What is Multiple Myeloma? The disease that caused the death of actress Praveena Deshpande

Senior Bollywood and television actress Praveena Deshpande passed away at the age of 61 years on Tuesday. The information was shared by her family through her official Instagram account. Her last rites were performed on Tuesday afternoon at a crematorium in Andheri, Mumbai. The actress had been battling cancer for a long time.

She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2019. During her bone marrow transplant, she remained in isolation for 17 days. Even after her diagnosis, she continued to stay active, but she had mentioned that her strength was gradually declining and she was losing the ability to work. She passed away on February 17.

Praveena Deshpande played the role of Shalini Choudhary in Ready. She also worked in films like Ek Villain, Gabbar Is Back, and Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran. Recently, she appeared in a cameo role in Emraan Hashmi’s web series ‘Taskari: The Smugglers Web’.

What is Multiple Myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer. It begins in the plasma cells of the bone marrow. It destroys normal blood cells and produces abnormal proteins. This can weaken bones and damage the kidneys.

It is a serious but treatable disease. Treatment options include chemotherapy and stem cell transplant.

Symptoms:

Bone pain in the spine, chest, or hips
Fatigue
Frequent infections
Kidney problems
Weight loss

Causes and Risk Factors:
The exact cause is unknown, but it is more common in older adults (60+) and in men.

Diagnosis:

Blood and urine tests (for M-spike)
Bone marrow biopsy
Bone scans

Early diagnosis and consultation with a specialist oncologist can help in effective management of the disease.