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Understanding Understanding Multiple MyelomaMultiple Myeloma
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JumoHealth.com
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Jumo Health develops age appropriate, educational resources for patients and caregivers for use throughout their medical journey.
By working with providers, manufacturers, and advocacy groups, we ensure our resources are available at the mument of diagnosis, during a treatment regimen, or while participating in a clinical trial.
With the belief that an informed patient is a compliant patient, Jumo Health designs practical solutions using popular mediums. With experience providing resources to more than 70 countries in 80 languages, and covering more than 200 topics, our mixed
media solutions range from comic books to animated videos, are evidence based and peer reviewed, and pay careful attention
to health literacy and reading comprehension barriers.
Ages 7-12
INTRODUCING
THE MEDIKIDZThe Medikidz are superheroes who live on Mediland, a planet shaped like the
human body. They are experts in health and illness, and their mission is to teach you all about your body and how illness affects it.
AXON Expert on: the brain and nerves
CHIExpert on:
the lungs and respiratory system
GASTROExpert on: the
digestive system
PUMPExpert on:
the heart and blood vessels
ABACUSGuardian of
the MedikidzSKINDY Expert on: theskin and bones
FEATURING:
TESSA and her DADThe stars of this book
MEET THE REST OF THE TEAM:
Hi, my name’s Tessa, I’m the cute one in the middle, and THIS
is my family!
But things have been a bit different since my Dad told
us he has multiple myeloma.
I don’t really understand what’s happening! It’s time to get
some answers.
We LOVE having FUN!
We live in Melbourne, Australia and LOVE to
travel and have adventures and just be silly.
Dad, what’s…what’s multiple
myeloma? Is there medicine for
it? How did you get it? Why did you get it?
Oh, Tessa, those…those are
great questions! I’m just, I’m not really
sure how to…
11
…explain?Fear not, for
we are experts in such matters!
Axon? Skindy? THE MEDIKIDZ?! What…what’s
going on?
What’s happening is we’re about to teach you all about multiple
myeloma.
Let’s start with the basics. Multiple myeloma is a type
of cancer.
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the blood and there’s no better place
to learn about the blood than at our next stop, MEDILAND!
Mediland? Is that where we got that really
good ice-cream that one time?
No, Dad! Mediland is a
giant planet that looks and works just like the human body!
That was going to be my
next guess!
Cancer happens when a cell in the
body becomes abnormal and starts growing
out of control.
The abnormal cell makes more and
more copies of itself, causing problems
for the body.
Deep in outer space at the secret headquarters
of the Medikidz!
22
In the BONE MARROW of MEDILAND!
I’d like to welcome you
both to where new blood cells are made, the bone marrow!
Okay, yup, definitely not an ice cream shop.
Indeed not! The only flavor we serve here is
KNOWLEDGE!
The bone marrow makes
red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets,
and plasma cells.
Wow, thebone marrow is
so clever!
Now, when it comes to multiple myeloma, we
want to focus on plasma cells, which are a type of
white blood cell.
Normally, the bone marrow makes the right number of blood cells, at the right time, and in the
right place, like this fine-looking cell here!
Whoa.
RED BLOOD CELL
WHITE BLOOD CELL
PLATELET
PLASMA CELL
PLASMACELL
33
In multiple myeloma however,
a plasma cell, like this one, gets damaged and turns into a harmful plasma cell called a
myeloma cell.
As you can see, the myeloma cell grows out of
control and makes more and more copies of itself.
Umm, speaking of being crowded out,
does anyone else feel like things are getting a little tight in here!
I do! I definitely do!
Me too. Let’s head back to HQ.
The myeloma cells build up in the bone marrow, causing problems for the body
by crowding out healthy blood cells.
MYELOMACELL
NO MYELOMA MYELOMA
44
Phew, okay, much better! Now, as you
were saying, the myeloma cells crowd out the
healthy cells.
Indeed, which means
the bone marrow has a hard time
doing its job making enough red blood
cells, white blood cells and
platelets.
Having too few red blood cells can make someone feel
very tired or dizzy.
They might be out of breath more easily when they
exercise.
If a person doesn’t have enough healthy white blood cells, they may get sick often and heal slowly from wounds, like cuts or
scratches, or an infection.
This causes a whole bunch of
problems. Come on, we’ll show you!
Back at MK HQ!
DIZZY
HURT
BREATHLESS
SICK
55
Without enough platelets, the body will have trouble forming
blood clots.
Multiple myeloma can cause bone pain that can get worse when you
move around.
The pain may be in the back or ribs, but it can be anywhere in the body.
Bone problems don’t end there! With multiple myeloma, cells can trick
the bone marrow to take calcium out of the bones,
making them weak.
Myeloma cells can also cause kidney damage,
which can make you feel tired or have swollen ankles.
Okay, well, all of this sounds AWFUL! Isn’t there anything we can do to help
my dad?
