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MULTIPLE
MYELOMA
by Dr. Rajesh Shah
Introduction:
Multiple
Myeloma is a malignant or
cancerous condition of the plasma cells of the blood. It
is also called Plasma cell Myeloma. The word Myeloma
pertains to the cells of bone marrow. The bone marrow is a
soft substance within the bones which manufacture all
kinds of blood cells. The basic cells are called stem
cells. Some of the stem cells develop into small white
cells, also called as Lymphocytes. The lymphocytes are of
two types, B Lymphocytes and T Lymphocytes. (They are also
called B cells and T cells). The B cells, further grow
into Plasma cells, when the foreign substance (antigen) or
bacteria enter the body, the B cells develop into Plasma
cells to form what is called as Immunoglobulins
(antibodies), to fight against the antigens or infections.
The Immunoglobulins are denoted as Ig, which are of five
major types: IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD and IgE.
In short, the plasma cells have the capacity to turn into
the Immunoglobulins (Ig), as a part of the defense
mechanism of the body. These plasma cells when turn
cancerous, it is called Multiple Myeloma. These cancerous
plasma cells keep multiplying rapidly and travel in the
blood stream, damaging body tissues. The malignant plasma
cells produce too many (multiple) Immunoglobulins which
are actually not required by the body. This entire
condition is called Multiple Myeloma.
Multiple Myeloma is nothing but the cancer of the plasma
cell, an important part of the immune system that produces
immunoglobulin (antibodies) to help fight infection and
disease. Unchecked overgrowth of these cells leads to
multiple tumors and lowered immunity. The tumors invade
the hard surface of the specially the large bone,
spreading into the cavities of the bones.
Multiple Myeloma is the second most common blood cancer,
after Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas. About 13000 new cases of MM
are reported every year in the US. It is relatively more
common amongst the Americans versus their Asian
counterpart. It is more common in men, after 60 years of
age.
The exact cause for MM is not yet clearly understood. The
common factors influencing the development of MM are
genetic tendency, radiation, chemicals (herbicides,
insecticides, petroleum products, heavy metals, plastics)
, and virus.
The clinical symptoms often are vague or no symptoms in
the early stage of MM. Some of the presenting symptoms
are:
1. Severe lower back pain or rib pain
2. Anemia and lowered immunity leads to weakness and
tendency to frequent infections, as the production of Immunoglobulins is disturbed.
Role of Homoeopathy for Multiple
Myeloma:
Multiple Myeloma being a chronic difficult disease of
unknown origin, largely affecting the vital functions at
the constitutional and immunological level, the
homoeopathic approach is, in turn, constitutional. The
treatment is aimed at controlling the disease process of
multiplication of the malignant cellular overgrowth and
hence, trying to keep a check on the cellular destruction.
Also, the medication is aimed at controlling the spread of
the disease.
There is no major study done to evaluate the role of
homoeopathy for a series of cases of MM. However, our
brief experience is suggestive of using homeopathy as an
important supportive measure during all the stages of
Multiple Myeloma. Some research is likely to throw light
on a better defined role of homoeopathy. In the light of the
fact that homoeopathy has an established role in the
treatment of various immunologically mediated diseases,
Multiple Myeloma patients should not be deprived of the
benefits of homoeopathy. Homoeopathy is safe and can be
taken along with the traditional medicines for the
treatment of Multiple Myeloma. Some of the commonly
indicated medicines for Multiple Myeloma are Carcinosin,
Thuja, Phosphorus, Radium bromatum, etc. depending on the
indications which are based on a multi-factorial
constitutional guidelines.
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