Multiple myeloma is a form of blood cancer that occurs in the Plasma cells, a type of white blood cells. Plasma cells are the soft tissues found in the bone marrow. Plasma cells are important because they maintain the immune system and fight infections in the body. When plasma cells detect an infection in the body they make antibodies and start attacking germs. The multiple myeloma is a condition where there is an abnormal production of antibodies called M proteins in the bone marrow. When the amount of M protein becomes crowded it hampers the normal function of immunoglobulin resulting in complications like liver damage and kidney diseases. Signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma The symptoms of multiple myeloma differ from patient to patient. Not every patient with this type of blood cancer has all the symptoms. The symptoms of Myeloma depend on the other conditions prevailing in the body. The symptoms become severe as the other conditions get complicated. The symptoms can be managed with the advanced treatment options available. Some of the common symptoms of multiple myeloma include: Bone fractures or pain especially in the chest or spine Vulnerability to infections Nausea and fatigue Constipation Decreased urination Excessive thirst Confusion Weight loss Loss of appetite Kidney problems Weakness in legs Hypercalcemia :

A multiple myeloma is a common form of cancer which develops in plasma cells. These cells fight infection but when they grow abnormally, they take over the healthy cells and these diseased cells then spread to other parts of the body. Multiple myeloma is not entirely curable, might have been cured, there are possibilities of it relapsing. Symptoms may or may not be visible which include pain, easily fractured bones, frequent infections, fevers, frequent urination because of excessive thirst, nausea, loss of appetite and loss of body weight. In the majority of the cases treatment is not initiated until the appearance of symptoms. Staging in Multiple Myeloma The tracking of the patient’s progress and prescription of the right set of treatments invariably depends on the stage to which the multiple myeloma has advanced. Multiple myeloma is divided into four stages: Stage I Stage 1 also known as the Smoldering Stage by some doctors, it is the one in which the symptoms are present but dormant. They are not causing any damage to the organs and may remain undetected in the blood. Stage II A small number of myeloma cells can be traced in the samples of blood and urine. X-rays of bone are nearly normal or show a solitary affected area along with a slight dip in the hemoglobin levels.

Cancer is the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of the cells in the body. Plasma cells found in the bone marrow are an important part of the immune system as they help fight infections. A cancerous growth in plasma cells is plasmacytoma. When there is more than one plasmacytoma in the body it is termed as multiple myeloma. When multiple myeloma is detected, the next step is to discuss the various treatment options which may include one or more of the following depending on the stage to which the disease has progressed- Chemotherapy and medications Chemotherapy or Chemo is the intake of medications to control the growth of cancer cells. The medications are either taken orally or injected into the bloodstream. Chemo is beneficial in patients with multiple myeloma as the medicines reach the affected parts of the body via the bloodstream. Usage of a combination of medications like Melphalan, Vincristine, and Etoposide has been found to be more effective than a single medicine treatment. Widely used as a standard procedure, Chemo also has some side effects as the medicines which are intended for tumor cells also damage normal healthy cells. Low blood count, mouth sores, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting are more or less common.

Muscular atrophy or amyotrophy occurs when either the muscle does not work or contracts in a very limited way. However, the three main mechanisms are – it can be a disorder relating to the motor innervations of the muscle, an attack of the muscular tissue itself or a forced resting as in the case of a plastered immobilization. There are two types of muscle atrophy- Amyotrophy This occurs from a lack of physical exercise. In most people, muscle atrophy is caused by the lack of enough muscle use. People with inactive jobs, decreased activity levels, or medical conditions that limit their movement can make them lose energy of the muscle and develop atrophy. This type of atrophy can be reversed with exercise and better nutrition. Neurogenic atrophy The most severe type of muscle atrophy is neurogenic atrophy. It occurs when there is an injury or disease of a nerve that connects the muscle. How to recognize atrophy? The simple observation of the patient, at rest and then in action, studying especially the general attitude, the postural alterations, the gait, brings decisive information. The amyotrophy can be easily recognized from a simple inspection of the existence of flat areas where one normally finds muscular protrusions.

The skin consists of layers of cells, with the top layer constantly flaking off and peeling and new cells taking their place. For reasons not completely known, there could be excessive production of cells so that the top layer grows extremely thick and scaly. In severe cases, it can grow up to 10 times the normal rate, producing extremely thick and scaly layers. The reason in most cases is an overactive immune system, causing what is known as an autoimmune disorder. Psoriasis is one of the most common autoimmune skin conditions, and there are various types, the common one being plaque psoriasis. In some cases, the joints are exclusively involved, producing a condition known as psoriatic arthritis. This causes pain and swelling in the joints along with thickening of the skin at the joints. Symptoms of psoriasis are easy to detect and include: Red, inflamed skin with plaques of dead skin which can be itchy and painful. There are scales of dead skin at the top, producing a fish-like appearance of the skin. The person will have a chronic tendency to itch, and the condition gets its name from this urge to itch (psora in Latin means itch). The abnormal patches of skin tend to grow and spread and merge, thereby increasing in size In severe cases, these scales can crack and bleed, and even get infected There is a constant, burning sensation around the patches Nails of the fingers and toes can be affected, which can cause pitting, disfiguration, and separation of nails from their nail beds.