Our immune system contains plasma cells and other white blood cells. Plasma cells produce antibodies that help the body get rid of harmful substances. Each type of plasma cell is specific, and a variety of plasma cells respond to various harmful substances. With some cancers, the body produces too many abnormal plasma cells. The abnormal cells are called myeloma cells. They collect in the bone marrow and the outermost bone layer. The resulting disease is multiple myeloma.

Anything that changes someone’s risk of getting a disease is a risk factor. There are different risk factors for different diseases, and the factors assess statistical odds rather than certainties. Some people have several risk factors for multiple myeloma but never get the disease. Some have no risk factors but are still diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Risk factors for multiple myeloma include:

• Gender: Men are more at risk of developing multiple myeloma than women.
• Age: The risk of multiple myeloma goes up as age increases. Most people are diagnosed in their 60s.
• Obesity: There is a higher risk of developing multiple myeloma if overweight or obese people.
• Exposure: Being exposed to radiation, petroleum, or other chemicals is a risk factor for multiple myeloma.

Some components of multiple myeloma are genetic, like race. Another genetic component is if patient have a history of other plasma cell diseases. People who have had monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) have a higher risk of developing multiple myeloma. MGUS is a noncancerous precursor to the disease. Having solitary plasmacytoma is also a genetic factor that could lead to multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma is linked to specific gene mutations. People with the lysine (K)-specific demethylase 1A, or KDM1A, had a 6 to 9 times higher risk of developing multiple myeloma. Gene mutations can be inherited or can occur spontaneously in individuals.

In early multiple myeloma, there are usually no symptoms. Later on, signs and symptoms may vary. They include:

• Loss of vitality, fatigue, pallor and weakness with anaemia.
• Bone pains on different parts of the body.
• Low RBC counts, WBC counts and Platelet counts.
• High serum calcium levels with kidney damages, constipation, osteoporosis, frequent urination, etc.
• Mental confusion, drowsiness, stroke like symptoms, etc.
• Hyper viscosity of the blood.

Symptoms of multiple myeloma may be very similar to other bone diseases or medical problems, so a proper diagnosis is crucial.

Scientists have found that radiation, toxic chemicals, infection with cancerous viruses, or anything that interferes with the immune system can trigger the development of multiple myeloma. These triggers include:

• Dioxins like those in agent orange
• Benzene
• Solvents
• Agricultural chemicals
• Fuels
• Cleaning products
• Engine exhaust etc.

Diagnosis of multiple myeloma begins with a visit to the doctor who will complete a medical history, give you a physical, and then move on to any indicated diagnostic testing, for example:

• X-ray: This imaging test takes an electromagnetic photo of internal structures like bones and organs. Bone scans are used to check for bony involvement, but the characteristics of multiple myeloma can make bone scan X-rays unreliable.
• Laboratory tests: Lab tests of the blood may show M proteins produced by myeloma cells. The abnormal protein beta-2-microglobulin may also be seen in those with multiple myeloma. Analysis of the urine is another test to show those same M proteins. When found in urine, M proteins are called Bence Jones proteins.
• Skeletal survey: This survey involves imaging of all your major bones to look for changes due to the disease.
• Bone marrow biopsy: Your doctor may take a piece of your bone marrow to test in the lab. Usually, this is obtained using a long, hollow needle inserted into your bone. The sample is then examined for myeloma cells. Gene mutations can be identified using specialized tests such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).
• Computed tomography or CT scan: Similar to x-ray, CT uses cross-cut computer images, or slices, to show detailed graphics of muscles, fat, organs, and bones.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This imaging device uses magnets and radio frequencies to make detailed images of organs and body structures.
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan: Radioactive-tagged glucose is injected into the blood with a PET scan. Body tissues that use large amounts of glucose, like tumors, can be found anywhere in the body via the scan.

Complications

• Frequent infections. Myeloma cells inhibit your body’s ability to fight infections.
• Bone problems. Multiple myeloma also can affect your bones, leading to bone pain, thinning bones and broken bones.
• Reduced kidney function. Multiple myeloma may cause problems with kidney function, including kidney failure. Higher calcium levels in the blood related to eroding bones can interfere with your kidneys’ ability to filter your blood’s waste. The proteins produced by the myeloma cells can cause similar problems.
• Low red blood cell count (anemia). As myeloma cells crowd out normal blood cells, multiple myeloma can also cause anemia and other blood problems.

