Multiple Myeloma Multiple myeloma 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.
When myeloma cells accumulate in the bones, they can crowd out normal cells and invade bone tissue, damaging and weakening bones. Diagnosis Multiple myeloma is usually diagnosed by a blood test to identify high levels of a type of protein or antibody produced by myeloma cells. The doctor also may do a bone marrow aspiration or a bone marrow biopsy, two tests that involve taking a sample of cells or tissue from the bone marrow to examine microscopically for abnormalities. Patients referred to Johns Hopkins for multiple myeloma are seen by a team of doctors who specialize in this disease. Hematologists, oncologists and pathologists first carefully examine the myeloma cells to define the specific type of myeloma.