Tips for Managing Neck Pain and Multiple Myeloma - Health

**Neck Pain Leads to Shocking Multiple Myeloma Diagnosis**

Esther Shoebridge , a 59 - year - old woman from Yorkshire , England , experienced various symptoms , including excessive thirst , which turned out to be the first indication of her blood cancer diagnosis . She was shocked to learn about the holes and tumors in her spine , neck , and skull after visiting her doctor.

 Two small tumors had blasted their way through my vertebrae   I could nt lift a thing . I could nt even lift my own kettle , Ester said , noting that she used to go to the gym and be very fit.

Despite experiencing neck pain and extreme thirst , Esther 's diagnosis of multiple myeloma came as a devastating blow . She underwent chemotherapy treatment , which unfortunately was not successful , leading to relapses of the disease.

**Understanding Multiple Myeloma**

Multiple myeloma is a rare type of blood cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow . This condition can cause various symptoms , including weakness , bone pain , kidney problems , and frequent infections . Some risk factors for multiple myeloma include age , family history , gender , race , and certain genetic conditions like MGUS.

 When multiple myeloma returns after treatment , it usually means that residual cells were either resistant to the treatment from the start or developed resistance as the treatment was ongoing.

**Treatment Options for Multiple Myeloma**

Patients with multiple myeloma have different treatment options available to them , including bone marrow transplants , targeted therapy , biologic therapy , chemotherapy , steroids , and radiation . These treatments aim to eliminate cancerous cells and improve overall health outcomes for patients.

**Promising Immunotherapy Drug : Talvey**

A new immunotherapy drug called Talvey has been approved by the FDA to treat patients with multiple myeloma who have not responded to previous treatments . Talvey works by leveraging bispecific antibodies to target and destroy cancerous myeloma cells , offering new hope for patients facing relapsed disease.

**Support for Community - Based Healthcare**

Johnson & Johnson 's commitment to improving access to care for multiple myeloma patients extends to community - based healthcare facilities . By providing resources and education on treatment options and adverse event management , the company aims to ensure that all patients receive high - quality care , regardless of where they are treated.