Weaker bones are more likely to break.
This can cause someone to bruise easily or bleedfor longer than normal
after a cut.
BRUISED
KIDNEYS
66
Of course! There are different treatments
specialist doctors use to help people, like your dad, with multiple myeloma.
Doctors give medicines that do their best to kill myeloma cells and stop them from growing out of
control.
Some people with multiple myeloma may
have a stem cell transplant to
replace their bone marrow with new
healthy cells.
They will also give medicines to help with pain, prevent infections and make
the bones stronger.
Some of these medicines come as pills and others are given as an
injection.
STEM CELL
77
People with multiple myeloma, like your dad, may need to visit the hospital during the day to
have their treatment.
Sometimes, they may need to stay in the hospital overnight or even longer to
have their treatment.
Oh, she knows all about that. 1 day a month, every month, I have to
go into the hospital for a full day of treatment.
Yeah, I know my dad has to do it and
that it’s good for him, but I still miss him!
Multiple myeloma can be hard to get rid of, but it may be possible to control it for a long
time with treatment.
Because of this, your dad will need to continue taking the multiple myeloma medicine for as
long as the doctor says.
He might always have to be on treatment. This can make it harder for
myeloma cells to start growing again.
Your dad may have lots of appointments at the doctor’s office or
hospital for blood tests and body scans so the doctors can keep an eye on him and make
sure the treatment is working.
Multiple myeloma medicines can cause side effects which may make
your dad feel tired or more likely to get an
infection.
88
But…why did my dad get
multiple myeloma in the first place?
Doctors are unsure why some people get multiple myeloma
and others don’t, but it’s not something you can catch.
They also know that it’s NO ONE’S FAULT that your dad got multiple myeloma.
It just happened.
I’m glad there’s medicine and stuff
to help my dad, but…I want to help him too!
Isn’t there anything I can do to help?
Indeed, there is A LOT you can do to
help!For starters, people with
multiple myeloma, who are on treatment are more likely to
get sick from infections, like a cold or the flu.
You can help by making sure you do a good job at washing your hands, and if you
are sick, avoid hugging or touching your dad as much as you can so he doesn’t get sick.
99
Also, when your mum and dad are tired, it’d be
awesome if you helped out around the house!
Simple things like being a good listener and spending quality
time with your dad can be helpful, too.
And if everyone is feeling okay, I
find cuddles to be some of the best
medicine.
Me too!
ME TOO!
Stuff like keeping your room tidy, cleaning the bathroom,
folding laundry, washing dishes, and even helping your parents cook dinner
can be a HUGE HELP!
1010
The end!
A FEW DAYS LATER!
It’s important to remember to be
patient when your dad isn’t feeling great.
Thanks, Medikidz! I feel A LOT better now
that I understand my dad’s multiple myeloma!
And I feel a lot better not having to figure out how
to explain it!
You are both welcome.
During these times, you might not be able to do all the things you normally
enjoy as a family.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t still do fun stuff,
like drawing and painting, listening to music, doing sports, or
playing video games.
Even when your parents don’t feel great, they still want
to see YOU play, have fun, and be happy!
Now that I understand my dad’s multiple myeloma I know that there will be good days and bad days...
...Which makes me appreciate the good days, like this one, so much more!
1111
GLOSSARY
Bone marrow
Blood stem cell transplant
Multiple myeloma
Plasma cells
Platelets
Red blood cells
White blood cells
Bone marrow is the spongy centre of certain bones where new blood cells are made.
Doctors may use a procedure called a blood stem cell transplant, or bone marrow transplant, to plant new healthy cells in the bone marrow.
Multiple myeloma, also known as myeloma, is a type of blood cancer where the bone marrow makes too many plasma cells. Myeloma starts when a plasma cell becomes damaged and harmful. Harmful plasma cells are called myeloma cells. Myeloma cells grow out of control and build up in the bone marrow, causing problems for the body.
Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell that normally help fight infections against invaders like bacteria and viruses.
Red blood cells travel in your blood vessels to transport oxygen from your lungs to all over the body.
There are many types of white blood cells in the body. White blood cells fight invaders like germs and help protect the body from things like infections.
Platelets clump together in blood clots to stop bleeds when you have a cut.
1212
ISBN XXXXXXXXXXXX
Editor In ChiefColumba Quigley, MD
Authors Kimberley Maxwell, PhD
Shawn deLoache
Art Editor11x17 Studios
ArtÁthila Fabbio (Pencils)
Israel Maia (Colors)Gabriela Cantagessi (Inks)
Jumo Health and its logo, Medikidz, In My Words, and In My Shoes are registered trademarks of Jumo Health, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with your health care provider. All decisions regarding patient care
must be made with a health care provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.
© 2021 Jumo Health, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Understanding Understanding Multiple MyelomaMultiple Myeloma