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Hematologic Malignancies Program

Patient and Family Education

Multiple Myeloma

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of multiple myeloma include the following:

• bone pain in the back, ribs or other bones
• fatigue
• anemia
• unexplained bone fractures
• sleepiness
• excessive thirst and urination
• constipation
• loss of appetite

Multiple myeloma is sometimes found as part of routine blood or urine tests that show the presence of an abnormal myeloma protein called monoclonal (M) protein. This protein is also sometimes called Bence Jones protein. Bone X-rays may show holes in the bone called lytic lesions. After blood tests and X-rays, the diagnosis is confirmed with a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy to check for the presence of plasma cells in the bone marrow.

This page was last updated on: October 7, 2009.

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