Multiple Myeloma : In Depth - Deciding on T...
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Your treatment options for multiple myeloma depend on how much the cancer has affected your health, kidney function, and other organs. The goal of treatment is to control the cancer for as long as possible and to keep you comfortable.
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Each type of treatment for multiple myeloma has a different goal. Here is a list of main treatments and their goals for myeloma. They are listed in the order from the most to the least common. You may have more than one of these treatments.
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Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. For this treatment, you will see a medical oncologist. This is a doctor who specializes in using drugs to treat cancer. For multiple myeloma, your doctor is likely to give you more than one drug. This is called combination chemotherapy.
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This type of treatment gets your immune system to more effectively attack the cancer cells.
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Radiation therapy is one way to treat multiple myeloma. This treatment is also called radiotherapy. It uses X-rays to control the growth of cancer cells. Radiation is a local treatment. That means it affects the cancer cells only in the area treated.
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Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to treat your cancer. From the moment you found out you had cancer, you most likely have had questions about treatment. You are not facing cancer treatment alone. Loved ones, support groups, and counseling can help you. Keep a list of any questions you have for your radiation therapy team. Ask these questions during your visits, or call if you need to. And use the resources below for information.
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Radiation therapy can help you in your fight against cancer. To feel better, get plenty of rest, exercise, and eat well. This will give your body the extra strength it needs right now. Also, look to family and friends for support and comfort.
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This treatment for multiple myeloma is similar to a bone marrow transplant. It destroys your bone marrow to get rid of the cancer cells there. The difference between stem cell and bone cell transplant is where the cells to be transplanted are collected. For bone marrow transplant, the cells come from the hip bone--yours or a donor's. For stem cell transplant, the cells come from blood--yours or a donor's. If you're using your own cells, it's called an autologous transplant. If you're using cells from a donor, it is called an allogeneic stem cell transplant.
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This treatment destroys your bone marrow to get rid of the cancer cells there. Then your bone marrow is replaced either with your bone marrow or with marrow from a donor.
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You may have supportive treatments for multiple myeloma. These treatments don't cure the myeloma, but they can help treat your symptoms.
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