What are plasma cell neoplasms?
Plasma cell neoplasms are diseases in which certain cells in the blood (called plasma cells) become cancer. Plasma cells are made by white blood cells called lymphocytes. The plasma cells make antibodies, which fight infection and other harmful things in the body. When these cells become cancer, they may make too many antibodies and a substance called M-protein is found in the blood and urine. There are several types of plasma cell neoplasms. The most common type is called multiple myeloma. In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells are found in the bone marrow. The bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside the large bones in the body. The bone marrow makes red blood cells (which carry oxygen and other materials to all tissues of the body), white blood cells (which fight infection), and platelets (which make the blood clot). The cancer cells can crowd out normal blood cells, causing anemia (too few red blood cells). The plasma cells also may cause the bone to break down. The plasma cell
