Dad was diagnosed with multiple myeloma?

my dad was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Anyway, he was rushed to the hospital yesterday due to very low blood pressure and his heart was racing. From what i was told, it was 165, when it should have been in the lower 60's. It started yesterday around 5 p.m. and i called my mom this morning and said that his heart is still racing. Could this be the medicine he is on for his cancer or is this a sign of worse things to come? Please help, i am very scared of losing my dad

Sorry to hear about your father condition.
Uncontrolled plasma cell growth may result in:

* anaemia, which may cause tiredness and shortness of breath
* high levels of calcium, called hypercalcaemia, which may cause fatigue and tiredness
* recurrent, often severe, infections
* other symptoms that include easy bruising, headaches, numbness, and pins and needles.
You can very well understand that it is due to anemia or infection.
In my experience you will not be loosing your father, as after being given fresh frozen plasma (FFP), packed cells transfusion, and antibiotics, he will join you soon. I very positive in my statement, so cheer up.

I am sorry about your dad. It is a little hard to tell from your description, but one reason someone with multiple myeloma would have a racing heart is because they are anemic. With multiple myeloma the bone marrow is not able to produce normal red cells. When a person doesn't have enough red cells, the heart pumps the blood faster to try to compensate. Depending on his disease and the treatments he has received there may be other reasons for his heart to race.

The good news is that treatment of multiple myeloma has really improved in the last few years. I hope these treatment advances keep your dad around for a long time to come.

Hi,

Hope he is doing better - as far as the cancer making the heart race; probably not.

but some of the drugs could cause that - steroids come to mind



good luck,

jewells
38 months and still here