Major advances continue apace in therapy and in understanding its molecular pathogenesis
Myeloma is a malignancy of plasma cells in the bone marrow and presents with bone lesions, renal failure, anaemia and hypercalcaemia. Back pain, often associated with vertebral body collapse, is the most common presenting feature. In Australia, about 1200 new patients are diagnosed with multiple myeloma each year, with a median age at diagnosis in the early 60s.
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I am an advisory consultant to Pharmion, Janssen-Cilag and Novartis, and received assistance from Novartis to attend the 2004 meeting of the American Society of Haematology.