Health
Multiple myeloma, rare blood cancer: Bruce Springsteen's wife's diagnosis spotlights the illness
Patti Scialfa, Bruce Springsteen’s wife and a member of the E Street Band, recently shared that she was diagnosed in 2018 with a type of blood cancer called multiple myeloma.
She revealed her illness in the documentary “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band,” which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 8.
The production gives a behind-the-scenes look at the famed musician and the long-standing band during their latest tour.
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“This affects my immune system, so I have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go,” Scialfa, 71, said in the film when discussing her illness.
Patti Scialfa, Bruce Springsteen’s wife and a member of the E Street Band, recently shared that she was diagnosed in 2018 with a type of blood cancer called multiple myeloma. (Getty Images)
“Every once in a while, I come to a show or two and I can sing a few songs on stage, and that’s been a treat,” she continued.
Scialfa joined the E Street Band right before the 1984 “Born in the U.S.A.” tour. She later married Springsteen in 1991 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
Fox News Digital reached out to Scialfa for comment.
What is multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma, a cancer of the cells in the bone marrow, is diagnosed in more than 35,000 people in the U.S. each year, according to the American Cancer Society.
Plasma cells grow in the bone marrow, which has been described as a “factory” of blood.
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In a healthy person, the cells produce proteins called antibodies that are directed against germs to fight infection, according to Dr. Cristina Gasparetto, a hematologic oncologist and professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine.
Multiple myeloma occurs when plasma cells grow “out of control,” the ACS states.
Multiple myeloma occurs when plasma cells grow “out of control,” per the American Cancer Society. (iStock)
That causes abnormal antibodies to be secreted in the blood, which can damage the bones and other organs.
“[The disease] is called ‘multiple’ because there are frequently multiple patches or areas in the bone where it grows,” Dr. Joseph Mikhael, chief medical officer of the International Myeloma Foundation in California, told Fox News Digital.
Symptoms of the disease
“Most of the signs and symptoms of myeloma are rather general, with the top three being excessive fatigue, bone pain and anemia,” Mikhael said.
Some patients, however, may not have any symptoms when they are diagnosed.
The most common symptoms can be summed up in the acronym “CRAB,” which stands for high calcium levels in the blood, renal (or kidney) insufficiency, anemia and bone destruction, experts say.
The top three symptoms of the disease are excessive fatigue, bone pain and anemia, experts say.
Bone pain is the hallmark of the disease, as the myeloma cells grow within the bone, which may lead to elevated levels of calcium in the blood, Gasparetto told Fox News Digital.
“Symptoms of having high calcium include increased thirst, dehydration, fatigue, muscle pain and sometimes confusion,” she added.
Multiple myeloma is diagnosed in more than 35,000 people in the U.S. each year, according to the American Cancer Society. (iStock)
The antibodies produced by the myeloma cells are eliminated through the kidneys, which can cause obstruction and/or direct damage to the organs.
“The patient will notice some foamy urine, due to the presence of an abundant amount of an [abnormal] protein called Bence-Jones proteinuria,” Gasparetto said.
Methods of diagnosis
The first step is typically to administer specific blood and urine tests, which reveal abnormally high protein levels excreted by the tumor cells – often referred to as an “M spike,” experts told Fox News Digital.
“We measure this protein at the time of diagnosis, during therapy to assess response, and thereafter to monitor progression or relapse,” Gasparetto said.
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Bone pain may also prompt imaging, which would reveal any skeletal abnormalities.
The initial results are then confirmed with a bone aspiration and biopsy.
“With the bone marrow aspiration, we remove a small amount of fluid from the bone marrow, and with the bone marrow biopsy, we remove a small piece of bone,” Gasparetto said.
Myeloma does not typically run in families, but there is a slightly increased incidence when a family member has the disease, experts say. (iStock)
A pathologist then analyzes the sample to determine the severity of the disease.
The final diagnosis is based on a combination of all these tests — blood work, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, imaging studies and urinalysis, experts told Fox News Digital.
Risk factors for the disease
Myeloma does not typically run in families, but there is a slightly increased incidence when a family member has the disease, Mikhael told Fox News Digital.
“For the vast majority of cases, we do not know the cause of myeloma.”
