The History of Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that is the white blood cells in bone marrow. These abnormal plasma cells can cause bone erosion, as well as kidney problems. There is treatment available that extends the life of a patient, but there is no absolute cure for the disease. The disease has been around for thousands of years, but a cure has yet to be developed.

Earliest Discovery

The first documentation of myeloma was in 1844. Sarah Newbury endured four years of bone fractures and extreme back pain; her autopsy later revealed that her sternum had been replaced with a red substance. Later, Thomas McBean died with the same substance found during his autopsy.

Named

Von Rustizky was a Russian doctor who named the disease myeloma in 1873; Myeloma was the term that was used to describe eight bone marrows that he discovered during an autopsy. The disease became known as Kahler’s disease in July 1879 by Dr. Otto Kahler.

Treatments

During the 1800s, doctors were treating Newbury and McBean with rhubarb pills and leeches. Doctors worked to improve treatment options and they begin used urethane in 1947. There are multiple drugs that are available to treat myeloma. Stem-cell transplantation is also a known treatment.

Research Foundation

In 1998, twin sisters Karen Andrews and Kathy Giusti founded the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. The sisters were diagnosed with multiple myeloma and they created a foundation to fund research and treatment options for the disease. As of 2008, the foundation raised close to $100 million to help fund laboratories all over the world. There are several advancements that have occurred, but no definite cure has developed.