Multiple Myeloma treatment without recurrence in India
Are you aware that 80% of multiple myeloma patients survive beyond 5 years if the disease is treated correctly?
Multiple myeloma makes you feel worried because you are thinking about getting the right treatment. You are looking for an experienced hematologist who can prolong your disease-free survival. You are searching for a permanent cure to treat your cancer.
Here is the solution for you!
Advanced bone marrow transplant, along with targeted maintenance therapy, can give you a very long disease-free survival period with complete remission. A bone marrow transplant can make new blood cells in the body and can effectively cure your cancer.
Elizabeth Mary lived a happy life with her son and daughter along with her husband. She dreamed of buying a big house in Addis Ababa after her husband became a general manager. She wanted her son to grow up as a successful engineer and do a lucrative job in the IT field. She also wanted her daughter to marry a handsome man as soon as possible.
In 2020, Elizabeth started suffering from pneumonia. She was taking antibiotics and was getting cured. But, it was happening again. The recurrent infections never stopped and nothing significant came up in the blood reports. The general physician in Addis Ababa referred Elizabeth to a hematologist. The hematologist suggested special blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy, which revealed Elizabeth had stage 2 multiple myeloma.
The doctor suggested that the treatment protocol for multiple myeloma is a complicated one with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and bone marrow transplant. There are not many hemato-oncologist in Ethiopia who were skilled in this type of treatment
The doctor suggested Elizabeth’s husband, David, take her to India for further course of treatment and take the help of MedicoExperts.
In India, Elizabeth initially received cycles of chemo and radiotherapy, and then she was made ready for an allogeneic bone marrow transplant.
Luckily, the HLA type of Elizabeth matched with her son. Elizabeth underwent a bone marrow transplant and got prescribed maintenance-targeted therapy.
Luckily, the HLA type of Elizabeth matched with her son. Elizabeth underwent a bone marrow transplant in India
Elizabeth became multiple myeloma free few months after the bone marrow transplant.
Fortunately for Elizabeth, there is no recurrence of the disease till now. The couple thanked the doctors and MedicoExperts for their help.
You may be interested to know about different aspects of multiple myeloma.
What is multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that causes an uncontrolled increase of plasma cells.
Plasma cells are a type of white blood cells that produce antibodies that fight against germs and microorganisms. Accumulation of defective antibody-producing plasma cells in the bone marrow causes cancer.
You may want to understand the early symptoms of multiple myeloma
What are the early symptoms of multiple myeloma?
The early symptoms of multiple myeloma include
- Bone pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Recurrent Infections
- Fatigue
- Back pain due to kidney problems
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss,
- Weakness in limbs
You may want to get aware of the tests for multiple myeloma.
What are the tests for multiple myeloma?
Blood tests that detect the presence of M proteins ( abnormal antibodies produced by plasma cells) and beta microglobulin (another protein ) are the tests for multiple myeloma.
M proteins can also be detected in urine tests.
Bone marrow biopsy can determine the presence of myeloma cells in the bone marrow by specialized tests.
You may feel curious to know about the causes of multiple myeloma
What are the causes of multiple myeloma?
Researchers are trying to find out the causes of multiple myeloma. It starts from one abnormal plasma cell, and then millions and millions of plasma cells become abnormal, producing defective antibodies.
This process prevents healthy plasma cells from functioning. The abnormal antibodies called M proteins damage the kidneys and the bones in the body.
You may want to know and study the complications of multiple myeloma briefly.
What are the complications of multiple myeloma?
- Frequent infection due to lack of proper antibodies
- Kidney failure due to accumulation of defective M proteins
- Bone fracture and bone pain
- Anemia due to less production of normal blood cells
You may want to get informed regarding the stages of multiple myeloma
What are the stages of multiple myeloma?
Multiple Myeloma can be divided into three stages according to International classification
– Stage 1
- Beta 2 microglobulin ( a protein and a tumor marker present in blood whose level increases in multiple myeloma) is less than 3.5mg/l
- Normal Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level (an enzyme present in blood and tissues)
- No abnormal chromosomal changes in myeloma cells
– Stage 2
- Increased level of Beta 2 microglobulin than stage 1
- Increased level of LDH as compared to stage 1
– Stage 3
- Beta 2 microglobulin is greater than 5.5mg/l
- High LDH level
- Presence of highly abnormal chromosomal changes in myeloma cells
You may want to focus on the treatment for multiple myeloma
What is the treatment for multiple myeloma?
It can be administered to kill fast-growing plasma cells in the body.
These are energy beams from X-ray or proton sources that shrink the multiple myeloma, especially in bones
Bone marrow cells are stimulated in your body by administering an injection containing stimulant. Then, the marrow cells are infused into your body which forms healthy plasma cells. The abnormal cells were already killed by chemo and radiotherapy by a process called conditioning.
This therapy targets abnormal molecules in your body and neutralizes them. This can be used as a maintenance therapy.
What is the typical approach of doctors to treat Multiple Myeloma?
Multiple Myeloma is a life-threatening disease that requires treatment from multiple divisions of oncology and hemato-oncology
The comprehensive treatment plan requires intervention from oncologists, radiologists, hematologists, and immunologists.
The treatment includes chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy and successful bone marrow transplant to cure the disease completely
The treatment should be dependent on the stage and the severity of the disease.
For stage 1, chemo and radiotherapy are needed to stop the progression of the disease
For more advanced stages, like the 2nd and 3rd stages a curative treatment like bone marrow transplant is required.
What is the best country for Multiple Myeloma treatment?
The best countries for Multiple Myeloma treatment are the countries like the USA, UK, India, and Singapore. In India cancer treatment is affordable and the infrastructure is great.
There are multiple specialties in cancer hospitals in India that can be an ideal destination to completely cure your Multiple Myeloma.
In India, you get treated at a reasonable cost. The doctors are well-experienced and have several years of experience in the field of oncology.
How to choose the best hospital for Multiple Myeloma treatment in India?
Not all hospitals in India have a tumor board for cancer like multiple myeloma.
A Tumor Board for a type of cancer like multiple myeloma will include a group of specialized doctors like oncologists, hematologists, immunologists, and radiologists.
There should be adequate facilities to carry out chemoradiation therapy and bone marrow transplant.
The success rate of the doctors in the hospitals determines the reputation of the hospital
MedicoExperts can help you choose the correct cancer hospital with the right tumor board.