Many cases may be due to random genetic changes that occur later in life, experts say.
“For the vast majority of cases, we do not know the cause of myeloma,” Mikhael said. “It is more common as we age, with the average age of diagnosis approximately 69.”
African-American and Latino American patients are diagnosed at a younger age, on average at around 64 or 65.
Individuals of African descent are twice as likely to have myeloma, statistics show.
Multiple myeloma is more common as people age, doctors say, with the average age of diagnosis approximately 69. (iStock)
Firefighters who have been exposed to fires are more at risk, and other types of chemical exposures are also connected to myeloma, including Agent Orange and excessive radiation, Mikhael noted.
There may also be a greater risk for people who have a higher increased body mass index, as well as in people who have certain blood conditions, such as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), which involves an abnormal protein in the blood without the organ damage caused by multiple myeloma.
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In most cases, multiple myeloma cannot be prevented, according to Dr. Mikkael Sekeres, chief of the division of hematology of Sylvester Cancer Center at the University of Miami.
Treatment options
The American Cancer Society recommends that myeloma patients see an oncologist for a personalized treatment plan based on their age, overall health and severity of the disease.
Some therapies may include monoclonal antibodies and drugs called immune modulating agents, which boost the immune system to help the body fight cancer.
“Multiple myeloma can [also] be treated with chemotherapy — up to three or four drug regimens for a few months, followed by maintenance therapy,” a doctor said. (iStock)
“Multiple myeloma can [also] be treated with chemotherapy — up to three or four drug regimens for a few months, followed by maintenance therapy,” Sekeres told Fox News Digital.
Eligible patients may pursue a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant, which can lead to prolonged remissions, the doctor added.
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The cancer is not cured with conventional therapy, but most patients respond well to treatment, according to Mikhael.
“The average survival rate was one or two years just 20 years ago, but it is now over 10 years,” he noted.
Health
Aging speeds up 'massively' at two points in one's lifetime, Stanford study finds: ‘Abrupt changes’
Aging may not be quite as gradual as it seems.
A new study from Stanford University in California has revealed that there are two periods when aging seems to accelerate.
These two spurts tend to occur around age 44 and again at age 60, the study found.
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In the study, 108 participants ranging from 25 to 75 years old gave blood and biological samples over the course of several years, according to a Stanford University press release.
A new study from Stanford University in California has revealed that there are two periods when aging seems to accelerate. (iStock)
The researchers analyzed more than 135,000 molecules and microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi), finding that most of them don’t change in a “gradual, chronological fashion.”
“We’re not just changing gradually over time; there are some really dramatic changes,” said Michael Snyder, PhD, professor of genetics and the study’s senior author, in the release.
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“It turns out the mid-40s is a time of dramatic change, as is the early 60s. And that’s true no matter what class of molecules you look at.”
The findings were published in the journal Nature Aging last month.
For those in their 60s, age-related changes tend to impact the organs and immune system, according to a doctor. (iStock)
Dr. Brittany Ferri, a New York-based occupational therapist with the National Council on Aging, agreed that aging doesn’t always happen steadily.
“Big changes can happen at certain points in your life,” Ferri, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “People tend to experience shifts that will impact their health going forward.”
“Certain phases will bring noticeable shifts in how the body functions.”
In their 40s, people are likely to face more stress or make lifestyle changes that could affect their well-being, and by the 60s, age-related changes will impact the organs and immune system, according to Ferri.
“With aging happening in distinct stages, certain phases will bring noticeable shifts in how the body functions,” she added.
The aging-health connection
These “abrupt changes” can have an impact on people’s health as they age, the study found.
“During your 40s and 60s, key molecules and microbes related to heart health and the immune system change considerably,” Ferri told Fox News Digital after reviewing the findings.
“In your 40s, changes in molecules that affect how your body processes fats and alcohol could raise your risk of heart disease if they’re not managed well,” she went on.
“In your 60s, shifts in your immune system can make you more prone to age-related health problems.”
The researchers noted that they were not surprised by the shift in the early 60s, as this is a time when age-related diseases and conditions tend to emerge. (iStock)
The researchers noted that they were not surprised by the shift in the early 60s, as this is a time when age-related diseases and conditions tend to emerge.
