Terri Russell

Ironton High School

Class of 1979

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Terri Russell - Class of 1979 - Ironton High School

First Name	Terri
Last Name	Russell
Graduation Year	Class of 1979
Gender	Female
Hometown	Ironton, Ohio
Relationship Status	Single
About Me	UNDERSTANDING MY CANCER BETTER.....What Is Multiple Myeloma? Multiple myeloma (also called Kahler disease or plasma cell myeloma) is a type of cancer that begins in the blood's plasma cells. Made in the bone marrow (the soft, inner part of some bones), plasma cells are a type of white blood cell (B lymphocyte) that produces antibodies (e.g., monoclonal proteins or M-proteins) which fight infection. Multiple myeloma causes an excess of abnormal plasma cells (myeloma cells), which form tumors in multiple locations throughout the bone marrow. These tumors begin to overcrowd the bone marrow and prevent normal reproduction of healthy blood cells. Understanding Multiple Myeloma There are many kinds of cells that make up our blood, including red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets. A particular category of WBCs, called lymphocytes, are a vital part of our immune defense. There are two main types of lymphocytes, B lymphocytes (B cells) and T lymphocytes (T cells), both of which originate in the bone marrow. As the B cells mature, some develop into plasma cells. Plasma cells help the body’s immune system fight disease by producing antibody proteins in response to bacterial infections or viruses. The genetic abnormalities associated with multiple myeloma include: A defect related to chromosome 14 in which a piece of one chromosome moves to a different chromosome (translocation) Extra copies of certain chromosomes (hyperdiploidy) An abnormality in which part or all of chromosome 13 is missing Although it only accounts for one percent of overall cancers, multiple myeloma is the second most prevalent blood cancer after non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The International Myeloma Foundation reports that each year there are approximately 20,000 new multiple myeloma incidences in the United States. This represents approximately 20 percent of blood cancers, and 1 percent of all types of cancer. Multiple myeloma is more common in African Americans than white Americans, with a male/female ratio of 3 to 2. Multiple myeloma incidences also rise with age. The average age at diagnosis is 60, while people under 40 rarely develop the disease.....The lifetime risk of getting multiple myeloma is relatively small. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 1 out 161 people in the United States will develop the disease at some point in their life. And although MGUS may eventually develop into multiple myeloma, the blood disorder typically does not affect people until they are in their 60s or 70s. A study by the National Cancer Institute reported that it may take over a decade before MGUS develops into cancer. Blood tests are able to detect elevated levels of immunoglobulin, a potential indicator of a plas...(read more)