Crab multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of antibody producing cells, called plasma cells, which are located in the bone marrow. Healthy plasma cells do not grow and divide but have learned to make antibodies that protect us from infections. Cancerous plasma cells (= myeloma cells) can grow and multiply, “blindly” produce useless and sometimes incomplete antibodies (called light chains) and release molecules (called cytokines) that can affect healthy cells around them. Sometimes myeloma is found before it causes problems and then it is called smoldering myeloma. When it causes problems or when the risk is high that it causes problems within 1-2 years, treatment is indicated. The problems it can cause are summarized with the abbreviation “CRAB”. • C stands for high blood Calcium. This is caused by stimulation of bone eating cells (called osteoclasts) by cytokines released from myeloma cells. Osteoclasts release calcium from bones into the blood. This weakens the bones and high blood calcium can impair the kidneys ability to conserve water. Since calcium is electrically charged, high levels can also affect organs that are regulated electrically, like the gastrointestinal tract, heart and brain. • R stands for Renal, meaning kidney problems. This can be caused by three main mechanisms. One is dehydration related to high blood calcium. If myeloma produces incomplete antibodies called light chains, they are small enough to be filtered by the kidneys and if they reach high concentra...

Some people with multiple myeloma develop symptoms that affect their mouth. Researchers have come to varying estimates of how common oral symptoms are, but one Multiple myeloma often does not cause any symptoms in the early stages. The hallmark symptoms are often abbreviated with the acronym • C: calcium elevation • R: renal (kidney) insufficiency • A: anemia • B: bone irregularities In rare cases, oral symptoms may be the only noticeable symptoms of myeloma. When this happens, they can easily be overlooked. Keep reading to learn more about how multiple myeloma affects your mouth and how oral symptoms are treated. Multiple myeloma can cause a variety of oral problems, such as: • dental issues • bone damage • jaw pain • swelling The oral symptoms of multiple myeloma can be difficult to differentiate from other conditions. If you develop jaw pain or other concerning symptoms with no obvious cause, it’s a good idea to visit a dentist or doctor. They can examine your mouth and look for the underlying causes. Most common signs and symptoms In a The most common oral sign of myeloma discovered with imaging was the presence of osteolytic lesions. Osteolytic lesions are areas of damaged and weak bone caused by an imbalance between the cells that break down and build new bone tissue. Here’s a complete look at the signs and symptoms reported among the 81 people in the study: Signs and symptoms Prevalence 90.1% 65.3% 33.3% 27.1% amyloid lesions (raised spots) 11.1% 9.8% 6.1% 3.7% 1.2%...

In the early stages of myeloma, some patients have no signs or symptoms of the disease. It is sometimes detected before symptoms appear, when results of laboratory tests done as part of a routine medical examination show abnormalities in the blood and/or urine. When symptoms are present, the most common ones are bone pain and fatigue. Signs of Myeloma Doctors sometimes refer to the acronym, CRAB, to describe signs of myeloma. The letters stand for • C - Calcium elevation (high levels of calcium in the blood; also known as “hypercalcemia”) • R- Renal insufficiency (poor function of the kidneys that may be due to a reduction in blood-flow to the kidneys) • A - Anemia (low red blood cell counts) • B - Bone abnormalities (lesions). Patients with one or more of the CRAB signs and/or symptoms and at least 10% of the bone marrow with by malignant plasma cells, as seen on a bone marrow biopsy test, are considered to have active myeloma that needs treatment. Patients with 60% of the bone marrow with malignant plasma cells but no CRAB signs and/or symptoms are also diagnosed with myeloma since there is a high risk for organ damage. Other signs and symptoms of myeloma include​: • Bone thinning or holes in the bones: This can cause cause bone fractures and pain • Bone destruction can also lead to high levels of calcium in the blood. This can cause cause confusion, elevated blood pressure, nausea and/or vomiting, constipation and feeling very thirsty • Low blood cell counts • A low num...

While it doesn't always cause symptoms you’d notice, especially early on, it eventually can lead to a few warning signs. Noticeable symptoms might include: • Pain, weakness, and numbness or tingling • Tiredness • Brittle bones that hurt and break more easily • • More frequent Unfortunately, these symptoms could mean any number of conditions unrelated to There is not a lump that you could feel or that your doctor could look for, because the disease does not form tumors. If your CRAB This term stands for signs doctors look for when diagnosing for multiple myeloma. Over time, the disease can cause: • C = High calcium levels in your • R= Renal, or • A = • B = Bone • Lytic lesions -- damaged • Osteoporosis -- thin bones • Each can cause different symptoms and complications as time goes on. High Calcium Levels As bone breaks down, calcium goes into your bloodstream. It's usually flushed out in your • Heavy thirst • Peeing often • • Kidney problems and even kidney failure • Severe • Abdominal (belly) pain • Loss of appetite • Weakness • Feeling drowsy • Confusion Renal, or Kidney, Problems It takes time for myeloma protein to damage your kidneys. You won’t have symptoms early on, but your doctor might spot signs of kidney damage on a • Weakness • Shortness of breath • Itchiness • Swollen legs Low Blood Counts Myeloma affects many cells that make up your blood. • Weak • Dizzy • Short of breath • Like you can’t Leukopenia: You don’t have enough white blood cells. You may be more li...

Multiple myeloma, also called myeloma, is a type of cancer where plasma cells in bone marrow replicate out of control. Plasma cells are a type of white cell that help your body fight infection. The National Cancer Institute estimates that in the United States, nearly The hallmark signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma fall under the acronym CRAB, which stands for: • Calcium elevation • Renal failure (kidney failure) • Anemia • Bone disease Doctors use the presence of these symptoms to differentiate from precancerous disease and to guide treatment. In this article, we take a deeper look at the CRAB symptoms of multiple myeloma, including why doctors use this acronym and how the presence of these symptoms influences your treatment. In a • 68 percent had bone disease • 57 percent had anemia • 29 percent had kidney failure • 6 percent had calcium elevation Calcium elevation Multiple myeloma activates cells that break down bone called osteoclasts, which leads to elevated calcium in the blood, also called • • • • • • • • • muscle pain or • Renal (kidney) damage The accumulation of M protein in the blood can result in kidney damage and The early stages of kidney disease often don’t cause symptoms, but your doctor might see signs of kidney problems in your urine and blood tests. Early symptoms of kidney damage can include: • • • • Anemia Low levels of healthy blood cells can lead to: • weakness • fatigue • shortness of breath • • increased infections • Bone disease Increased activ...