What is myeloma?
Myeloma, or multiple myeloma, is a blood cancer. As its symptoms include debilitating pain caused by bone damage, it is sometimes referred to as bone marrow cancer.
Myeloma affects the plasma cells in the blood, which are an important part of the immune system that fights infection. When someone has myeloma, control of blood cell production breaks down. People with myeloma make lots of abnormal plasma, or myeloma, cells, which are not able to fight infection.
The myeloma cells cluster in the bone marrow, causing serious damage to the bone and also prevent other blood cells from being made. People with myeloma often develop kidney problems. This is caused by large amounts of an abnormal antibody, called paraprotein, which is released into the blood by the myeloma cells.
David Spears, grandfather of four, was diagnosed with myeloma in 2006 at the age of 50. Now aged 54, David is in remission. “I am so grateful for all the research to find better treatments for myeloma, without which I would not be here today.”
Information booklets
Our booklets cover all the blood cancers and related disorders.
Beating Myeloma
Find out about the research we're funding in order to beat myeloma.
To meet our scientists and doctors and learn about how their work is beating myeloma, join us at our York reception in May.