Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is relatively rare as the 14th most common cancer in the U.S. However, many new treatments have been developed for multiple myeloma, and more are being tested in clinical trials. Because of this, it’s important that you work with a team, like the doctors and advanced practice providers at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, who have expertise in multiple myeloma and are committed to not only following the latest research, but also leading this research.

We know that multiple myeloma is more common among men than women and twice as common among Black people as white people. Our board-certified hematologist-oncologists have extensive experience providing culturally competent care to patients of all backgrounds with multiple myeloma. Schedule an appointment now to discover your options.

What is multiple myeloma?

Multiple myeloma, also called myeloma, is a cancer of the plasma cells, a part of your immune system. Plasma cells are produced in your bone marrow, where they make antibodies to protect you from infection. The malignant plasma cells, called myeloma, can crowd out healthy cells and also produce an antibody called M protein that can damage your kidneys.

Have more questions about multiple myeloma? Check out our answers to common questions.

Multiple myeloma symptoms

If you have multiple myeloma, you might not experience any symptoms at early stages, but possible symptoms can include:

• Fatigue.
• Bone pain or weakness.
• Anemia.
• Hypercalcemia, or high levels of calcium in the blood, which can cause extreme thirst, sleepiness, constipation and confusion.

Multiple myeloma treatment

Watchful waiting

Some cancers are indolent, or slow-growing, and aren’t causing problems at the moment. In these cases, close observation can make more sense than jumping straight to a treatment that may have side effects.

Chemotherapy
Medications, given as pills or by an infusion into the bloodstream, to kill cancer cells.

Blood and marrow transplant (BMT)
MUSC Health was the first hospital to perform a bone marrow transplant in South Carolina, and the first program in the world to perform an outpatient transplant with an unrelated donor. A BMT wipes out the cancer cells with high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy and then gives you a dose of healthy stem cells that will begin producing new, healthy blood cells.

Immunotherapy, including CAR-T cell therapy
Hollings offers adult and pediatric CAR-T cell therapy programs that help your body recognize, and fight, cancer cells. Using state-of-the-art technology, our researchers are working to purify T-cells to reduce side effects and improve outcomes.

Targeted therapy

Medications that look for specific features on cancer cells and reduce harm to nearby normal cells.

Radiation therapy
Radiation can improve cancer-related symptoms, or be used to cure cancer itself. For example, it could be targeted toward a painful, swollen spleen or toward bone pain. In specific cases, radiation therapy treats the cancer with or without additional therapy.

Specialized services for multiple myeloma patients

• HOPE Unit. The Hematologic Oncologic Protective Environment unit on the 7th floor of MUSC Health’s Ashley River Tower is a technologically advanced inpatient unit designed for immunocompromised patients that uses the same sophisticated HEPA filtration system found in operating rooms.
• Charleston Hope Lodge. The American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, which provides free housing for patients and a companion, is located one block from Hollings.

Refer a multiple myeloma patient

To refer a multiple myeloma patient to Hollings, please call patient referral coordinator Debra Oree at 843-985-0567.

Nurse navigator support

Our blood and lymphatic cancer nurse navigators, Bonnie Boyce, BSN, RN, OCN, and Katie Fitzmaurice, RN, BSN, CPN, will help you understand what to expect during treatment and answer questions you may have.

Clinical trials for multiple myeloma

Clinical trials are how we know which treatments work; results from clinical trials determine what becomes the standard of care across cancer centers. As a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, Hollings takes an active part in clinical trials to continue advancing knowledge of cancer care.

Why might you participate in a clinical trial? First, there are different types of trials. Some test a new medication. Others look at ways to improve quality of life. Your doctor may suggest a clinical trial believing that you could benefit from it. Because therapies in clinical trials have the potential to become the standard of care in the future, you could possibly have earlier access to a new treatment. You will also be helping future cancer patients, who will benefit from the information created during the trial. Either way, know that participating in a cancer clinical trial means that you will receive at least the standard of care, and possibly something extra.

Learn more about clinical trials at Hollings and see our current multiple myeloma clinical trials and blood and lymphatic cancer clinical trials.

Multiple Myeloma Research

Each day, Hollings researchers are studying how to improve treatment and give you the best outcome possible. Some recent multiple myeloma research includes:

• Verifying the safety of outpatient stem cell transplants for people with multiple myeloma
• Offering a clinical trial for a new bispecfic antibody to patients before attempting multiple therapies
• Using a monoclonal antibody to protect people with blood cancers from COVID-19

In addition, Hollings’ dedicated Hematologic Malignancies Transdisciplinary Cancer Team brings together expertise from different disciplines in basic and clinical research for monthly meetings to collaborate on ongoing blood and lymphatic cancer research.