Multiple myeloma is a cancer that develops in the plasma cells of the bone marrow, which affects the body’s immune system.1 Although multiple myeloma is not a common cancer, it is the second most common blood cancer diagnosis after non-Hodgkin lymphoma.2 According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 34,920 new cases of multiple myeloma will be diagnosed in the United States in 2021 and approximately 12,410 individuals will die from the disease.1,3 The International Myeloma Foundation has dedicated the month of March as Myeloma Action Month to help raise awareness of the disease.3 How much do you know about multiple myeloma?
In multiple myeloma, abnormal plasma cells crowd out and suppress the growth of other cells found in the bone marrow, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, leading to multiple bone lesions that increase the risk for fractures.2 The disease is highly treatable, but rarely curable.4 Although the 5-year overall survival rate for multiple myeloma has increased over the past decade, for all stages combined, the overall survival rate is only 54%.1,2 The average age of patients diagnosed with the disease is 70 years, with only 2% of patients being younger than 40 years of age at the time of diagnosis.2 Public awareness of multiple myeloma needs to remain a priority to increase survival rates and improve patient quality of life.
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