Treatment for multiple myeloma takes several factors into account, including age, health, medical history, disease severity, and treatment tolerance.

Allopathic treatment include:

• Medications for pain
• Medications to stop fractures
• Treatment of fractures
• Chemotherapy and steroids
• Radiation treatments
• Biological targeted therapies (Thalomid, Velcade, Revlimid)

The more complicated treatments include bone marrow/stem cell transplantation and alpha interferon. Transplantation is used a lot, but the procedures are often associated with high toxicity. Alpha interferon is a targeted biological response modifier that hampers the division of cancer cells. This only slows the growth of tumors, but is some little successful when teamed with chemotherapy.

Homeopathic Treatment of Multiple Myeloma 

Siliceia Tera

Diseases of bones, caries and necrosis. Keloid growth. Felons, abscesses, boils, old fistulous ulcers. Crippled nails. Indurated tumors. Abscesses of joints.

Spinal irritation after injuries to spine; diseases of bones of spine. Potts’ disease. Boils on gums. Abscess at root of teeth. Pyorrhea. Nasal bones sensitive.

Phosphorus

Destroyed bones, especially the lower jaw and tibia. Ascending sensory and motor paralysis from ends of fingers and toes. Stitches in elbow and shoulder joints. Burning of feet. Weakness and trembling, from every exertion. Can scarcely hold anything with his hands. Tibia inflamed and becomes necrosed. Arms and hands become numb. Joints suddenly give way. Osteomyelitis. Bone fragility.  Cancer of bone. Disease of Joints. Mollities ossium.

Thuja Occidentalis

Balanitis. Cancer. Catalepsy. Chorea. Clavus. Condylomata. Granular inflammation. Jaws, growth on. Joints, cracking in. Levitation. Morvan’s disease. Neck, cracking.

Burnett says Thuja is the remedy for fatty tumours, which he regards as sycotic in nature.

Radium bromatum

Arteritis. Albuminuria. Appendicitis. Arthritis. Atheroma. Bones, affections of. Callosities. Cancer. Carcinosis. Caruncle of Urethra. Climacteric flushes. Corns. Rheumatism. Rodent ulcer. Sclerotomies. Skin, affections of. Tic douloureux. Trachoma. Ulcers. Warts. X-ray Dermatitis. Succession of little pimples on forehead and chest, raised, red, exuding when punctured serum, blood, and a small amount of pus.-Small papule in centre of l. cheek, which dried off and recurred many times. Heavy crust formed over area when papule scratched. This also recurred many times.-Skin of face very irritable; this gradually got worse and lasted two months; the skin became thickened and broke in places, exuding clear moisture.

Teeth painful, feel elongated.-Gumboil r. lower jaw back of molar teeth, swelling and soreness prevented talking. Dull pain in hip-joint, located in head of femur. Dull pains in both legs and back. Soreness in calves and thighs. Soreness and pain in both knees, feel as if bones would protrude. Sharp, lightning-like pain, l. anterior tibial surface, as if in periosteum.

Ruta

Bone, bruised; pains in. Bruises. Bursitis. Cartilages, bruises of; pains in. Chest, sternum. Facial, paralysis, from cold. Fevers. Fractures. Ganglion. Haemorrhages. Hands, pains in. Paralysis. Perichondritis. Periostitis. Rectum, affections of; prolapse of. Restlessness. Rheumatism Sciatica. Spleen, affections of. Sprain. Stammering. Tongue, cramp in; swelling of. Urination, difficulty of. Varicocele. Veins, swollen; varicose. Warts.

Dislocations. Lymph nodes on bones, ligaments; Periosteum Injuries, sprains. Loss of power in tendones. Long bones become concave (flexed). Scrofulous exostosis.

Syphilinum

Rheumatism. Sciatica. Sleeplessness. Spine, caries of. Strabismus. Tibial pains. Cancers. Burning cancer. Ovaries congested and inflamed; tendency to ovarian tumours. Aching pains in limbs. Gradual rigidity of all joints after eruption; flexors seem contracted.-Rheumatic swelling of wrist and big toe, bluish red. Excruciating arthritis; swelling, heat, and redness intense. Rheumatism, muscles are caked in hard knots or lumps. Osteosarcoma in centre of tibia.