The surge in the mid-40s, however, was not expected. While they initially thought this shift was due to menopause or perimenopause in women, they realized it was also occurring for men at that age.
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“This suggests that while menopause or perimenopause may contribute to the changes observed in women in their mid-40s, there are likely other, more significant factors influencing these changes in both men and women,” first author Xiaotao Shen, PhD, a former Stanford Medicine postdoctoral scholar, said in the release.
“Identifying and studying these factors should be a priority for future research.”
The researchers emphasized the importance of healthy behaviors, like regular exercise and proper nutrition, to counteract the aging spurts. (iStock)
The main limitation is that these changes could be caused by lifestyle or behavioral factors that tend to emerge in the 40s and 60s, Snyder acknowledged.
Looking ahead, the team plans to conduct further research into these aging spurts.
“I’m a big believer that we should try to adjust our lifestyles while we’re still healthy.”
They also emphasized the importance of healthy behaviors to counteract these changes.
“That could look like increasing exercise to protect your heart and maintain muscle mass at both ages or decreasing alcohol consumption in your 40s as your ability to metabolize alcohol slows,” the researchers wrote.
For those in their 40s, it’s important to eat healthy, manage stress, and cut back on alcohol to support the changes in metabolism and heart health, a doctor advised. (iStock)
Added Snyder, “I’m a big believer that we should try to adjust our lifestyles while we’re still healthy.”
For those in their 40s, it’s important to eat healthy, manage stress, and cut back on alcohol to support the changes in metabolism and heart health, according to Ferri.
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“In your 60s, try to focus on staying active to help boost your immune system and stay at a healthy weight,” she recommended.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
The Stanford study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Stanford Data Science Initiative.
Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.
Overuse of smartphones can have a variety of side effects — but is brain cancer one of them?
“Cell phones are ubiquitous, and concern about the radiation they emit can cause fear of brain tumor formation,” said Dr. Paul Saphier, M.D., a neurosurgeon and founder of Coaxial Neurosurgical Specialists in New Jersey.
Saphier addressed these concerns in a conversation with Fox News Digital.
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The radiation emitted from cellphones is “within the radiofrequency region of the electromagnetic spectrum,” Saphier said, hitting as high as 80 gigahertz (GHz) for 5G.
A neurosurgeon (not pictured) addressed concerns about smartphones and cancer risk in a conversation with Fox News Digital. (iStock)
“This is … low frequency and low energy,” the doctor said. “Essentially, not enough energy to cause damage to the cells’ DNA.”
Cancers occur when “for one reason or another,” the cells’ DNA is damaged and causes the cells to start multiplying, according to Saphier.
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In 2001, early research by the National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics failed to prove any correlation between cell phones and brain tumors, Saphier noted.
Public fears of cell phone exposure were elevated after an early trial in 2008 found a correlation between glioblastoma (an aggressive malignant brain cancer) and acoustic neuromas, which Saphier described as benign brain tumors “arising from the nerves involving the inner ear.”
“At this time, there is no direct link identified between cell phone usage and brain tumor development.”
“This analysis was very flawed and relied heavily upon the authors’ own prior trials,” he said.
Additional international trials have not found a clear correlation, Saphier noted, although some Swedish trials have suggested a higher incidence in heavy cell phone users.
“As the technology changes and evolves, further trials and registries will be required to monitor the impact moving forward,” the neurosurgeon told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
More recently, in 2022, an update to the U.K.’s large-scale Million Women Study found no correlation between cell phone usage and brain tumors, the expert reported.
“At this time, there is no direct link identified between cell phone usage and brain tumor development,” Saphier said.
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“As the technology changes and evolves, further trials and registries will be required to monitor the impact moving forward,” he added.
Scott Dylan, founder of NexaTech Ventures, a U.K. tech investment firm, also called attention to the type of non-ionizing radiation that smartphones emit.
A tech expert encouraged cell phone users to take breaks from their devices to avoid physical issues like eye and neck strain. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
“Unlike ionizing radiation, such as X-rays, non-ionizing radiation doesn’t have enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms or molecules,” he told Fox News Digital.
“This means it cannot directly damage DNA in the same way that known carcinogens do.”
