Myeloma is a common form of blood cancer. Common features are fatigue, anaemia, bone pain and kidney failure.
The myeloma cells live and multiply in the bone marrow. They cause the bones to become weak and easily breakable, which leads to bone pain, particularly back pain. Myeloma should be suspected in all elderly patients with anaemia and back pain.
A sea change in treatment
The treatment of myeloma has changed enormously over the past decade. Earlier, chemotherapy drugs like melphalan and doxorubicin were the only ones available. Things are very different now, and many patients live long, active lives with treatment.