Fatigue, bone pain, dehydration, and unexplained bruising are symptoms that can occur with myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells, as noted in reporting on the condition.
Myeloma is a cancer where plasma cells multiply excessively and immunoglobulins, protective proteins in the blood, rise. These malignant plasma cells crowd out normal blood-forming cells in the bone marrow, and the accumulating cells can also damage nearby bone tissue as immunoglobulins accumulate in the bone matrix.
In the early stages, multiple myeloma may not show obvious signs. When symptoms appear, they often involve the back or rib area due to dense clusters of abnormal plasma cells in a region of bone. Fatigue is common and can stem from anemia, a shortage of red blood cells that transport oxygen throughout the body.
Thirst that is persistent or unusual can be another sign. In myeloma, the abnormal plasma cells can trigger bone breakdown, releasing calcium into the bloodstream. This condition, known as hypercalcemia, is frequently linked with thirst, nausea, and abdominal discomfort, according to health authorities and researchers.
Other possible indicators include blurred vision, unexplained bruising, swollen or bleeding gums, and unusually heavy menstrual periods in women. These symptoms may reflect a reduced ability of the blood to clot or repair itself when plasma cells displace normal platelets. This gives the body less capacity to stop bleeding and recover from injuries, a point supported by cancer research organizations.
Obesity has also been discussed in relation to cancer risk profiles, including pancreatic cancer, though the focus in myeloma remains on how malignant plasma cells affect bone marrow, bone health, and blood cell production.