In the UK, on average 16 people are diagnosed with myeloma every single day, my mum was one of those people. Your donation helps Myeloma UK make sure no one has to face myeloma alone.

My mum had multiple myeloma for over 10 years and she really did give it her all, after chemo and radiotherapy, 2 hip operations, multiple blood transfusions, countless hospital appointments, and endless treatments she lost her battle on the 8th of June 22. I am doing this in memory of you, mum.  

Myeloma, also known as multiple myeloma, is a blood cancer arising from plasma cells. At any one time, there are around 24,000 people living with myeloma in the UK. It accounts for 15 percent of blood cancers, and two percent of all cancers. Myeloma mainly affects those over the age of 65, however, it has been diagnosed in people much younger.

Myeloma develops when DNA is damaged during the development of a plasma cell. This abnormal cell then starts to multiply and spread within the bone marrow. The abnormal plasma cells release a large amount of a single type of antibody – known as paraprotein – which has no useful function.

Unlike many cancers, myeloma does not exist as a lump or tumour. Most of the medical problems related to myeloma are caused by the build-up of abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow and the presence of the paraprotein in the body.

Myeloma affects multiple places in the body, which is why it is referred to sometimes as ‘multiple’ myeloma. Myeloma affects where bone marrow is normally active in an adult, such as in the bones of the spine, skull, pelvis, rib cage, long bones of the arms and legs, and the areas around the shoulders and hips.