Myeloma Health Dictionary

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Myeloma: From 3 Different Sources

Bone marrow tumour. Neoplastic, with presence of high globulin levels in the blood. Bone marrow becomes impregnated with plasma cells. Lesions appear in pelvis and dorsal spine, skull and rib cage.

Symptoms: weight loss, back pain, anaemia, impaired kidney function. Usual symptoms of anaemia: weakness, fatigue, pallor, drowsiness, indigestion.

Differential diagnosis. Important. Early X-ray confirms. Patient may be treated for back pain long before true condition is revealed.

Special investigations: for anaemia, plasma cells in the bone marrow. Check ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), kidney function and for excess calcium in the blood.

Treatment. Chemotherapy; radiotherapy. Anti-tumour agents with a tendency to reduce side-effects: Echinacea, Poke root. Comfrey: potential benefit outweighs possible risk. Thuja.

Tea. Combine, equal parts, Red Clover, Gotu Kola, Clivers, Plantain. 1 heaped teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes. 1 cup 3 or more times daily.

Decoction. Combine: Echinacea 2; Comfrey root 1; Poke root half. 1 heaped teaspoon to each cup water simmered gently 20 minutes. Half-1 cup 3 or more times daily.

Tablets/capsules: Echinacea, Comfrey, Poke root. Liquid Extracts: Echinacea 2; Comfrey 1; Poke root half; few drops Tincture Capsicum. Dose: 1 teaspoon, thrice daily.

Tinctures: Echinacea 2; Yellow Dock 1; Horsetail 1; Tincture Capsicum quarter. Dose: 2 teaspoons, thrice daily.

Powders: Echinacea 2; Comfrey 1; Yellow Dock 1; pinch Cayenne. Dose: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one-third teaspoon), thrice daily.

Dr William Boericke. Poke root often assuages pain in bone cancers and tumours. Supplements. Vitamins B12, C, D, E, Selenium.

At the discretion of the physician, any of the above alternatives may be used secondary to hospital treatment.

Treatment by a general medical practitioner or hospital specialist. 

Health Source: Bartrams Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine
Author: Health Encyclopedia
(multiple myeloma, myelomatosis) n. a malignant disease of the bone marrow, characterized by two or more of the following criteria: (1) the presence of an excess of abnormal malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow; (2) typical *lytic deposits in the bones on X-ray, giving the appearance of holes; (3) the presence in the serum of an abnormal gammaglobulin, usually IgG (an immunoglobulin; see paraprotein). *Bence-Jones protein may also be found in the serum or urine. The patient may complain of tiredness due to anaemia and of bone pain and may develop pathological fractures. Treatment is usually with such drugs as steroids, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, or thalidomide with local radiotherapy to particular areas of pain. See also plasmacytoma.
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Myelomatosis

A MALIGNANT disorder of PLASMA cells, derived from B-lymphocytes (see LYMPHOCYTE). In most patients the BONE MARROW is heavily in?ltrated with atypical, monoclonal plasma cells, which gradually replace the normal cell lines, inducing ANAEMIA, LEUCOPENIA, and THROMBOCYTOPENIA. Bone absorption occurs, producing di?use osteoporosis (see under BONE, DISORDERS OF). In some cases only part of the immunoglobulin molecule is produced by the tumour cells, appearing in the urine as Bence Jones PROTEINURIA.

The disease is rare under the age of 30, frequency increasing with age to peak between 60 and 70 years. There may be a long preclinical phase, sometimes as long as 25 years. When symptoms do occur, they tend to re?ect bone involvement, reduced immune function, renal failure, anaemia or hyperviscosity of the blood. Vertebral collapse is common, with nerve root pressure and reduced stature. The disease is eventually fatal, infection being a common cause of death. Local skeletal problems should be treated with RADIOTHERAPY, and the general disease with CHEMOTHERAPY

– chie?y the ALKYLATING AGENTS melphalan or cyclophosphamide. Red-blood-cell TRANSFUSION is usually required, together with plasmapheresis (see PLASMA EXCHANGE), and orthopaedic surgery may be necessary following fractures.... myelomatosis

Multiple Myeloma

Also called myelomatosis, multiple myeloma is a rare, cancerous condition in which plasma cells in the bone marrow proliferate uncontrollably and function incorrectly. It occurs in middle- to old age.

Plasma cells are a type of B-lymphocyte that produce immunoglobulins, which help protect against infection. In multiple myeloma, the proliferating plasma cells produce excessive amounts of one type of immunoglobulin, while production of other types is impaired. This makes infection more likely.Proliferation of the abnormal cells causes pain and destroys bone tissue.

Affected vertebrae may collapse and compress nerves, causing numbness or paralysis. Blood calcium levels increase as bone is destroyed, as may the level of one or more immunoglobulins. These changes in the blood may damage the kidneys, leading to kidney failure. There may also be anaemia and a tendency for abnormal bleeding.

The disease is diagnosed by a bone marrow biopsy, by blood tests or urinalysis, and by X-rays. Treatment includes the use of anticancer drugs, radiotherapy, and supportive measures, including blood transfusions, antibiotic drugs, and analgesic drugs.... multiple myeloma

Myeloma, Multiple

See multiple myeloma.... myeloma, multiple

Myeloma Kidney

see cast nephropathy.... myeloma kidney

Myelomalacia

n. softening of the tissues of the spinal cord, most often caused by an impaired blood supply.... myelomalacia

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