Radiation therapy for multiple myeloma

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays or particles to destroy cancer cells.

Radiation therapy is sometimes used to treat multiple myeloma. Your healthcare team will use what they know about the cancer and about your health to plan the type and amount of radiation and when and how it is given.

You may have radiation therapy to:

• destroy myeloma cells, as the main treatment for solitary plasmacytoma of the bone or extramedullary plasmacytoma
• prevent a bone fracture (break) or spinal cord compression
• relieve pain or control the symptoms of advanced multiple myeloma (called palliative therapy)

During external radiation therapy, a machine directs radiation through the skin to the tumour and some of the tissue around it. External radiation therapy is also called external beam radiation therapy.

During radiation therapy, your healthcare team protects healthy cells in the treatment area as much as possible. Side effects of radiation therapy will depend mainly on the size of the area being treated, the specific area or organs being treated, the total dose of radiation and the treatment schedule. Tell your healthcare team if you have side effects that you think are from radiation therapy. The sooner you tell them of any problems, the sooner they can suggest ways to help you deal with them.

These are common side effects of radiation therapy for multiple myeloma:

• fatigue
• skin problems
• diarrhea
• nausea and vomiting
• low blood cell counts

Find out more about radiation therapy and side effects of radiation therapy. To make the decisions that are right for you, ask your healthcare team questions about radiation therapy.