A 65-year-old woman, Ms. A, who had a history of back problems, experienced severe back pain and leg weakness one day while descending the stairs. When she visited the hospital, she was diagnosed with nerve compression caused by a spinal fracture. During tests to determine the cause of the fracture, it was also discovered that she had anemia of unknown origin, and her primary care physician suspected blood cancer and transferred her to a tertiary hospital. Subsequently, through blood tests and bone marrow examinations, she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, and was deeply shocked.

 

There are cases where people visit the hospital due to back pain and are shocked to be diagnosed with blood cancer. Usually, blood cancer brings to mind leukemia, but in terms of incidence, multiple myeloma is the second most common and is continuously increasing. September is World Blood Cancer Awareness Month. With the help of Professor Young-hoon Park from the Hematology-Oncology Department at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, we learned about multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that originates from plasma cells, a type of white blood cell involved in antibody production, and is one of the fastest-growing cancers in the country. According to data from the Central Cancer Registry published in 2023, there were 1,915 new cases of multiple myeloma in South Korea in 2021, accounting for 0.7% of all cancer cases. Most patients are over 60 years old, making it a representative blood cancer that occurs predominantly in the elderly.

 

Multiple myeloma produces abnormal proteins called M-proteins instead of normal antibodies, destroying the normal immune system and causing various symptoms. Although the exact mechanism of onset has not been clearly identified, it is known to be related to immune system abnormalities, genetic factors, and exposure to radiation and chemicals. When multiple myeloma occurs, hypercalcemia can lead to symptoms such as thirst, nausea, consciousness disturbances, shortness of breath due to anemia, dizziness, and general weakness.

 

Weakening and destruction of bones are also among the characteristic symptoms of multiple myeloma. Symptoms may include fractures, pain in the back or ribs, or swelling due to decreased kidney function. In fact, about 70% of patients diagnosed for the first time report back pain and bone pain in the hip area.

 

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Did you strain your back during Chuseok?

I still have some pain in the morning.

 

Just passing by is also dangerous, you know.

 

It seems like stretching would make it much better..

 

For those with severe back problems...

Be sure to get medical treatment at the hospital. Other illnesses could develop.