Osteoporosis, anemia, kidney disease, degeneration of the spine – this is how different diagnoses are heard from doctors suffering from multiple myeloma, before a hematologist recognizes this malignant blood tumor in them – experts said on Monday at a press workshop in the capital.
They launched the nationwide educational campaign Zwyciężaj myeloma, under the patronage of the wife of the President of the Republic of Poland, Anna Komorowska.
I remember the story of a journalist suffering from this cancer, who – before hearing the correct diagnosis – for two years went from an orthopedist to an orthopedist, because he had a fracture in his arm, then thigh, and then vertebrae. During these two years, his height decreased by 30 cm. Fortunately, the disease developed quite slowly – said prof. Jadwiga Dwilewicz-Trojaczek from the Department and Clinic of Hematology, Oncology and Internal Diseases of the Medical University of Warsaw.
As she reminded, people in the 6th decade of life usually develop multiple myeloma, but in 15% of them. of patients, cancer is diagnosed before the age of 60. In Poland, it is detected every year in about 1000 people.
Cancer arises from immune cells in the bone marrow that normally produce the antibodies needed to fight infection. These are the so-called plasmocytes, or mature B lymphocytes. Cancerous cells produce only one type of protein (monoclonal protein), which does not fulfill a protective function and may additionally cause harm to the body.
In most people, myeloma gradually destroys the bones. Cavities most often appear in flat bones – i.e. the bones of the skull, pelvis, shoulder blades, ribs and the spine. They cause bone pain (75% of patients have them) and pathological fractures that can occur, for example, during spine massage. In about 30 percent. sick plasmocytes produce a protein that travels to the kidneys and also damages them, leading to failure. Even in 90 percent. patients may have anemia. About 20 percent. patients have recurrent infections (e.g. pneumonia), some have impaired consciousness caused by high levels of monoclonal protein or high levels of calcium, which comes from damaged bones.
The fact that myeloma takes on such different masks is a frequent cause of delays in its diagnosis, noted Prof. Dwilewicz-Trojaczek.
Therefore, patients with this cancer often go from specialist to specialist before they are properly diagnosed and treated properly.
Meanwhile, 90 percent. of them, the disease could be detected earlier if they performed three simple tests every year, i.e. blood count, ESR (i.e. Biernacki’s test measuring the rate of red blood cell fallout – PAP) and a general urine test – said Prof. Wiesław Jędrzejczak, national consultant in the field of hematology.
Most patients with myeloma have an ESR greater than 40 mm after an hour (and often has a three-digit number), in the blood and sometimes in the urine, monoclonal protein is present, at least three-quarters also have anemia and other abnormalities in the blood count (including clumping of red blood cells).
As in the case of other cancers, the earlier myeloma is diagnosed, the better the patient has a better chance of survival – emphasized prof. Jędrzejczak. The data he quotes show that more than half of the patients in whom this cancer is diagnosed in the first stage survive 10 years, and when the diagnosis is made in the third stage, this percentage is 20%.
In order to spread knowledge about myeloma in society, the organizers of the Winning Myeloma campaign – ie the Polish Coalition of Cancer Patient Organizations and the Janssen company – have planned a competition for a film etude entitled Myeloma in the lens. It is open to young filmmakers, film school students who wish to present myeloma patients and their relatives in their works. The names of the winners will be announced on June 20. The winner will be awarded a directing course at the London Film Academy (PAP).