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To help you understand what is happening when you have cancer, it helps to understand how your body works normally. Our bodies are made up of tiny building blocks called cells. Normal cells grow and multiply when the body needs them, and die out when the body does not need them.
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Some people use statistics to try to figure out their chance of getting cancer or of being cured. It is important to remember that this data shows what happens with large groups of people. Because no two people are alike, this information can't be used to know or predict what will happen to you.
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There is no way to know for sure if you're going to get multiple myeloma. And there is no known way to prevent it. Certain factors can make you more likely to get this type of cancer than another person. These are called risk factors. Unfortunately, doctors do not know what causes multiple myeloma. Most people who develop it have no known risk factors at all. The risk factors that have been found only slightly raise your chance of getting this type of cancer. Still, tell your doctor if you agree with any of the bolded statements.
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There are often no symptoms in the early stages of myeloma. Any symptoms that do occur depend on the extent of the disease. This is a list of symptoms for all stages of multiple myeloma.
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Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer. And there are very few things scarier than being told you have cancer. You may feel like you're in shock. You may not even want to believe what the doctor has told you. And there are probably so many questions you want to ask but think you can't because you don't know where to start.
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