What percentage of population has multiple myeloma?

What percentage of population has multiple myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a relatively uncommon cancer. In the United States, the lifetime risk of getting multiple myeloma is 1 in 132 (0.76%). The American Cancer Society’s estimates for multiple myeloma in the United States for 2021 are: About 34,920 new cases will be diagnosed (19,320 in men and 15,600 in women).

How do you explain multiple myeloma to a patient?

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. Healthy plasma cells help you fight infections by making antibodies that recognize and attack germs. In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells.

What does multiple mean in multiple myeloma?

This is where your body makes blood cells, including a certain type called plasma cells. These cells can grow out of control and crowd out the normal, healthy ones in your bone marrow. When they build up, they form a tumor. The name “multiple myeloma” means there is more than one tumor.

Who mostly gets multiple myeloma?

Myeloma occurs most commonly in people over 60. The average age at diagnosis is 70. Only 2% of cases occur in people under 40. Race.

Is myeloma curable?

Treatment for multiple myeloma can often help to control symptoms and improve quality of life. However, myeloma usually can’t be cured. This means additional treatment is needed when the cancer comes back (a relapse).

What is the last stage of myeloma?

In multiple myeloma cases, stage 3 is the terminal stage. This means it’s the most advanced stage of this type of rare cancer. Doctors use the international staging system to determine the stage of the cancer. This system is based on the levels of serum beta-2 microglobulin and serum albumin.

Is myeloma serious?

Multiple myeloma used to be considered extremely deadly; today many people live with it as little more than a chronic condition. One reason it remains deadly is because many patients can’t get optimal therapy as a consequence of having existing illnesses when diagnosed with cancer.

How many people are diagnosed with multiple myeloma each year?

The American Cancer Society’s estimates for multiple myeloma in the United States for 2021 are: About 34,920 new cases will be diagnosed (19,320 in men and 15,600 in women). About 12,410 deaths are expected to occur (6,840 in men and 5,570 in women). Visit the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Statistics Center for more key statistics.

What happens to healthy blood cells in multiple myeloma?

In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells. Rather than produce helpful antibodies, the cancer cells produce abnormal proteins that can cause complications.

What are the risk factors for multiple myeloma?

Factors that may increase your risk of multiple myeloma include: Increasing age. Male sex. Black race. Black people are about twice as likely to develop multiple myeloma as are white people. Family history of multiple myeloma. Personal history of a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).

What’s the difference between NHL and multiple myeloma?

The cancer cells in people with WM are similar to those of multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Multiple myeloma is considered a cancer of plasma cells, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of lymphocytes. WM cells have features of both plasma cells and lymphocytes.