Pustular eruption on different parts of body; in patches on certain places. After healing of Cancer a fresh pustular eruption appears on different parts of body, which, when pustules have discharged an ichorous liquid and healed up.

Hecla Lava

tumour of. Bones, affections of. Breast, tumours of. Dentition, difficult. Exostoses. Glands, affections of. Jaws, tumours on. Milk, deficient. Neuralgia. Osteitis deformans. Osteomalacia. Osteosarcoma. Periostitis. Rickets. Syphilis. Teeth, caries of. Toothache. Tumours. Lumps on the jaw-bones. The thigh, and especially the shin bones, swelled and bulged. osteosarcoma, scrofulous and syphilitic osteitis and exostoses. The swellings amenable to it are painful and sensitive to touch.

Destructive ulceration of nasal bones. Polypoid growth commencing in antrum of Highmore, deforming face, teeth are very sensitive to pressure; with swelling about jaws.-Neuralgia, from carious tooth. Swelling and indurated tumour on bone(s). Hip disease. Exostosis of tibia; severe continuous pain in capitating from work.

Buforana

Buboes. Cancer. Carbuncles. Caries. Chorea. Dropsy. Epilepsy. Heart, affections of. Impotence. Intermittents. Malignant pustule. Meningitis. Panaritium. Pemphigus. Phlegmasia alba dolens. Plague. Podagra. Self-abuse. Skin, affections of. Stammering. Suppuration. Whitlow. Bruised pains in limbs; trembling; cramps; arthritic swellings.-Swelling of hands and arms; burning pains. Burning lancinating in bones. swelling blue-black around nail.

Skin dirty greenish oily. Large yellow bullae, which open, leaving a raw surface exuding an ichorous fluid. Burning blisters. Sweat profuse; oily. Carbuncles. Chilblains.

Conium Maculatum

Bruises. Cancer. Scrofula. Tetters. Trismus. Tumours. Ulcers. Drawing pains in the hips. Arthritic pains in the knee, tearing, and tensive, aggravated on beginning to walk after sitting down, with a sensation as if the tendons were too short. Restlessness and heaviness in the legs. Lassitude in the knees. Cracking of the knee-joint. Painful swelling of the legs and of the feet. Red spots on the calves of the legs, sometimes painful, becoming subsequently green or yellow, as after a blow or bruise, and impeding the movement of the foot. Pustules in the feet.

Shootings, and pricking itching in the skin. Swelling of the glands, with tingling and stitches after contusions and bruises. Bluish colour of the skin. Pimples, like those in scabies, which become scurfy. Brownish, or red and itching spots. Gangrenous ulcers. Ulceration of the bones. Panaris. Petechiae. Reddish and greenish spots, as from ecchymosis.

Phytolacca

Barber’s itch. Boils. Bone, diseases of; tumours of. Breasts, affections of. Cancer. Gleet. Glossitis. Gonorrhoea. Gout. Granular conjunctivitis. Intense cramps, muscles gather in large knots, hard and ridged. Pains in limbs. Rheumatic pains in arms and hands. Cold hands and feet. Enlarged glands in axillae.-Shooting in r. shoulder-joint with stiffness and paralysis. Neuralgic pain in outer side of thighs.  pains in periosteum of tibia, with nodes and irritable ulcers on lower leg. Stitches in various parts, always from without inward and near surface.-Ankles swollen. Feet puffed, soles burn. Ulcers on inner sides of soles. Aching of heels, dull, wearing.

Syphilitic eruptions and ulcerations-secondary and tertiary. Squamous eruptions; tinea capitis; lupus. Shingles. Itch -Pityriasis. Psoriasis. Warts. Lipoma. Erythematous blotches, slightly raised, pinkish, slowly desquamating, ending in purple spot, as old ones died away others came. Suppuration of painless tumours.

