About three weeks after, she saw an orthopaedic doctor, who scheduled an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan for a fortnight later. But Wong was unable to wait for that appointment. “I was in so much pain, it was unbearable,” she said.
Her sister managed to arrange for her to see an orthopaedic doctor the next day, at a private hospital. He sent her for an MRI that same day, which revealed compression fractures in her top and bottom vertebrae, even though she had not suffered any falls or injuries.
A week later, the doctor ordered a blood test, which confirmed that Wong had multiple myeloma. She was immediately admitted to hospital.
BATTLING A RARE BLOOD CANCER
“Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that affects a type of white blood cell called plasma cells, which are found in the bone marrow,” said Dr Melissa Ooi Gaik Ming, senior consultant at the Division of Haematology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), whom CNA Women spoke with.
“In a healthy person, the role of plasma cells is to produce antibodies against infectious agents such as viruses and bacteria. Myeloma occurs when normal plasma cells become cancerous or malignant, and multiply uncontrollably.
“Multiple myeloma causes plasma cells to accumulate in the bone marrow, weakening and damaging the bone. This can result in bone pain and fracture, and can also lead to increased levels of calcium in the blood,” Dr Ooi added.
Though rare, the blood cancer is slightly more common in seniors 65 years and above, in males and those with family history. Wong does not fall into the high-risk group.