Treatment for the disease and its symptoms
Myeloma does not require treatment as long as it stays asymptomatic. During the symptom-free
initial phase of myeloma, the patient’s condition is monitored by means of regular outpatient visits.
If treatment is started too soon, it causes unnecessary adverse effects and has no effect on survival.
Treatment is started when the patient has clear signs or symptoms such as skeletal changes or renal
impairment.
Treatment is planned individually for each person with myeloma. The treatment is chosen based on
the patient’s
- age, overall health and other conditions
- laboratory test results and results of other examinations
- symptoms
- any previous myeloma treatment.
Your specific genetic myeloma subtype is also taken into account in the treatment.
Several medicines and their combinations are used in the treatment of myeloma
The treatment plan will also include supportive care to alleviate the symptoms and adverse effects
caused by the disease and its treatment.
The disease itself is treated with a combination of several medicines/formulations. The options for
treating the disease include:
- specific myeloma medicines
- cytostatic therapy
- stem cell transplants (intensive therapy)
- corticosteroid treatment, often in combination with other treatments.
In addition, localised radiation therapy may be used to treat painful bone lesions.