<unk>  <unk> , also known as plasma cell<unk>  and simply<unk> , is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that normally produces antibodies. Often, no symptoms are noticed initially. As it progresses, bone pain, anemia, kidney dysfunction, and infections may occur. Complications may include amyloidosis. The cause of<unk>  is unknown. Risk factors include obesity, radiation exposure, family history, and certain chemicals.<unk>  may develop from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance that progresses to smoldering<unk> . The abnormal plasma cells produce abnormal antibodies, which can cause kidney problems and overly thick blood. The plasma cells can also form a mass in the bone marrow or soft tissue. When one tumor is present, it is called a plasmacytoma; more than one is called<unk> .<unk>  is diagnosed based on blood or urine tests finding abnormal antibodies, bone marrow biopsy finding cancerous plasma cells, and medical imaging finding bone lesions. Another common finding is high blood calcium levels.<unk>  is considered treatable, but generally incurable. Remissions may be brought about with steroids, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and stem cell transplant. Bisphosphonates and radiation therapy are sometimes used to reduce pain from bone lesions. Globally,<unk>  affected 488,000 people and resulted in 101,100 deaths in 2015. In the United States, it develops in 6.5 per 100,000 people per year and 0.7% of people are affected at some point in their lives. It usually occurs around the age of 60 and is more common in men than women. It is uncommon before the age of 40. Without treatment, the median survival in the prechemotherapy era was about 7 months. After the introduction of chemotherapy, prognosis improved significantly with a median survival of 24 to 30 months and a 10-year survival rate of 3%. Even further improvements in prognosis have occurred because of the introduction of newer biologic therapies and better salvage options, with median survivals now exceeding 60 to 90 months. With current treatments, survival is usually 4–5 years. The five-year survival rate is about 54%. The word<unk>  is from the Greek myelo- meaning "marrow" and -oma meaning "tumor".
Multiple myeloma
Monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance  Monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance  1
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance
Monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance
Smouldering myeloma
Waldenström macroglobulinemia
AL amyloidosis
Plasma cell leukemia