M ultiple Myeloma or MM is a cancer that affects a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell.
Plasma cells produce antibodies to help fight infection and disease.
In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells are found in the bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside of bones that manufactures the different types of blood cells. The abnormal plasma cells produced in the bone marrow are called myeloma cells. When myeloma cells accumulate in the bones, they can cause many tumors that damage and weaken bones. Doctors believe that MM is initially a slow growing disease that has very few symptoms, at first. It is usually diagnosedby a blood test to identify high levels of a type of protein called an antibody which is produced by myeloma cells.