Veteran actor Anupam Kher took to Twitter on Thursday, 1 April, to make that announcement that his wife and Actor Kirron Kher has been diagnosed with multiple Myeloma, a type of blood cancer.
Following this, their son Sikand Kher, in an Instagram post, echoed his father's words, saying they were making the official announcement ‘so that rumours don’t get the better of (their) situation’.
The posts also mention that Kirron Kher is currently undergoing treatment and that she is ‘on her way to recovery’ under the care of a capable team of doctors.
What is Multiple Myeloma? What are some early signs?
What is Myeloma?
Multiple Myeloma, or Kahler’s disease is a type of blood cancer. It is one of the 3 most common types of blood cancer after Leukemia, Lymphoma.
According to WebMD, It occurs when plasma in the blood disfunction and lets too much protein (called immunoglobulin) into your bones and blood, which begins by accumulating in the bone marrow, but can spread in the blood as well.
What Causes It?
Like most cancers, there is no clearly determined cause for Multiple Myeloma, however certain factors such as family history and genetics, age (those over 60 are more susceptible), and sex (men are found to be more at risk) could also increase your risk.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Some earlier signs include:
- Bone pain, especially in your spine or chest
- Nausea, and loss of appetite
- Constipation
- Mental fogginess or confusion
- Frequent infections
- Rapid Weight loss
- Weakness or numbness in your legs
- Excessive thirst
It is recommended you see a doctor if you notice any of these symptoms persisting.
Is It Treatable?
Although Myeloma is not curable, there are treatments that can slow it down, and control its symptoms.
According to MayoClinic, argetted therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and bone marrow transplant are some of the standard treatment options for the disease.
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