Asterias Rubens

Acne. Apoplexy. Cancer. Constipation. Lassitude and great weakness of the lower extremities. Pain in the l. hip. Burning stitches in the great trochanter and the coxofemoral articulation. Stitches at the fore part of the thigh. Pain in the joints of the foot. Painful pulling in the sole of the foot. Gouty pain in the joint formed by the big toe with the first metatarsal bone; redness and heat of the skin at this place. Violent, very unpleasant itching at the thighs and legs. Eruptions on the thighs and insteps, consisting of small, itching vesicles, which tear easily and change to small, burning, large and superficial ulcers, lasting several days before cicatrising.

Skin itch. Tetters. Ulcers with sensitive edges, fetid discharge. Acne, black-tipped puncta, small red bases. Dry, harsh skin, earthy appearance.

Mezereum

Face grey, earthy complexion. Face and forehead hot and red, with great restlessness and peevishness.

Bones affections. Coccygodynia. Constipation. Contraction of tendons. Crusta lactea. Herpes zoster. Impetigo. Mercury, effects of. Neuralgia. Osteoma. Pediculosis. Pityriasis.  Pruritus senilis. Rheumatism. Scrofula. Syphilis. Pains in carious teeth. The hollow teeth decay suddenly. Drawing, burning, or boring shootings in teeth, and into cheek-bones, and temples. Teeth, affections of. Tinea capitis. Tinea versicolor. Tongue, affections of; swelling of. Ulcers. Vaccination. Itching and oozing eruption behind ears. Tingling in ears, sometimes with drowsiness. Adenoids.

Dislocating pain in shoulder-joint. Arm feels sprained on top of shoulder. Drawing and rheumatic tension in arms, with paralytic weakness.-Paralysis of flexors. Jerking pains in shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. Swelling and heat of arm and hand, with twitching and pricking in muscles. Ulcers on finger-joints. Hard swelling of calves of legs.

Jerking pain in toes. Violent pains in bones of feet; in bones of instep. Cylindrical bones; caries, after abuse of Mercury. Ulceration of bones.

Skin sensitive to touch. General desquamation of skin of body; usual liver spots on chest and arms become dark and desquamate. Red rash, itching violently. Ulcers with thick, whitish, yellow scabs, under which thick, yellow pus collects. Skin covered with elevated white scabs.

Capsicum

Rheumatic pain in limbs. Tension in the knees and stiffness in the calves of the legs on walking. Stiffness of the arms and legs, with tingling as when they are asleep. Shooting-tearing from hip to knee and foot. Pain, as from dislocation, and stiffness in the joints, with cracking, esp. at the beginning of a walk. Caries of hip; of leg atrophied, violent pains in atrophied leg. Cold sweat on upper part of legs.

Arsenicum Metallicum

Pain, like that of a bruise, with acute pullings, and paralytic weakness in the limbs in general, and chiefly in the joints, esp. on uncovering the part affected, in the morning, on waking and during repose, disappearing on getting up. Darting pains in the limbs, with great dejection. Inflammation of the bones, with nocturnal pains. Exostosis on the head, on the arms and on the legs. Great acuteness and delicacy of sensation, with excessive sensibility to the least pain.

Over-sensitiveness to all pain, and to the cold air. Hysterical spasms, sometimes with alternate tears and laughter. Great sensibility to cold, or strong desire to go into the open air, even in bad weather, because it is found to be a relief. Great ebullitions, with congestions to the head and chest, and palpitation of the heart.

Drosera

Gnawing shootings in the cavities of the bones of the arms and of the legs, exceedingly violent, with violent shootings in the joints, during repose, rather than during movement. Shooting and painful pressure in the muscles (of the limbs), mitigated in no position. Pains as from a bruise, excessively distressing sensitiveness, paralytic weakness in all the limbs. All the limbs feel sore, as from too hard a bed. Weakness in the whole body, with cheeks and eyes hollow.

Violent itching while undressing; when scratching, the skin readily peels off.-Black pores on chest and shoulder.

Krosotum

Acne. Amenorrhoea. Cancer. Carbuncle. Change of life. Teeth, caries. Toothache. Ulcers. Elongation of teeth. Drawing, throbbing, jerking pains in teeth. Bad odour from decayed teeth.

Shootings in muscles and joints of shoulders. Pain, as from contusion, in arms. Stiffness of hands, with cracked skin. Pimples on hand, with violent itching. Fingers dead; they grow pale and insensible.

