Signs of multiple myeloma
The difference between signs and symptoms is that the patient feels symptoms, and signs are something a doctor can measure in their clinical practice. The most important signs of multiple myeloma include the following:
Pathologic fractures: In other words, fractures because your bone is weakened and has reduced mineral density. With an otherwise healthy bone, you wouldn’t have fractured.
Spinal cord compression: When a pathologic fracture occurs in the vertebrae, these structures collapse and create compression in the spinal cord. It is also possible that the bone marrow mass grows very large and also causes compression.
Anemia: This is a reduction in the hemoglobin levels of the blood. Anemia is characteristic of multiple myeloma because the abnormal growth of plasma cells takes the space reserved for other blood cells. They are not produced as effectively, and patients would experience a reduction in their blood cell count.
