Knowledge is power! Learning all you can about myeloma will empower you to make intelligent treatment choices. There has been much progress in treating myeloma. Patients are living longer because there are so many more options available and more are being developed each year.

How your myeloma is treated will depend upon a number of factors, including:

• The results of your physical exam and diagnostic testing (blood, urine and bone tests)
• The stage of your disease
• What sort of prognostic indicators you may have (e.g., whether a chromosome mutation is identified, and if so, which type)
• Your age and general state of health
• The symptoms you are experiencing, such as fatigue or bone pain
• What type of complications of the disease you may be experiencing (e.g., kidney disease, anemia or infections)
• What sort of treatments you have had before and how your myeloma responded to them
• What new treatments are becoming available, such as through participating in clinical trials