Multiple myeloma – cancer among elderly people

Abstract

Cancer is a state in which your cells divide in an uncontrolled way and acquire different characteristics from typical cells of the affected organ. The uncontrolled cell division is caused by protein coding genes mutation, which participate in cell cycle. A malignant tumour is connected with multiple mutation and this is why the disease duration is long and asymptomatic. Unfortunately, most cases of cancer are diagnosed when the tumour is already identifiable or when the patient shows other disturbing symptoms (Jędrzejak, 2009). Tumours which stem from bone marrow plasmatic cells belong to a group of rare diseases which involve, among others, plasma cell myeloma (PCM), plasmocytoma, maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD), and monoclonal gammapathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) (Jamroziak, 2013). Multiple myeloma (MM) originates from the aforementioned plasma cells which are responsible for the production and secretion of antibodies, as well as humoral immune response. MM is caused by clonal proliferation plasma cells which displace healthy cells and cause gradual bone destruction (osteolysis). Additionally, plasma cells produce pathological monoclonal protein (present in blood or urine), which usually involves class IgG and IgA immunoglobulines. Sometimes, monoclonal protein is not a whole immunoglobulin particle, but only its free light chains. The illness develops in bone marrow, mainly in the backbone, the ribs and the skull. The name multiple myeloma comes from the fact, that it is a metastatic cancer. MM is not a well known disease, and only 1 out of 50 respondents recognized it.