The Fastest Biological Killer: Cancer

Page by Healthy Vibes.

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that affects the bone marrow of individuals and which in turn results in a very slow and painful death. Basically multiple myeloma begins with the uncontrolled multiplication of plasma cells which are classified as a type of blood cell.

For those who are not conversant with this term plasma cells it is better to start explaining from the beginning that is what are blood cells exactly?

Basically almost all blood cells in the human body evolve into what is known as stem cells which are present in the bone marrow that is present inside the bone of the individual. Stem cells are in tunr classified into the following types:

White blood cells

Red blood cells

Platelets

The plasma cells are responsible for the onset of this type of cancer. Though plasma cells are those entities that help form antibodies that help to fight against diseases their uncontrolled growth is a cause of concern as it could lead to Multiple Myeloma most commonly known as MM or Kahlers disease.

The growth of a cancerous tumor is due to the collected mass of old blood cells that have failed to die and get thrown out of the body system. This occurs as new cells are not formed when the body needs them and thus consequently the old cells do not die as a result resulting in a pileup or collection of cells that are responsible for the growth of a tumor. MM occurs when the plasma cells in the body of an individual mutate to form abnormal cells which start creating subsequent copies of itself just like the way a virus script does its work. The subsequent cells thus formed repeat the initial process of duplicating and it is these cells that are known as myeloma cells. During the course of this process these extra myeloma cells that have been formed get collected in the bone marrow thus crowing out normal cells. These cells are not only restricted to the bone marrow they also get stored in the solid part of the bone/bones. Multiple myeloma is the most common form of cancer where plasma cells are related.

Causes of MM:

No one actually knows the exact cause of this disease and the possibilities or the odds related to the number of people affected by it. However studies have shown that this disease is not contagious.

Research has shown that the possibility of one developing this disease depends on the following risk factors:

- Age

- Race

- MGUS

Age is considered as a factor as with growing age the possibilities on one developing this disease becomes higher. This is true as most of those who have been affected with this disease are above 55 years of age. Race is another factor as this disease is more commonly found in those whose who belong to the African or Asian race. MGUS is a basically defined when the M proteins that are responsible for the occurrence of this type of cancer are found in a very low level.

Scientists are finding out other possible causes of this disease and their research covers radiation, carcinogens as well as obesity.