Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida provides every diagnostic tool needed to accurately diagnose and stage myeloma.
Your care team uses the information from your diagnostic tests to choose the most appropriate treatments that remove cancer cells and control tumor growth and pain. We provide advanced care with a team of specialists from many areas that leaves no stone uncovered, giving you all possible treatment options for the most effective care.
Myeloma is a cancer that affects a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. The condition occurs in the bone marrow, where plasma cells are made, but can affect other parts of the body, including the muscles, heart, digestive tract and kidneys.
Plasma cells are responsible for producing antibodies – blood proteins that destroy bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that cause illness.
With myeloma, changes in the bone marrow or genetic information (DNA) in plasma cells cause plasma cells to grow abnormally and take over the bone marrow. This eventually affects the body’s ability to produce healthy white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets.
The condition is also called multiple myeloma, because tumors grow in multiple locations in – and sometimes outside of – the bone marrow.
Myeloma is more common in people who are older as well as in men and African-Americans.
Some studies show a slightly increased risk in people who are exposed to large amounts of pesticides, fertilizers, petrochemicals, sawdust or heavy metals.
