Our team supports you
Discover how we can help youReceiving a multiple myeloma diagnosis can be frightening, but you’re not alone. The Larivière et Massicotte pharmacy team is here to support you through this difficult time, working with your healthcare specialists to ensure the best possible pharmacological treatment. Do not lose hope: multiple myeloma treatments are progressing at an incredible pace and research has never been so promising. We’re here to give you peace of mind. You focus on fighting the disease, we’ll take care of the rest.
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What is multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer which most commonly affects plasma cells, a type of white blood cell in the immune system. They usually produce antibodies that allow the body to fight infections. In a case of multiple myeloma, the abnormal plasma cells produce defective antibodies which then find their way into the bloodstream, where they can cause damage to certain parts of the body, such as the bones and kidneys. Cancerous plasma cells, on the other hand, can interfere with the production of healthy blood cells in the bone marrow.
How is multiple myeloma diagnosed?
Myeloma diagnosis involves several steps, the first of which are often detected by blood and/or urine tests. By combining these results and your symptoms with those of other more specific tests such as an X-ray or bone marrow biopsy, a diagnosis of multiple myeloma can be confirmed. This will generally be determined by a hematologist or oncologist.
What are the symptoms of multiple myeloma?
There may be few or no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Certain symptoms or other complications may appear as the condition progresses. Among the most common symptoms of myeloma are fatigue, pain, anemia, recurrent infections, and kidney problems. Most patients experience only some of these symptoms and complications, while others experience none at all.
What are the treatments for multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma can be treated in a number of ways, but it is not yet possible to cure the disease. However, treatments can control myeloma by preventing the production of abnormal plasma cells, improving the patient’s quality of life. A personalized evaluation is necessary for each patient, as every treatment is unique and may not be appropriate for all individuals.
Treatments often combine different classes of drugs to increase efficacy. The most commonly used are: high-dose chemotherapy followed by bone marrow transplantation, corticosteroids, immunomodulatory agents, proteasome inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, chemotherapy, selective inhibitors of nuclear export, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T).
Some people will also benefit from maintenance therapy, as in the case of bone marrow transplants. The oncologist or hematologist must assess each patient individually to select the treatment best suited to their needs.
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Our mission
Our committed team works hand in hand with community pharmacists, healthcare teams, and various healthcare professionals to support patients with multiple myeloma, ensuring the best possible care for them.
Common questions
What causes multiple myeloma?
To this day, the causes of multiple myeloma remain unknown. Generally, plasma cells make up only 5% or less of bone marrow, but when they start to multiply, they become what are known as myeloma cells.
What are the risk factors for multiple myeloma?
The main risk factors for developing multiple myeloma include age, family and genetic history (such as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, which is a precancerous plasma cell disorder, or being of African descent), and being male. Other factors may be involved, such as obesity or high exposure to radiation or chemicals.
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