptoms such as increased thirst, frequent urination, and fluid retention.
High Calcium Levels (Hypercalcemia): Elevated calcium levels in the blood can cause symptoms like excessive thirst, nausea, constipation, confusion, and kidney problems.
Recurrent Infections: Weakened immune function can lead to a higher risk of infections, including pneumonia and urinary tract infections.
Unexplained Weight Loss: Some individuals with multiple myeloma experience unexplained weight loss.
Nausea and Constipation: These symptoms can result from kidney problems, hypercalcemia, or the side effects of certain medications used to treat multiple myeloma.
Neurological Symptoms: In rare cases, multiple myeloma can affect the nervous system, leading to symptoms like weakness, numbness, or problems with coordination.
CRAB is an acronym used to describe the major clinical features and symptoms associated with multiple myeloma. It is a convenient way to remember and categorize the primary manifestations of the disease.
The CRAB criteria are as follows:
C - Calcium (Hypercalcemia): Elevated calcium levels in the blood, known as hypercalcemia, are the "C" of the CRAB criteria. In multiple myeloma, the abnormal activity of plasma cells can lead to the release of calcium from the bones into the bloodstream, causing symptoms such as excessive thirst, nausea, constipation, confusion, and kidney problems.
R - Renal (Kidney Dysfunction): Kidney problems are another key feature of multiple myeloma. The disease can damage the kidneys, leading to symptoms like increased thirst, frequent urination, and fluid retention. This is often due to the presence of abnormal proteins produced by myeloma cells, which can clog the filtering structures in the kidneys.
A - Anemia: Anemia is a common finding in multiple myeloma. It results from the cancer's impact on the bone marrow, where plasma cells proliferate and crowd out other blood cell-producing cells. Anemia can cause fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath due to a reduced number of red blood cells.
B - Bone Lesions (Bone Pain): Bone involvement is a hallmark of multiple myeloma. The cancer cells can accumulate in the bones, leading to bone pain, especially in areas like the back, ribs, and hips. These painful bone lesions can weaken the bones and increase the risk of fractures.
The presence of one or more of these CRAB criteria is an indication of active and symptomatic multiple myeloma.
Healthcare providers often use these criteria to help diagnose and stage the disease, as well as to determine the need for treatment.
In addition to the CRAB criteria, other tests and assessments, such as blood tests, imaging studies, and bone marrow biopsy, are typically performed to confirm a diagnosis and assess the extent of the disease.
It's essential to consult with a healthcare professional if you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms that may be related to multiple myeloma.
Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can help manage the condition and improve outcomes.
Precursor conditions to multiple myeloma, such as Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) and Smoldering Multiple Myeloma (SMM), do not typically present with the classic CRAB symptoms (Calcium elevation, Renal dysfunction, Anemia, and Bone lesions) associated with active and symptomatic multiple myeloma.
However, these precursor conditions can have their own set of subtle or mild symptoms and characteristics, which are different from those seen in active myeloma:
MGUS (Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance):
SMM (Smoldering Multiple Myeloma):
It's important to note that most people with MGUS or SMM do not develop multiple myeloma, and these conditions are often stable and do not require immediate treatment.
However, individuals with precursor conditions are typically monitored by healthcare providers to track changes in their condition and assess the risk of progression to symptomatic myeloma.
Regular check-ups, blood tests, and other diagnostic tests are used to monitor the disease's progression and help determine when intervention or treatment may be necessary. If you have MGUS or SMM, it is essential to follow your healthcare provider's recommendations for ongoing observation and care.
Managing multiple myeloma symptoms typically involves a comprehensive approach that may include medical treatment, supportive care, and lifestyle modifications.
It's important to work closely with a healthcare team, which may include myeloma specialists, oncologists, hematologists, nurses, and other specialists, to develop a personalized treatment plan.
Here are some strategies to manage myeloma symptoms:
Medical Treatment:
Symptom Management:
Supportive Care:
Bone Health:
Emotional Support:
Financial Support:
Lifestyle Modifications:
It's crucial to have open and regular communication with your healthcare team to discuss treatment options, manage side effects, and address any concerns.
Multiple myeloma is a complex condition, and the treatment approach may vary based on individual factors, such as the stage of the disease and overall health. Your healthcare team will guide you through the most appropriate management plan for your specific situation.
You can also see what other myeloma patients have done to manage these symptoms and what has worked for them and what hasn't by using our Side Effect Solutions tool. Remember to always discuss with your doctor before adding/removing anything from your standard diet and/or incorporating a large lifestyle change.
Multiple myeloma can present itself in a myriad of ways, but unfortunately, these symptoms can be identical to the symptoms of old age, such as back and bone pain and increased fatigue.
It's important to note that the symptoms of multiple myeloma can vary from person to person, and some individuals may not experience any symptoms in the early stages of the disease.
Common symptoms or presentations of multiple myeloma include the following:
Bone Pain: Bone pain, particularly in the back, ribs, and hips, is a common symptom. This pain can be persistent and worsen with movement or at night.
Fatigue: Many people with multiple myeloma experience fatigue, weakness, and a general feeling of being unwell. This is often due to the impact of the disease on bone marrow function.
