The following article explains the final stages of multiple myeloma.
A cancer diagnosis can come as a shock, particularly if that cancer is in its later stages or deemed incurable. For patients with multiple myeloma, learning more about the cancer and its final stages is key to shaping a treatment plan that improves the quality of life.
Although multiple myeloma represents 1.6 percent of all cancer cases, no two diagnoses are identical. A patient’s outlook depends on the stage of the cancer and their overall health and age.
This article will explore the final stages of multiple myeloma, related symptoms, life expectancy, and conventional and alternative treatment options.
What Happens During the Final Stage of Multiple Myeloma?
Doctors typically label the final stages of multiple myeloma as stage III. This is often the stage at which doctors diagnose patients, as multiple myeloma has few symptoms in its early stages and is therefore rarely detected. At stage III, the cancer has likely spread to several areas of the body and may have damaged organs.
Multiple myeloma causes healthy plasma – a type of white blood cell – to become abnormal and grow uncontrollably. Healthy white blood cells aid in fighting infection by producing antibodies, but during the final stages of multiple myeloma, these are crowded out by cancerous plasma cells. The cancer accumulates in the bone marrow, eventually spreading throughout the body.
During the final stages of multiple myeloma, the body is inundated with cancerous plasma cells. Patients with stage III cancer, therefore, likely have one or more of the following conditions:
- High levels of a protein called monoclonal immunoglobulin in the blood or urine
- High levels of calcium in the blood
- Kidney damage (19 percent of patients have acute kidney injury at the time of diagnosis)
- Low levels of protein in the hemoglobin, the red blood cells that transport oxygen
- Several areas of damaged bone
What Are the Symptoms of Stage III Multiple Myeloma?
Some patients do not experience symptoms of multiple myeloma – even if they are in stage III of the disease. Instead, their diagnosis may result from a blood or urine test unrelated to the disease.
However, other patients do experience symptoms, which include the following:
- Easy bruising and bleeding
- Excessive weight loss
- Fatigue
- Feeling weak in the arms and legs
- Fever
- Infections that are difficult to treat
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Pain in the bones, particularly in the back or ribcage
Multiple myeloma speeds up the process of bone breakdown. As a result, significant amounts of calcium can leak into the bloodstream, leading to a condition called hypercalcemia. Patients in the final stages of multiple myeloma may develop this condition, which has its own set of symptoms, including:
- Confusion
- Dehydration
- Frequent urination
- Kidney issues, and in some cases, kidney failure
- Thirst
If calcium in the bloodstream reaches an extremely high level, patients can fall into a coma.
In addition, multiple myeloma can cause nerve damage. This creates a ‘pins and needles sensation called peripheral neuropathy.
What Is the Life Expectancy in the Final Stages of Multiple Myeloma?
Multiple myeloma does not have a cure, but a later-stage diagnosis does have a five-year survival rate of 48 percent. A five-year survival rate measures how many people with a particular type and stage of cancer lived for five years following their diagnosis.
The life expectancy of an individual in the final stages of multiple myeloma will depend on the following factors:
- Kidney damage: Life expectancy may be shorter if the kidneys have become damaged from multiple myeloma. Doctors can measure kidney function by examining the creatinine levels in the blood.
- Other conditions: If the patient is living with other conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, their life expectancy may decrease.
- Patient age: Older patients generally have decreased life expectancies than younger patients.
Research is needed to determine exactly what causes death in patients with multiple myeloma. Studies have shown that people with this cancer are seven to ten times more likely to develop infections, and pneumonia leads to two-thirds of all infection-related deaths. Kidney failure is also a possible cause of death.
Despite the many unknowns, advances in medicine and technology are resulting in better support, a higher quality of life, and improved health outcomes.
How Effective Are Treatments for Later Stage Multiple Myeloma?
Several treatment options exist for people with later-stage multiple myeloma, including both conventional and alternative therapies. Chemotherapy, steroids, proteasome inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies are examples.
The majority of patients experience a decrease in disease levels following their initial treatment. However, multiple myeloma cannot be cured, and most people will experience relapse. Remission times vary among treatments and individuals – averages span one to five years. While most people can be retreated after a relapse, the efficacy of the therapy diminishes with each relapse, and so, too, does the duration of the resulting remission.
Explore Your Options
If you or a loved one is living with a multiple myeloma diagnosis, know that you have more treatment options than a conventional oncologist might suggest.
At Brio-Medical, we treat every patient as an individual. Our holistic approach combines the best in traditional medicine with leading-edge, natural therapies that attack cancer’s weaknesses and strengthen the body’s ability to heal.
Our dedicated patient care team is more than happy to discuss your situation, address any concerns you might have, and answer your questions. Please do not hesitate to reach out and schedule a consultation. We are here to help.
References:
- Bird, Sarah Anne, and Kevin Boyd. “Multiple myeloma: an overview of management.” Palliative care and social practice vol. 13 1178224219868235. 9 Oct. 2019, doi:10.1177/1178224219868235
- Cowan, Andrew J et al. “Diagnosis and Management of Multiple Myeloma: A Review.” JAMA vol. 327,5 (2022): 464-477. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.0003
- Michels, Thomas C, and Keith E Petersen. “Multiple Myeloma: Diagnosis and Treatment.” American family physician vol. 95,6 (2017): 373-383.
