3. Chronic Fatigue
Multiple myelomas affect the immune system in a big way. As the invading cancer cells take up residence in healthy bone marrow, they multiply at a rapid rate, inundating the healthy cells and forcing them out.
As a result of the cell turnover, the production of antibodies begins to dramatically decline, leaving the immune system in a weakened state. As the body loses its immune function, it has fewer white blood cells available to fight off infection. This declining immune response makes the bodywork twice as hard as it should fend off attacks of disease.
The decrease in immune efficiency means the body requires more calories to keep up its fight against germs, bacteria, and viruses. As a result, you burn more energy than you usually would with a healthy immune response. This increased need for calories leaves affected individuals feeling tired all the time, and as the disease progresses, chronic fatigue begins to take over your feeling of well-being.