8. Mind-Body Therapies
Mind-body therapies, such as meditation, yoga, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), focus on the connection between the mind and body.
They may help reduce stress, pain, and promote relaxation in patients with multiple myeloma. They may also improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as potentially improve immune function.
7. Pain Medications
Pain medications are an important component of the treatment of multiple myeloma, particularly for patients experiencing bone pain.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also known as NSAIDs, can help reduce inflammation and relieve mild to moderate pain. Examples of these pain medications are ibuprofen and naproxen.
Bisphosphonates, such as zoledronic acid and pamidronate, can help reduce bone pain by slowing the breakdown of bone tissue.
Opioids, such as morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl, are stronger pain medications that can be used to manage moderate to severe pain.
6. Antibiotics
Antibiotics can treat bacterial infections brought about by multiple myeloma. They may be prescribed to prevent bacterial infections from occurring or to treat them promptly if they do occur.
Based on a clinical trial, administering the antibiotic levofloxacin as a preventive measure can reduce the occurrence of fever and mortality rates among individuals who have recently been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. (3)
5. Steroids
Steroids such as dexamethasone or prednisone are often given in combination with chemotherapy drugs to enhance their effectiveness. They can help to reduce inflammation and swelling caused by cancer cells.
Steroids can also be used to control symptoms of multiple myeloma such as bone pain, fatigue, and loss of appetite. They can help improve the patient’s quality of life and ability to tolerate other treatments.
4. Stem Cell Transplant
Stem cell transplant can help treat multiple myeloma by replacing damaged bone marrow.
The stem cells are collected from the patient or a donor and are then infused into the patient’s bloodstream. These stem cells then migrate to the bone marrow and begin to produce new, healthy blood cells to replace those damaged by chemotherapy or the cancel cells.
3. Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is another treatment that can be considered for multiple myeloma. This particular treatment employs substances produced by the body or in a laboratory to enhance the immune system’s function and assist the body in detecting and eradicating cancerous cells.
An example of this particular type of treatment is monoclonal antibodies. These are laboratory-created molecules that can target specific proteins on the surface of cancer cells.
Some monoclonal antibodies, such as daratumumab and elotuzumab, have been approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma. These antibodies can help to destroy the cancer cells or to make them more visible to the immune system.
2. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is designed to target and destroy rapidly dividing cells. This particular type of treatment can help to reduce the number of cancer cells in the body and slow down the progression of the disease.
It can help to shrink tumors in the bone or other parts of the body, which can relieve pain and other symptoms.
Chemotherapy can also be used to control symptoms of multiple myeloma, such as bone pain, fatigue, and loss of appetite. This can improve the patient’s quality of life and ability to tolerate other treatments.
1. Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. This can help to reduce the number of cancer cells in the body. It can also slow down the progression of the disease and relieve pain brought about by some of the symptoms.
Radiation therapy is usually delivered from an external source and is targeted to the area of the body affected by cancer.
These are multiple myeloma symptoms and treatments worth knowing about.