Chemotherapy is the standard treatment for multiple myeloma. In chemotherapy, anti-cancer drugs are given to the patient either by mouth or into a vein. These drugs may be used alone or in combination.

Among the drugs currently being used to treat myeloma are cyclophosphomide, dexamethasone, doxorubicin, alpha-interferon, melphalan, vincristine and prednisone. Because chemotherapy drugs can destroy healthy cells as well as cancer cells, they produce side effects including hair loss and nausea.

Patients who have a single tumor of plasma cells found in the bone will usually be treated with radiation therapy. Radiation therapy consists of high-energy X-rays many times more powerful than a normal chest X-ray that destroy the ability of cells to grow and divide. Radiation specialists try to limit the amount of healthy tissue affected by radiation treatment by targeting cancerous tissue as precisely as possible.

Radiation may cause the skin in the treated area to look and feel sunburned. This gradually fades and returns to normal in six to 12 months. Other reported side effects include tiredness, nausea and diarrhea.

Nearly 50 percent of myeloma patients treated with chemotherapy respond to treatment.