Anemia: Multiple myeloma can lead to a decrease in red blood cell production, resulting in anemia. Anemia can cause fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath.
Frequent Infections: Myeloma can weaken the immune system, leading to an increased susceptibility to infections.
Kidney Problems: Multiple myeloma can damage the kidneys, leading to symptoms such as increased thirst, frequent urination, and fluid retention.
High Calcium Levels (Hypercalcemia): Elevated calcium levels in the blood can cause symptoms like excessive thirst, nausea, constipation, confusion, and kidney problems.
Recurrent Infections: Weakened immune function can lead to a higher risk of infections, including pneumonia and urinary tract infections.
Unexplained Weight Loss: Some individuals with multiple myeloma experience unexplained weight loss.
Nausea and Constipation: These symptoms can result from kidney problems, hypercalcemia, or the side effects of certain medications used to treat multiple myeloma.
Neurological Symptoms: In rare cases, multiple myeloma can affect the nervous system, leading to symptoms like weakness, numbness, or problems with coordination.
CRAB is an acronym used to describe the major clinical features and symptoms associated with multiple myeloma. It is a convenient way to remember and categorize the primary manifestations of the disease.
The CRAB criteria are as follows:
C - Calcium (Hypercalcemia): Elevated calcium levels in the blood, known as hypercalcemia, are the "C" of the CRAB criteria. In multiple myeloma, the abnormal activity of plasma cells can lead to the release of calcium from the bones into the bloodstream, causing symptoms such as excessive thirst, nausea, constipation, confusion, and kidney problems.
R - Renal (Kidney Dysfunction): Kidney problems are another key feature of multiple myeloma. The disease can damage the kidneys, leading to symptoms like increased thirst, frequent urination, and fluid retention. This is often due to the presence of abnormal proteins produced by myeloma cells, which can clog the filtering structures in the kidneys.
A - Anemia: Anemia is a common finding in multiple myeloma. It results from the cancer's impact on the bone marrow, where plasma cells proliferate and crowd out other blood cell-producing cells. Anemia can cause fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath due to a reduced number of red blood cells.
B - Bone Lesions (Bone Pain): Bone involvement is a hallmark of multiple myeloma. The cancer cells can accumulate in the bones, leading to bone pain, especially in areas like the back, ribs, and hips. These painful bone lesions can weaken the bones and increase the risk of fractures.
The presence of one or more of these CRAB criteria is an indication of active and symptomatic multiple myeloma.
Healthcare providers often use these criteria to help diagnose and stage the disease, as well as to determine the need for treatment.
In addition to the CRAB criteria, other tests and assessments, such as blood tests, imaging studies, and bone marrow biopsy, are typically performed to confirm a diagnosis and assess the extent of the disease.
It's essential to consult with a healthcare professional if you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms that may be related to multiple myeloma.
Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can help manage the condition and improve outcomes.
Precursor conditions to multiple myeloma, such as Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) and Smoldering Multiple Myeloma (SMM), do not typically present with the classic CRAB symptoms (Calcium elevation, Renal dysfunction, Anemia, and Bone lesions) associated with active and symptomatic multiple myeloma.
However, these precursor conditions can have their own set of subtle or mild symptoms and characteristics, which are different from those seen in active myeloma:
MGUS (Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance):
SMM (Smoldering Multiple Myeloma):
It's important to note that most people with MGUS or SMM do not develop multiple myeloma, and these conditions are often stable and do not require immediate treatment.
However, individuals with precursor conditions are typically monitored by healthcare providers to track changes in their condition and assess the risk of progression to symptomatic myeloma.
Regular check-ups, blood tests, and other diagnostic tests are used to monitor the disease's progression and help determine when intervention or treatment may be necessary. If you have MGUS or SMM, it is essential to follow your healthcare provider's recommendations for ongoing observation and care.
Managing multiple myeloma symptoms typically involves a comprehensive approach that may include medical treatment, supportive care, and lifestyle modifications.
It's important to work closely with a healthcare team, which may include myeloma specialists, oncologists, hematologists, nurses, and other specialists, to develop a personalized treatment plan.
Here are some strategies to manage myeloma symptoms:
Medical Treatment:
Symptom Management:
Supportive Care:
Bone Health:
Emotional Support:
Financial Support:
Lifestyle Modifications:
It's crucial to have open and regular communication with your healthcare team to discuss treatment options, manage side effects, and address any concerns.
Multiple myeloma is a complex condition, and the treatment approach may vary based on individual factors, such as the stage of the disease and overall health. Your healthcare team will guide you through the most appropriate management plan for your specific situation.
You can also see what other myeloma patients have done to manage these symptoms and what has worked for them and what hasn't by using our Side Effect Solutions tool. Remember to always discuss with your doctor before adding/removing anything from your standard diet and/or incorporating a large lifestyle change.
about the author
Audrey Burton-Bethke
Audrey is a content writer and editor for the HealthTree Foundation. She originally joined the HealthTree Foundation in 2020. Audrey loves spending time with her supportive husband, energetic four-year-old, and new baby.