Why is the condition referred to as multiple myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that affects plasma cells. Plasma cells are a kind of white blood cell found in the bone marrow, which is the soft tissue inside bones. In multiple myeloma, these plasma cells become cancerous and grow out of control.

Why "Multiple"?

The term "multiple" is used because this disease often affects many areas in the body at the same time. The cancerous cells can form tumors in several bones, leading to problems like bone pain and fractures.

Why "Myeloma"?

The word "myeloma" comes from the Greek words "myelo" meaning marrow and "oma" meaning tumor. This refers to the tumors that form in the bone marrow due to the cancerous plasma cells.

Understanding the name helps to explain why the disease can cause symptoms like bone pain, anemia, and frequent infections. These symptoms occur because the cancerous plasma cells crowd out healthy cells in the bone marrow, affecting the body’s ability to produce healthy blood cells.