Multiple Myeloma

Multiple Myeloma Care at UVM Cancer Center

Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer that starts in plasma cells — white blood cells in the bone marrow that help your body fight infection. In multiple myeloma, these cells grow out of control and crowd out healthy blood cells. Over time, this can affect the bones, kidneys, immune system and blood.

Multiple myeloma is a long-term condition. While it is usually not curable, many effective treatments can control the disease, relieve symptoms and help people live longer and more comfortably.

Why Choose UVM Health?

As one of the region’s leading cancer programs, we offer:

Expert, team-based care: Your treatment is supported by a coordinated group of specialists — including surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists and pathologists — who work together to design a personalized treatment plan.
Innovation through research: We participate in respected cancer research networks and clinical trials. For eligible patients, these trials may offer access to additional treatment options for difficult-to-treat cancers. Your doctor can help determine wither a trial is right for you.
Patient-first philosophy: We design your treatment around your needs. Supportive services such as cancer rehabilitation, mental health counseling and integrative therapies (like yoga and acupuncture) are available to help improve comfort and well-being throughout your care.

Multiple Myeloma Symptoms

Symptoms can vary widely and may develop slowly. Common symptoms may include:

Bone pain, especially in the back, ribs or hips
Weak or fragile bones that break easily
Fatigue or weakness
Frequent infections
Increased bruising or bleeding
Thirst, constipation, confusion or nausea
Kidney issues, sometimes found during routine blood tests

Because symptoms can mimic other common conditions, it is important to speak with your clinician if they persist or worsen.

Diagnosing Multiple Myeloma

Your clinician will review your symptoms, health history, and results from blood, urine and imaging tests.

Diagnostic tests may include:

Blood tests: To check for abnormal proteins, anemia, kidney function and calcium levels
Urine tests: To detect abnormal proteins
Bone marrow biopsy: To examine plasma cells directly
Imaging studies: X-rays, CT scans, MRI or PET scans to check for bone damage

Cancer Care

Clinical Trials

The UVM Cancer Center supports more than 100 active clinical trials focused on prevention, screening, treatment, supportive care and survivorship.

View open trials

Multiple Myeloma Treatment

Treatment depends on your symptoms, overall health and how advanced the disease is. Some people with early-stage disease may be closely monitored before starting treatment.

Common treatment options include:

Bispecific antibodies: A new type of cancer therapy using proteins that recognize and bind to foreign invaders, such as cancer cells
CAR T-Cell therapy: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-Cell therapy is an innovative treatment that works by engineering your own infection-fighting white blood cells (T-cells) to identify and destroy cancer cells
Chemotherapy: Medications that stop or slow the growth of cancer cells
Immunotherapy: Drugs that help your immune system better recognize and destroy cancer cells
Targeted drug therapy: Also called precision medicine, these treatments target specific markers on myeloma cells to slow their growth
Steroids: Medications that reduce inflammation and kill myeloma cells
Stem cell transplant: For eligible patients, often after initial treatment, to restore healthy bone marrow
Supportive & integrative care: Services such as rehabilitation, mental health counseling, pain management, yoga and acupuncture to improve quality of life during treatment