This Saturday, April 10, the International Myeloma

Foundation will present the Atlanta Patient and Family Seminar on

multiple myeloma, a little-known, rare form of bone marrow cancer

with no known cure.

The disease affects about 75,000 people in the U.S. every year,

and with 13,500 new cases diagnosed each year is one of the

fastest-growing types of cancer. The Atlanta area has a multiple

myeloma support group with about 75 members.

The seminar will be at the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead. A

continental breakfast will be offered at 7 a.m., with welcome at 8 a.m.

Closing session is 4:15 p.m. Cost for the seminar is $85, and register

Topics include "back to basics - myeloma 101," bone

involvement and complications, initial treatment options, when standard

treatment fails, and "what's new."

The International Myeloma Foundation, based in

California, distributes material about multiple myeloma, noting that the

bone marrow cancer is caused by uncontrolled growth of plasma

cells. Manufactured in the bone marrow, plasma cells are a part of

the body's immune system. But overgrowth can cause the cells to

invade and destroy surrounding bone, as well as displacing

normal blood-producing cells in the marrow.

The causes of the disease are unknown, but some experts

believe there is a relationship to toxic exposures like environmental

pollutants, chemicals, pesticides and Agent Orange. Among the

first symptoms may be pain along the lower back and ribs,

excessive thirst and exhaustion, bruising, nose bleeds, hazy vision and

headaches.

Diagnosis may be missed because the disease has been

rare, especially in younger people. Many patients are first

diagnosed after routine blood/urine tests show high protein levels,

caused by the overabundance of proteins secreted by the malignant

plasma cells. Two of these three tests can confirm a diagnosis of

multiple myeloma: a bone marrow sample showing more than 10 percent

of cells are plasma cells; a metastatic bone survey by X-rays

which shows holes in the bone or widespread bone loss; a biopsy

revealing a plasma cell tumor on or in the bone. The most common

effect of the cancer is bone destruction which can be slowed or

prevented by prompt and proactive treatment.

Without treatment, the patient gradually becomes

immobile. Treatment options can include chemotherapy, radiation,

replacing plasma cells with fluid, or harvesting "stem cells" to

regrow normal marrow.

"If ignorance breeds fear and knowledge is power,"

says Stephanie Colman of the International Myeloma

Foundation, "those attending the IMF's Atlanta Patient and Family

Seminar will find themselves armed with an impressive battalion of

up-to-date factual information and patient-to-patient support."

<!--##############