Myeloma, or multiple myeloma, is cancer of a certain type of blood cell called a plasma cell. It begins in the bone marrow, where blood cells are made. Bone marrow is found in the soft, spongy center of certain bones.

In adults, marrow usually is active only in the skull, shoulders, spine, ribs, pelvis and hips. (It’s not active lower in the arms, hands, legs or feet.) Myeloma can affect any bones where marrow is active.

Healthy bone marrow produces the three major types of blood cells our bodies need.

• White blood cells fight infection.
• Red blood cells carry oxygen.
• Platelets make the blood clot and stop bleeding.

Myeloma affects one type of white blood cell, called a plasma cell, that’s part of your immune system. Normally when bacteria or viruses enter your body, white blood cells called B lymphocytes, or B cells, turn into plasma cells to fight these germs. The plasma cells make antibodies to destroy the specific type of infection you have.

In myeloma, plasma cells don’t reproduce normally, and they can’t perform their normal immune duties. The cancerous plasma cells, also called myeloma cells, divide and grow out of control, building up in the marrow and crowding out other healthy blood cells. This can increase your risk of infection, anemia (shortage of oxygen-carrying red blood cells) and blood-clotting problems.

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