What is mistaken for myeloma?
Arthritis. Osteoarthritis mimics several multiple myeloma symptoms. As cartilage between bones breaks down and bones rub together, arthritis can cause bone and back pain, along with joint stiffness. Multiple myeloma can cause different types of bone problems: Bone pain in any bone, but is most often in the back, hips, or skull. Bone weakness, either all over (osteoporosis), or where there is a tumor. Easily broken bones (fractures), sometimes from only a minor stress or injury.
What triggers myeloma?
The exact cause of myeloma is not yet fully understood. We do know that myeloma develops when genetic ‘errors’ occur within the DNA of a plasma cell, but we do not currently know why these errors occur. MGUS) or solitary plasmacytoma.The exact cause of multiple myeloma is not known and no avoidable risk factors have been found. However, certain things appear to make you more likely to develop the disease. Gender: Men are slightly more likely to develop myeloma. Race: Black people are twice as likely to develop myeloma than white people.