A look at what causes myeloma

M yeloma, also known as multiple myeloma, is a type of cancer which originates from plasma cells and which can affect various parts of the body, especially bones, such as the skull, pelvis, rib cage and the spine. This type of cancer, myeloma, also known as multiple myeloma, is not very common in places such as Europe but it is more common among black populations than it is among white and Asian ones for some unknown reason. Also, the older we grow, once we go over forty, the easier it is to suffer with this type of cancer. It has also been confirmed that men are more diagnosed with myeloma than women are. Although there have been thousands of studies about what causes myeloma, it must be said that none of them have been able to reveal exactly what it is that causes this type of cancer. However, what has been revealed is that certain changes in DNA can make plasma cells become more cancerous. Also, scientists have confirmed that anything that can potentially increase your risk of getting a disease also increase your chance to suffer with this type of cancer. However, that doesn't mean that if you have a couple of risk factors you will develop myeloma. Although not exactly a cause, studies have revealed that those who end up developing myeloma first have monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance, also known as MGUS, which means that they have many large protein molecules in their blood. Also, something else that has come out of the many studies carried by scientists to learn more about what causes myeloma is that people who have a parent or sibling who suffers with myeloma are three times as likely to also suffer with this type of cancer. The very same studies have revealed a couple more risk factors which include being overweight as one of them, indicating that people who are their ideal bodyweight have less chances of developing myeloma. Also, these studies have stated that people who, for whatever reason, have been exposed to very high levels of radiation may also be more at risk of suffering with myeloma than other people. [Photo: flickr.com]