Multiple myeloma can also cause the following:
- Hypercalcemia: This is when you have too much calcium in the blood, which can cause changes to urination, restlessness, confusion, increased thirst, nausea, loss of appetite and weight loss.
- Impaired kidney function: The excess protein and calcium in the blood can put a strain on the kidneys when they try to filter all of the unwanted material out of the blood.
- Vulnerable to infection: Low levels of red blood cells can cause anemia, which makes you feel weak and tired. You can also have low white blood cells, which weaken the immune system and put you at risk for infection.
- Bone pain or bone fractures: The pain in your bones or fractures is caused by small fractures due to the accumulation of plasma cells.
Most people don’t visit their doctor until their symptoms become persistent, which is a clear sign that something is wrong. Like other cancers, multiple myeloma can be diagnosed in different stages from stage 1 being the least aggressive to stage 3 being the most aggressive. Only your doctor can run blood and urine tests and give you a proper diagnosis. There are various types of treatments and if caught early enough, immediate treatment may not be necessary, even though your doctor will have to regularly monitor your condition to see if the disease is progressing. At that time, your doctor may chose to do various types of therapy to treat this type of cancer. It’s important to vist your doctor at least once a year for a yearly checkup and if you have any of these symptoms, make sure you don’t keep this information from your doctor so he can help you.
