New Delhi, 6 November (IANS). The recent death of famous Bhojpuri and Maithili folk singer Sharda Sinha due to multiple myeloma has increased the concern among people about this dangerous disease. Multiple myeloma is a cancer that begins in plasma cells. Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell that make antibodies to help the body fight infection.
To know more about multiple myeloma, IANS spoke to Dr Rahul Bhargava, Principal Director and Chief BMT at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram.
Dr. Bhargava said, “Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer which is caused by the increase in white blood plasma cells. The reason for this has not been known yet. This can happen to anyone. Mostly in foreign countries it happens after 60 years, but in India its cases are coming to light only after the age of 50.
He said, “Folk singer Sharda Sinha also died due to the same disease. It is a kind of incurable disease which we can control but cannot eliminate. Today, there are many new medicines available in the market. Because of this, where earlier its patients could survive only for two-three years, now they can survive for five-seven years and live their lives happily. However, many patients have been able to survive even for 10-15 years.
Dr. Rahul Bhargava said, “Multiple myeloma is treated with chemotherapy. Due to this, the patient’s hair does not fall and he does not have any problem like vomiting. There are many types of medicines available in the market, by taking which one can live a better life.
The doctor further said, “Soon a new miraculous medicine is going to come in the market which will work better on up to 90 percent of the people.” Every multiple myeloma patient should have a bone marrow transplant by the age of 70, because it has been shown that transplant can extend the life span by three to four times compared to medicines.
He explained that multiple myeloma is caused by certain genetic mutations, and these mutations vary from person to person. “Although some mutations have been identified as risk factors for myeloma, multiple myeloma is not considered a hereditary disease.”
–IANS
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