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One of the biggest names in Indian folk singing Sharda Sinha, known for her legendary Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Magahi songs, passed away due to complications from multiple myeloma – a rare blood cancer. Fondly known as the Bihar Kokila or the Nightingale of Bihar, Sinha was battling this cancer, also known as Kahler’s disease which occurs when plasma cells in the bone marrow become cancerous, since 2018.

Sinha was admitted to the Oncology Medical Department at AIIMS, New Delhi for nearly two weeks, and as her condition worsened earlier this week, she was placed on ventilator support.

Experts say multiple myeloma affects your plasma cells - which blood cells which are a part of your immune system. Also known as B-cells which make antibodies, help fight infection.

Multiple myeloma happens when healthy cells turn into abnormal cells that multiply and produce abnormal antibodies called M proteins. This change starts a cascade of medical issues and conditions that can affect your bones, kidneys and your body’s ability to make healthy white and red blood celss and platelets.

There is no known cure for multiple myeloma and doctors provide treatments to help those affected as long as possible while having quality of life. But there is a possibility for prolonged remission. - which begins after treatment when you don’t have multiple myeloma signs or symptoms.

According to experts, multiple myeloma affects more men than women, and twice as many people who are Black as it does people who are of other races. Most people with multiple myeloma are diagnosed between 40-70 years. A few signs and symptoms of this dreaded disease include:

Those with this disease always feel so tired that they cannot manage daily activities and keep feeling weak

This is a sign of hypercalcemia

You may not feel too hungry or thirsty

An unexplained fever which may be a symptom of a bacterial infection

You may be bleeding more easily – a sign abnormal plasma cells prevent your body from producing enough platelets. Platelets help your blood to clot.

Experts are not sure what causes multiple myeloma, however, a few potential causes they explore include:

There are many studies investigating links between mutating or changing oncogenes and multiple myeloma. They have also found most people who have multiple myeloma don’t have all pieces of a certain chromosome

According to various studies, there is a potential connection between multiple myeloma and exposure to radiation or chemicals in pesticides, fertilizer, or Agent Orange.

Examples of inflammatory diseases include heart disease, diabetes, and even rheumatoid arthritis

If you are obese with high levels of body fat, you may be prone to multiple myeloma.

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