NORD's
Washington Office
 Read about events on Capitol Hill, funding for rare-disease research, and other topics of interest from NORD's office in Washington, DC.
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"Resources" on this report.
Copyright 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
NORD is grateful to Morie A. Gertz, MD, Hematology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, for assistance in the preparation of this report.
Synonyms of Myeloma, Multiple
- Kahler Disease
- Myelomatosis
- Plasma Cell Myeloma
Disorder Subdivisions
- Extramedullary Plasmacytoma
- Nonsecretory Myeloma
- Osteosclerotic Myeloma
- Plasma Cell Leukemia
- Smoldering Myeloma
- Solitary Plasmacytoma of Bone
General Discussion
Multiple myeloma is a rare form of cancer characterized by excessive production (proliferation) and improper function of certain cells (plasma cells) found in the bone marrow. Plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cell, are produced in the bone marrow and eventually enter the bloodstream. Excessive plasma cells may eventually mass together to form a tumor or tumors in various sites of the body, especially the bone marrow. If only a single tumor is present, the term solitary plasmocytoma is used. When multiple tumors are present, the term multiple myeloma is used. Plasma cells are a key component of the immune system and secrete a substance known as myeloma proteins (M-proteins), a type of antibody. Antibodies are special proteins that the body produces to combat invading microorganisms, toxins, or other foreign substances. Overproduction of plasma cells in affected individuals results in abnormally high levels of these proteins within the body.
Major symptoms of multiple myeloma may include bone pain, especially in the back and the ribs; low levels of circulating red blood cells (anemia) resulting in weakness, fatigue, and lack of color (pallor); and kidney (renal) abnormalities. In most cases, affected individuals are more susceptible to bacterial infections such as pneumonia. The exact cause of multiple myeloma is unknown.
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Organizations related to Myeloma, Multiple
- American Cancer Society, Inc.
1599 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta GA 30329
Phone #: 404-320-3333
800 #: 800-227-2345
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.cancer.org
- Cancer Research UK
PO Box 123
Lincoln's Inn Fields
London Intl WC2A 3PX
Phone #: 020--72-42 0200
800 #: N/A
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.imperialcancer.co.uk
- Cancer.Net
American Society of Clinical Oncology
2318 Mill Road
Suite 800
Alexandria VA 22314
Phone #: 571-483-1780
800 #: 888-651-3038
e-mail: contactus@cancer.net
Home page: http://www.cancer.net/patient
- Friends of Cancer Research
2231 Crystal Drive
Suite 200
Arlington VA 22202
Phone #: 703-302-1503
800 #: N/A
e-mail: info@focr.org
Home page: http://www.focr.org
- Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
Phone #: 301-251-4925
800 #: 888-205-2311
e-mail: ordr@od.nih.gov
Home page: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/Default.aspx
- International Myeloma Foundation
12650 Riverside Drive
Suite 206
North Hollywood CA 91607
Phone #: 818-487-7455
800 #: 800-452-2873
e-mail: TheIMF@myeloma.org
Home page: http://www.myeloma.org
- Lance Armstrong Foundation
2201 E. Sixth Street
Austin TX 78702
Phone #: 512-236-8820
800 #: 877-236-8820
e-mail: media@livestrong.org
Home page: http://www.livestrong.org
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
1311 Mamaroneck Avenue
Suite 310
White Plains NY 10605
Phone #: 914-949-5213
800 #: 800-955-4572
e-mail: infocenter@LLS.org
Home page: http://www.LLS.org
- Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
383 Main Avenue
5th Floor
Nework CT 06851
Phone #: 203-229-0464
800 #: --
e-mail: info@themmrf.org
Home page: http://:
- NIH/Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
10 Center Dr, Building 10-CRC
3-5140, MSC-1202
Bethesda MD 20892-1202
Phone #: 301-402-0764
800 #: --
e-mail: zamaniw@nhlbi.nih.gov
Home page: http://dir.nhlbi.nih.gov/labs/hb/index.asp?
- National Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Blvd, MSC 8322, Room 3036A
Bethesda MD 20892-8322
Phone #: 301-435-3848
800 #: 800-422-6237
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.cancer.gov
- Patient Registries at Slone: Myeloma & MDS
Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University
1010 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston MA 02215
Phone #: 617-734-6006
800 #: 800-231-3769
e-mail: registry@slone.bu.edu
Home page: http://www.bu.edu/prs
- Rare Cancer Alliance
1649 North Pacana Way
Green Valley AZ 85614
Phone #: 520-625-5495
800 #: --
e-mail: sharon.lane@rare-cancer.org
Home page: http://www.rare-cancer.org
- UCSF Hemophilia Treatment Center
400 Parnassus Ave.
First Floor
San Francisco CA 94143
Phone #: 415-353-2986
800 #: N/A
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/medical_services/blood/hemophilia/index.html
- Wellness Community
919 18th Street N.W.
Suite 54
Washington DC 20006
Phone #: 202-659-9709
800 #: 888-793-9355
e-mail: help@thewellnesscommunity.org
Home page: http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org
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