myeloma

Malignant disease of the bone marrow, usually occurring in older people. The symptoms include fatigue, severe bone pain and backache. It causes anaemia, vertebral collapse, clotting problems and damage to the eyes and internal organs. The disease kills 12,000 a year in the USA.

It is treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In May 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug thalidomide for use in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.