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Current research from the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies radiofrequency radiation as a “possible carcinogen,” the tech expert said.
“This is less about fearmongering and more about encouraging thoughtful tech use.”
“But it’s important to note that this classification is based on limited evidence and doesn’t definitively link mobile phone use to cancer,” Dylan said. “To date, no causal relationship between smartphone use and brain cancer has been proven.”
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As the debate continues and research continues to evolve, Dylan encouraged cell phone users to follow “a few practical steps” to reduce exposure.
It is best to avoid sleeping with cell phones near the head, an expert advised. (Getty Images)
These steps include using hands-free options like speaker mode or headphones, limiting long calls, and avoiding sleeping with the phone near your head.
Dylan also recommends limiting use in low-signal areas where phones emit more radiation and taking breaks to avoid physical side effects like eye and neck strain.
“This is less about fearmongering and more about encouraging thoughtful tech use,” he told Fox News Digital.
Added Dylan, “In a broader sense, while smartphones may not pose significant cancer risks, other potential concerns like eye strain, sleep disruption and posture issues (commonly referred to as ‘tech neck’) are worth considering.”
An Arizona man got the surprise of a lifetime when he blew his nose and out popped a nearly 30-year-old Lego.
Ben Havoc took to Instagram earlier this month to explain how a small Lego dot from the 1990s was finally dislodged.
When he was about 6 years old, he stuck a tiny, circular Lego up his nose, he said in a video post.
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“I don’t know why I did that,” he laughed. “I was one of those children.”
An Arizona man (not pictured) got the surprise of a lifetime when he blew his nose and out popped a nearly 30-year-old Lego. (Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)
After recognizing that the piece was too small for him to grab himself, Havoc sent a “little Lego man” on a “rescue mission” to retrieve the yellow dot.
“I stuck the Lego man in my nose and, of course, the Lego head popped off,” he said. “So now that was also stuck in my nose.”
“I can breathe out of this side of my nose now, and it’s fantastic.”
At this point, Havoc said, he “panicked loudly,” and his mother ran in with a pair of tweezers to remove what she thought was the only stuck Lego piece.
Now 32 years old, Havoc has suffered from health problems, including asthma and sleep apnea.
Ben Havoc (left) shows the retrieved Lego dot in his Instagram video, posted on Sept. 1. (Ben Havoc (@bigoompalumpia) / TMX)
His doctor recommended blowing his nose in the shower during the dry Arizona summer months to take advantage of the steam and humidity.
After regularly doing this for the last six months, Havoc suddenly blew out the Lego dot that had been in his nose for a suspected 26 years.
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“I don’t know what to think of this,” he said. “I just got diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and I feel like this Lego piece has been the culprit … I’m shooketh.”
After regularly blowing his nose in the shower for the last six months, Havoc suddenly blew out the Lego dot that had been in his nose for a suspected 26 years. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
“I can breathe out of this side of my nose now, and it’s fantastic,” he added. “I haven’t been able to do that since I was a child.”
Havoc placed the Lego piece in a bag and intends to bring it to his doctor for further evaluation.
What to do if an object gets stuck
If a foreign object becomes lodged in the nose, it’s important to remove it right away, especially if it’s a magnet, battery or an object that expands when it gets wet, according to Mayo Clinic’s website.
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The health system recommended applying “positive pressure” by blowing out of the nose to try and free the object while holding the opposite nostril closed.
Parents can attempt to give a “parent’s kiss” by placing their mouth over their child’s mouth and giving a short puff of air to push the object out, Mayo Clinic stated.
Mayo Clinic recommended applying “positive pressure” by blowing out of your nose to try and free the object while holding the opposite nostril closed. (iStock)
If the object is in sight and easy to grasp, it may be possible to remove it with tweezers.
Experts advise against poking the object with fingers or cotton swabs, as that could cause swelling or choking, or could end up pushing the item even further inside the nose.
Do not inhale or wash out the object, as that is a choking hazard, the clinic warned.
If there are symptoms of infection, it’s recommended to seek medical assistance immediately.
For more Health articles, visit foxnews.com/health
Fox News Digital reached out to Havoc — as well as an ear, nose and throat doctor — for comment.
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