Health condition
Multiple myeloma guide
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow that can damage bones, kidneys and blood counts; it is treatable with increasingly effective combinations, and most patients achieve meaningful remissions.
Why trust this guide
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Editorial team
Written by our editorial team from the UK sources listed on each page.
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Sourced from guidance
Checked against current NHS and UK specialist society guidance at the time of review.
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Current for 2026
Reviewed on 2026-09-27 with the next review scheduled for 2027-09-27.
Key facts
The essentials at a glance.
The symptoms to recognise, when to seek help, which specialist to see, and what treatment usually involves.
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Classic features are bone pain, anaemia, kidney impairment and high calcium
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Diagnosis combines blood and urine protein tests, marrow biopsy and whole-body imaging
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Treatment uses combination therapy, often followed by stem cell transplant in fitter patients
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Myeloma typically relapses and remits - planning beyond the first treatment matters
Understanding the condition
What it is and what happens next.
What causes it, how it is diagnosed, and the treatment routes available in the UK.
What it is and how it feels
Myeloma develops when malignant plasma cells expand in the marrow and secrete an abnormal antibody. Its effects are systemic: lytic bone lesions and fractures, kidney injury from light chains, anaemia and infections. Presentation is often gradual - back pain, fatigue, repeated chest infections - which is why the diagnosis is sometimes reached only after months of symptoms.
Diagnosis and treatment routes
Treatment has improved substantially, built on combinations of proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs and anti-CD38 antibodies, with autologous stem cell transplant consolidating first response in eligible patients, and bone-protecting agents throughout. Because myeloma care involves sequencing many lines of therapy, decisions benefit from a team that treats it in volume, and clinical trials - including immunotherapy approaches - are a legitimate part of standard conversations at every stage. If you are waiting for results or want a second opinion on a proposed plan, a private consultation with a specialist who treats this condition regularly can usually be arranged quickly, and most will review your existing scans, biopsy reports and MDT correspondence.
Seeing a specialist
Who to see, and how quickly you can be seen.
The specialist for this condition is usually a consultant haematologist. Your GP can refer you on the NHS, or you can arrange a private consultation directly.
A quiet reminder
This guide is for information, not medical advice.
Your GP knows your history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If in doubt, see them - and seek urgent care for any of the emergency symptoms described above.
Frequently asked
Common questions about Multiple myeloma guide.
Quick, plain-English answers to what people ask us most.
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What is multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for making antibodies, which grow uncontrollably in the bone marrow, crowding out normal blood cells and producing abnormal proteins that can damage the kidneys and bones.
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What causes multiple myeloma?
The exact cause isn't fully known, but myeloma develops from progressive genetic changes in plasma cells, often evolving from a precursor condition called MGUS over years, with risk increasing with age and in certain ethnic groups.
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What are the symptoms of multiple myeloma?
Common symptoms, often remembered by the acronym CRAB, include raised Calcium, kidney impairment, Anaemia, and Bone pain or fractures, alongside recurrent infections and fatigue.
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Is multiple myeloma dangerous?
Yes, multiple myeloma is a serious blood cancer, though it's often treatable for many years with modern combination therapies, even though it's generally considered incurable in most cases.
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Can multiple myeloma be cured?
Multiple myeloma is generally not curable, but treatment can achieve long periods of remission, and average survival has improved substantially in recent years with newer drug classes and, in eligible patients, stem cell transplantation.
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How is multiple myeloma treated?
Treatment typically combines several drug classes, including immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors and steroids, sometimes followed by high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant in fit patients, with newer immunotherapies used for relapsed disease.
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When should I see a haematologist about symptoms suggestive of myeloma, and how quickly can I be seen privately?
See a haematologist promptly for unexplained bone pain, persistent fatigue or recurrent infections, especially with abnormal blood test results. A private haematologist can typically arrange assessment and further testing within about two weeks.