Myeloma, also known as multiple myeloma or myelomatosis, is a cancer of plasma cells. These cancer cells are known as myeloma cells.
Blood cells look and work differently, but they repair and reproduce themselves in the same way.
Normally, this division of cells takes place in an orderly, controlled manner but with myeloma, the process gets out of control and abnormal plasma cells multiply, producing many myeloma cells. These fill up the bone marrow and interfere with production of the normal white cells, red cells and platelets. The myeloma cells usually produce a large amount of one type of abnormal antibody. This is known as a paraprotein or M-band. This paraprotein cannot fight infection effectively and often also reduces the production of normal antibodies.