Multiple MyelomaWhat is multiple myeloma?Multiple myeloma, also known as myeloma, hematological cancer or blood cancer, is a cancer of plasma cells, a type white blood cells made in the bone marrow. which is responsible for creating antibodies. A diagnosis of multiple myeloma means that a group of these plasma cells have become cancerous and are multiplying. This cancerous proliferation of plasma cells increases the level of abnormal proteins in the circulating blood and reduces the space available in the bone marrow to make healthy plasma cells. Health problems caused by multiple myeloma can affect your bones, immune system, kidneys, and red blood cell count. The lifetime risk of developing multiple myeloma is 1 in 149 (0.67%). What are the different types of multiple myeloma? IgG is the uncontrolled production of abnormal immunoglobulin (IgG) proteins, which fight bacteria and viruses. This abnormal immunoglobulin has no beneficial effect on the body, and as it increases in quantity, it crowds out normally functioning immunoglobulins. This is the most common type of myeloma, accounting for 60-70% of all cases. Light chain myeloma is the production of incomplete immunoglobins. Light chain myeloma causes only part of the immunoglobin protein (the light chain) to be produced, making these immunoglobins unable to fight infection. Light chain myeloma accounts for 20 percent of all multiple myeloma diagnoses. Nonsecretory myeloma shapes the M protein level by producing myeloma cells that are too weak to be detected by standard tests; it represents 1 to 2% of multiple myeloma diagnoses. What are the symptoms of multiple myeloma? There are no specific symptoms to help detect multiple myeloma early. Although symptoms may be present, they are often entirely risk factors for the development of multiple myeloma. Therefore, preventive measures remain unknown.Famous people with multiple myeloma:- Geraldine Ferraro – American lawyer (Democratic Party politician)• http://www.freebase.com/view/en/geraldine_ferraro- Steve Boros – gamer American baseball player, coach, Manager• http://www.freebase.com/view/en/steve_boros- Phil Smith – American professional basketball player• http://www.freebase.com/view/en/phil_smith - Warren William – Broadway and Hollywood Actor• http://www.freebase.com/view/en/warren_williamCreated by: Mikayla D. WilliamsPeer Reviewed by: -Websites:- http://www.themmrf.org /- http://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiplemyeloma/index- http://myeloma.org/Main.action