Multiple myeloma

Multiple Myeloma Care in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Multiple myeloma (also called plasma cell myeloma) is a type of blood cancer that starts in plasma cells in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside your bones where blood cells are made. When myeloma develops, cancerous plasma cells grow out of control and crowd out healthy blood-forming cells.

In Grand Rapids and across Michigan, multiple myeloma is an important health concern, especially for older adults. While there is currently no cure, modern treatments available at major Grand Rapids cancer centers can often control the disease for many years and significantly improve quality of life.

How Multiple Myeloma Affects the Body

Normal Blood and Plasma Cells

Blood is made up of:

Plasma – the liquid part of blood that carries nutrients, hormones, and waste products
Red blood cells – carry oxygen around the body
White blood cells – fight infection and disease
Platelets – help blood clot and stop bleeding

Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell. In healthy people, plasma cells develop from lymphocytes and make antibodies (immunoglobulins) that help the immune system fight infections.

What Happens in Multiple Myeloma

In multiple myeloma:

There is a large increase in malignant (cancerous) plasma cells in the bone marrow
Normal plasma cells are reduced, so the body makes fewer healthy antibodies
There is less space to make normal red cells, white cells, and platelets

This can lead to:

Anaemia (low red blood cells) – causing tiredness, lethargy, pale skin, and shortness of breath on exertion
Low white blood cells – making you more likely to get infections and respond less strongly to vaccines (important in Michigan’s cold and flu season)
Low platelets – leading to easy bruising and bleeding

The malignant plasma cells also produce abnormal proteins and other substances that can:

Weaken bones – making them thin, fragile, and more likely to fracture
Raise blood calcium levels – which can cause thirst, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and confusion
Damage the kidneys – abnormal proteins can clog and damage the kidneys so they cannot filter and clean the blood properly

Who Is Affected in Grand Rapids and Michigan

Multiple myeloma is rare in people under 40 and is more common in older adults. Across Michigan, hundreds of people are diagnosed each year, and many receive care at major Grand Rapids hospitals and cancer centers, including:

Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) Cancer Center – Grand Rapids
Trinity Health Grand Rapids
Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
Mercy Health facilities in the greater Grand Rapids area

Because of West Michigan’s aging population and long winters (which can limit physical activity and increase infection risk), awareness of multiple myeloma symptoms is especially important.

Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma

In its early stages, multiple myeloma may not cause any symptoms and may be found on routine blood tests. As the disease progresses, common symptoms include:

Bone pain, especially in the back, ribs, hips, or skull
Easily broken bones (fractures) – sometimes after only minor injury
Tiredness, weakness, or shortness of breath – often due to anaemia
Easy bruising or bleeding – including nosebleeds or bleeding gums
Repeated infections or infections that are hard to get rid of
Thirst, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or confusion – which may be due to high calcium levels or kidney problems
Unexplained weight loss
Frequent urination or swelling in the legs – possible signs of kidney involvement

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and notice these symptoms, especially persistent bone pain or frequent infections, contact your primary care doctor or a local hematologist/oncologist for evaluation.

Diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma in Grand Rapids

To diagnose multiple myeloma, doctors use a combination of tests. These are available at major Grand Rapids hospitals and diagnostic centers.

Blood Tests

Blood tests can:

Check levels of normal blood cells (red cells, white cells, platelets)
Measure calcium levels
Assess kidney function (renal function)
Detect M-protein (monoclonal protein) and serum free light chains made by myeloma cells
Look for other markers that help stage and monitor the disease

Urine Tests

Urine tests can:

Detect M-protein (Bence Jones protein) that is passed into the urine
Help assess kidney damage from abnormal proteins

Imaging Tests

To look for bone damage or fractures, doctors may order:

Whole-body low-dose CT scan or CT skeletal survey
Sometimes MRI or PET-CT if needed

These tests help identify areas of weakened or broken bone, which is especially important in regions like West Michigan where winter ice and falls can increase fracture risk.

Bone Marrow Tests

A bone marrow aspirate and biopsy is usually needed to confirm the diagnosis. This involves:

Removing a small amount of liquid bone marrow (aspirate)
Taking a small core of bone marrow tissue (biopsy)

The samples are examined to:

Count the number of plasma cells
Look for abnormal (malignant) plasma cells
Check for abnormal chromosomes (cytogenetics) that can influence prognosis and treatment choices

Test results may take a few days. Feeling anxious while waiting is very normal. Talking to a trusted friend, family member, or a local cancer support service in Grand Rapids can help during this time.

Treatment for Multiple Myeloma in Grand Rapids, MI

Treatment is usually managed by a hematologist/oncologist and often involves a team approach. At Grand Rapids centers like Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health, care plans are personalized based on age, overall health, kidney function, and how advanced the myeloma is.

If treatment is recommended, it may include one or more of the following:

Chemotherapy

Cancer-killing drugs that target rapidly dividing cells
Given as tablets or intravenous (IV) infusions
Often combined with other medicines to improve effectiveness

Radiotherapy

Uses targeted x-rays to kill myeloma cells in specific areas
Helps relieve bone pain and reduce the risk of further fractures
Often used when there is a painful lesion in the spine, ribs, or other bones

Steroids

Medications such as dexamethasone or prednisone
Usually taken as tablets
Help kill myeloma cells and reduce inflammation
Commonly combined with chemotherapy and other targeted drugs

Targeted and Immunomodulatory Drugs

These newer drugs have significantly improved outcomes for people with multiple myeloma and are widely used in Grand Rapids cancer centers.

