Which disease is a cancer of plasma cells that originates in the bone marrow?

• A. Multiple myeloma
• B. Leukemia
• C. Lymphoma
• D. Anemia

Answer: (A)

Plasma cells are the antibody-producing cells that reside in the bone marrow. When these cells become cancerous and accumulate there, the disease is multiple myeloma. It specifically starts in the bone marrow and often produces a monoclonal antibody, which disrupts normal blood cell production. This leads to symptoms like anemia, bone pain or fractures from bone damage, and potential kidney problems from abnormal proteins. This helps distinguish it from leukemia, which involves a broader range of white blood cells in the marrow and blood, lymphoma, which centers on lymphocytes in lymph nodes and other tissues, and anemia, which is a low red blood cell count rather than a cancer.