bone, joint, and muscle disorders
Primary Cancerous Bone Tumors
Multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma (see also Multiple Myeloma ) is sometimes considered a cancer of the hematologic (blood) system, but is sometimes considered a tumor of bone. As a bone tumor, it is the most common primary cancerous (malignant) bone tumor and occurs mostly in older adults. However, it is cancer that involves the bone marrow (the blood-forming tissue inside the cavity of the bone) rather than the hard tissue that makes up the bone. Thus, it is usually considered a cancer of the bone marrow rather than the bone itself. It is more common than cancers of the hard tissue that makes up bone. The cancerous marrow cells secrete substances that cause loss of bone. Bone loss may be widespread or, more often, appears as punched-out areas in bones. Multiple myeloma may affect one or more bones, so pain may occur in one location or in several. If only one bone is affected by a single tumor, the condition is calledplasmacytoma. If there is more than one tumor or the bone marrow is widely affected, the condition is called multiple myeloma. Diagnosis is done sometimes for diagnosis in areas where bone has been destroyed. If multiple myeloma is suggested by the bone biopsy results or if multiple myeloma is suspected for other reasons, the diagnosis is confirmed by removing and examining bone marrow cells. Blood tests are also done. Additionally, doctors take Treatment of multiple myeloma is complex and may include Chemotherapy and Other Systemic Cancer Treatments , 