Common examples include:

Thalidomide – taken as tablets; helps interfere with the growth of myeloma cells
Lenalidomide – taken as tablets; a newer version of thalidomide, often used for long-term disease control
Bortezomib – a proteasome inhibitor thought to work by killing myeloma cells; usually given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous)

Other newer agents (such as carfilzomib, daratumumab, and others) may be available through your local oncologist, especially at larger centers in Grand Rapids that participate in clinical trials.

Stem Cell Transplantation

All blood cells come from stem cells in the bone marrow. High doses of chemotherapy can damage both cancerous and normal cells. To allow higher-dose treatment:

Stem cells are collected from your blood (after being stimulated to move out of the bone marrow).
You receive high-dose chemotherapy to kill as many myeloma cells as possible.
Your own stem cells are then returned (autologous stem cell transplant) to help your bone marrow recover and start making healthy blood cells again.

Stem cell transplantation is a specialized treatment that may be offered at major Grand Rapids cancer centers or coordinated with larger transplant programs in Michigan.

Bisphosphonates

Medications used to strengthen bones, reduce bone pain, and treat high calcium levels
Can be given as IV infusions or tablets
Commonly used in West Michigan patients with bone involvement to help reduce fracture risk, especially during icy winter months when falls are more likely

Surgery

May be needed to stabilize weak or thin bones using plates, pins, or screws
Often used when there is a high risk of fracture or when a fracture has already occurred (for example, in the spine or long bones)

Plasma Exchange (Plasmapheresis)

A procedure used to remove abnormal proteins from the blood
Helps prevent the blood from becoming too thick and clogging small blood vessels, which can cause confusion, dizziness, or stroke-like symptoms
Not a common treatment, but may be recommended if the level of abnormal protein is dangerously high

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials test new and improved treatments for multiple myeloma
Grand Rapids cancer centers often participate in regional and national trials
Ask your oncologist what trials are available and whether you may be eligible

Participating in a clinical trial may give you access to cutting-edge therapies while helping advance care for others in West Michigan and beyond.

Supportive and Symptom-Relief Treatments

In addition to treating the cancer itself, many people with multiple myeloma need supportive care to manage symptoms and side effects:

Blood transfusions – to help treat anaemia and improve energy
Pain-relieving medications – from over-the-counter options to stronger prescription pain relievers
Antibiotics – to help treat and control infections, especially during the winter months when respiratory infections are more common in Michigan
Antibody (immunoglobulin) infusions – from blood donors, to help prevent infections if your antibody levels are low
Medications for nausea, vomiting, or constipation – to manage treatment side effects and high calcium levels
Physical therapy and rehabilitation – to help with mobility and balance, especially important in icy Grand Rapids winters

When a Cure Isn’t Possible: Palliative and End-of-Life Care

If multiple myeloma is diagnosed at a later stage or no longer responds to treatment, the focus may shift from trying to control the disease to improving comfort and quality of life. This is called palliative care or end-of-life care.

Palliative care in Grand Rapids may include:

Effective pain management
Treatment for nausea, vomiting, constipation, or breathlessness
Emotional and spiritual support for you and your family
Help with planning care at home, in hospice, or in a skilled nursing facility

Palliative care services are available through major Grand Rapids health systems and community hospice organizations and can be provided alongside cancer treatment or when active treatment is no longer helpful.

Local Resources for Multiple Myeloma Support in Grand Rapids

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma in the Grand Rapids area, you do not have to face it alone. Helpful resources include:

Local Medical and Public Health Resources

Your GP / Primary Care Physician – first point of contact for symptoms, referrals, and ongoing care
Hematology/Oncology Clinics at:
- Corewell Health (Spectrum Health) in Grand Rapids
- Trinity Health Grand Rapids
- Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
- Mercy Health facilities in West Michigan
Kent County Health Department – offers public health information, vaccination clinics, and resources that can be especially important for people with weakened immune systems
Grand Rapids Public Health and community health centers – may provide support services, education, and referrals

Cancer Information and Support

National Cancer Information Services – provide phone and online support, education, and navigation
Myeloma Foundation of the United States – offers disease-specific information, patient guides, and support resources (check current contact details and support groups serving Michigan and Grand Rapids)
Local and regional support groups – many West Michigan hospitals host cancer and myeloma support groups (in-person and virtual)

Ask your Grand Rapids oncology team for:

Social work or counseling referrals
Financial and transportation assistance programs
Nutrition and rehabilitation services

Key Points About Multiple Myeloma in Grand Rapids, MI

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow.
It leads to a range of problems, including weak and reduced immunity, bone damage, anaemia, and kidney issues.
A low red blood cell count causes anaemia, with symptoms such as tiredness, lethargy, and shortness of breath on exertion.
In its early stages, myeloma may not cause symptoms, so regular checkups and blood tests are important, especially for older adults.
If treatment is recommended, it may include chemotherapy (tablets or injections), radiotherapy, steroids, targeted drugs, stem cell transplant, and bisphosphonates.
Radiotherapy is often used to relieve pain and reduce the risk of further bone fractures.
Modern treatments available in Grand Rapids, Michigan can often manage multiple myeloma successfully for several years, and local support services can help patients and families cope physically and emotionally.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and are concerned about symptoms or a possible diagnosis of multiple myeloma, contact your primary care doctor or a local oncologist promptly for evaluation and guidance.