Pain, as from dislocation, in joints of knees and feet. Skin in ham red and rough, like herpes. Skin. Soft, unnatural feel of skin, with pegged teeth. Violent itching all over body.

Lachesis

Boils. Bubo. Caecum, inflammation of. Carbuncle. Catalepsy. Chancre. Change of life. Ciliary neuralgia. Cough. Cyanosis. Delirium tremens. Gangrene. Glanders. Gums bleeding.  Locomotor ataxy. Malignant pustule. Boring pains in the teeth which are carious. Nape of neck and neck excessively sensitive to least pressure. Rheumatic stiffness of nape of neck and neck. Stitches in back and between shoulders. A small tumour is formed near the spine. Perspiration in axillae of strong smell. Sensation of fatigue or of paralysis, and pain, as from dislocation, in arms. Paralysis of hands. Trembling of hands. Stiffness and tension of the muscles.

Narthex asafoetida

Fine burning stitches in and behind scapula, extending to ribs. Very violent sacral pains. Cannot work on account of the backache. Crawls run over back. Sensation as if bones of the arm were bending. Darting pains in the bones; caries in; caries of the periosteum. Tearing stitches in upper arm and forearm down to tips of fingers. Painfulness of the periosteum, accompanied with great sensitiveness; nodes. Twitching in the muscles of the arms. Aching, drawing, beaten pain in wrist joints.

Psoas abscess and disease of pelvic bones. Twitching of the muscles of the legs. Carious ulcer on the tibia. Pain as of a splinter sticking in fibula. Swelling and caries of the tibia, and bones of the feet. Stitches and pulsation in the big toe.

Phosphoricum Acid

Boils. Brain-fag. Bronchitis; capillary. Chancre.  Joints, scrofulous.  Rheumatism. Sciatica. Scurvy. Self abuse. Spermatorrhoea. Spinal caries. Sycosis Hahnemanni. The teeth are yellow. Gums bleeding easily, swollen, stand off from teeth. Painful nodosities in the gums.

Boring pain between scapulae. Spondylitis of cervical vertebrae. Eruption, painful to touch, on back, shoulder-blades, neck, and chest. Burning pain in a spot above small of back. Itching stitch in coccyx; fine stitches in coccyx and sternum. Crawling (formication) tingling in back and loins. Burning, gnawing, tearing pains in bones of extremities. Weakness of extremities after loss of fluids.

Swelling and furunculi on buttocks. Contusive pains in hips and thighs. Cramp in coxo-femoral joint, with tearing throughout the limb, insupportable when seated, and during repose. Aching, cramp-like pains in thighs, legs, feet, and toes. Pimples on knees and legs, which become confluent, and are transformed into easily bleeding ulcers.

Crawling tingling under skin. Formication of skin. Red and burning spots on limbs. Eruption like scarlatina. Erysipelatous inflammations. Eruption of small pimples, and of miliary pimples collected in clusters and red. Eruption of pimples with burning pain, or pain as from excoriation.

Cistus Canadensis

Bone affections. Cancer. Diarrhoea. Erysipelas. Follicular pharyngitis. Glandular swellings. Hip-joint disease. Hospital gangrene. Lupus. Panaritium. Parotitis. Scorbutus. Scrofula. Sore-throat. Ulcers. Zona.

Glands of neck and throat swollen; suppuration.-Itching on back.-Eruption like zona.-Burning, bruised pain in coccyx preventing sitting.

Pains in knees, in hand, in shoulder. Drawing pains in muscular parts of hands and of lower extremities, with pains in joints, fingers, and knees. Tearing and drawing pains in all the joints, knees and fingers.

Sprained pain in wrists. Pain in fingers while writing. Tearing in finger-joints. Tips of fingers very sensitive to cold. Tetter on hands.

Lower Limbs pains in knee and thigh when walking or sitting. Tearing in knees. Piercing pain in great toe. Cold feet.

Skin itching all over body without eruption. Vesicular erysipelas of face. Lupus on face. Tetter. Hard swelling round mercurial syphilitic ulcers on lower limbs.

Calcarea Iodata

It is in the treatment of scrofulous affections. Cancer. Consumption. Flatulence. Glandular swellings. Headache. Mollities ossium. Tumours of the breast.