About Multiple Myeloma and Related Plasma Cell Disorders
Plasma cell neoplasms are diseases where the body makes too many plasma cells. These diseases include monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), plasmacytoma, and multiple myeloma.
Signs & Symptoms
These are signs of multiple myeloma:
- Trouble breathing
- Pain in the bones or bones that break easily
- Fever or frequent infections
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Weakness or tiredness
Many other health problems can also cause these signs. If you have any of these signs, see your doctor as soon as possible.
Learn more about multiple myeloma and other plasma cell neoplasms from the National Cancer Institute.
Message from Our Director
As director of the Huntsman Cancer Institute Multiple Myeloma Program, I want to take this opportunity to welcome you. The mission of our program is to provide personalized, state-art-of-the-art care with compassion and expertise. We are dedicated to offering our patients the very highest quality of clinical trial options and we are continually working in the lab to identify breakthrough immunotherapies. We aim to create an environment where our patients feel comfortable and taken care of, where we consider your emotional and physical needs in addition to treating cancer. We understand the difficulties associated with this disease and we are here to help you and your family navigate the cancer journey.
Douglas W. Sborov, MD, MS
Director, Multiple Myeloma program
Our Experts
At Huntsman Cancer Institute, a team of cancer experts work together to care for you. Our specialists review each patient's case, coordinate treatment, and plan follow-up care:
- Medical, radiation, and surgery doctors
- Diagnostic specialists such as radiologists and pathologists
- Geneticists
- Nurses, dietitians, and social workers
Our care teams also include nurses, advanced care nurses, and physician assistants. These health care professionals are always available to answer your questions and help with your concerns. Everyone on your care team communicates with each other to plan and give treatment.
Find a Multiple Myeloma Provider
Specialties & Treatments
Huntsman Cancer Institute’s Hematologic Cancers Program provides comprehensive, compassionate, state-of-the-art care for people with all types of blood cancers and conditions. We also offer treatment for all plasma cell disorders from commercially available modalities to Phase 1, 2, and 3 clinical trials. We work with each of our patients to tailor their treatment to both their personal needs and the requirements of their disease state and stage.
Available treatments include:
- Immunotherapy
- CAR-T Cell (chimeric antigen receptor T cell)
- BiTe (bispecific T Cell engagers)
- Monoclonal antibodies
- Novel Therapeutic Agents
- Chemotherapy
- Stem Cell Transplant
- Radiation Therapy
Learn more about types of cancer treatments and cancer screenings.
Bispecific Collaborative Access and Referral Network
The Huntsman Cancer Institute Bispecific Collaborative Access and Referral Network (HCI biCARE) is designed to increase patient access to bispecific antibodies (BsAbs), especially for underserved patients with multiple myeloma in rural areas of the Mountain West. We offer education and support to community health providers and affiliate networks to eliminate barriers to drug access and improve patient outcomes.
Diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma
Diagnosis
Doctors use these tests to diagnose Multiple Myeloma:
- Physical exam and history: A health care provider examines your body for signs of disease. Your personal health habits, past illnesses, and symptoms help guide the exam.
- Laboratory tests: By testing body tissues, blood, urine or other substances in the body, your health care team can check to see how the organs are functioning. They also look for abnormal amounts of blood cells.
- Bone marrow biopsy: The health care provider removes a small sample of bone marrow to look for abnormal cells under a microscope.
- Imaging tests: Using dyes, x-rays, magnets, radio waves and/or computer technology, your health care provider can create detailed images of internal organs.
Stages
These are three stages used for multiple myeloma as defined by the revised international staging system (R-ISS):
- Stage 1: Beta-2-microglobulin level is less than 3.5 mg/L and albumin is 3.5 g/dL or higher.
- Stage 2: Not fitting criteria for either stage 1 or stage 3.
- Stage 3: Beta-2-microglobulin level is 5.5 mg/L or higher, and the patient has either high levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) or certain changes in the chromosomes.
Learn more about the stages of plasma cell neoplasms from the National Cancer Institute.
