What is multiple myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a disease resulting from the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of plasma cells in the bone marrow. ¹ It is the third most common form of blood cancer. ²

Healthy plasma cells, a type of white blood cell, originate in the bone marrow and play a vital role in the immune system because they produce antibodies that help the body attack and kill microbes. In myeloma, these cells begin to divide uncontrollably, crowding out other healthy cells as they accumulate in the bone marrow. Cancerous plasma cells produce an abnormal protein (called a monoclonal protein, or M protein), which can lead to a range of health problems ^.

After initial treatment, the disease often changes and comes back (this is called relapse) or does not respond to medications (this is called treatment resistance). Therefore, further research into new treatments is necessary ⁴ .

Symptoms

Although some people with multiple myeloma have no symptoms (are asymptomatic), common symptoms of this disease include ¹³ :

1. Bone damage leading to high levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia), which causes dehydration, excessive thirst, nausea, constipation, and confusion.
2. Kidney disorders
3. Weakening of bones, which makes patients more susceptible to fractures
4. Anemia, which can lead to weakness, dizziness, and shortness of breath
5. Tiredness
6. Weakening of immune system function resulting in an increase in infections such as pneumonia.

Patients and disease prevalence

• 3.the most common blood cancer – Myeloma is the third most common form of blood cancer in the world ² .
• Men – Slightly more common in men – Myeloma is slightly more common in men ⁵
• 66–70 years – The risk of developing myeloma increases with age. The average age at diagnosis is 66–70 years ^.
• Approximately 58% survival rate – The 5-year survival rate for myeloma patients in the US is approximately 58% ⁷
• Above 126% – globally – the number of new cases worldwide increased by 126% between 1990 and 2016 ⁸
• 176,404 – that is how many new cases of myeloma were diagnosed in the world in 2020 ⁹

Recognition

In the diagnosis of multiple myeloma, several diagnostic tests and examinations can be performed ³

• Special blood tests

• Bone marrow examination

• X-rays and other imaging tests

Treatment

During the course of the disease, patients may be treated with one or more of the following treatments ^:

• Targeted therapy
• Biological therapy
• Stem cell transplantation
• Medicines containing corticosteroids
• Chemotherapy
• Radiotherapy
• Surgical treatment

Further research into new treatments is needed because multiple myeloma often becomes resistant to available treatments.

Literature

1. Multiple myeloma. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center. https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/7108/multiple-myeloma . Published: 2016. Accessed: October 2022.
2. Islamni F, Ward E, Sung H et al. Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer – National Cancer Institute. https://seer.cancer.gov/report_to_nation . Published: July 2021. Accessed: October 2022.
3. Gertz MA. Multiple Myeloma. NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/multiple-myeloma/ . Published: 2019. Accessed: October 2022.
4. Nooka A, Kastritis E, Dimopoulos M, Lonial S. Treatment options for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Blood. 2015;125(20):3085-3099. doi:10.1182/blood-2014-11-568923.
5. Risk Factors for Multiple Myeloma. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiple-myeloma/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html . Published: 2018. Accessed: October 2022.
6. Kazandjian D. Multiple myeloma epidemiology and survival: A unique malignancy. Semin Oncol. 2016;43(6):676-681. doi:10.1053/j.seminoncol.2016.11.004.
7. Noone AM, Howlader N, Krapcho M et al. Cancer Stat Facts: Myeloma. Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results – National Cancer Institute. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/mulmy.html . Published April 2018. Accessed October 2022.
8. Cowan A, Libby EN, Fitzmaurice C. Global burden of multiple myeloma: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease study 2016. JAMA Oncology. 2018;4(15_suppl). doi:10.1200/jco.2018.36.15_suppl.e20023.
9. Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel R et al. Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021. doi:10.3322/caac.21660.

NP-PL-MMU-PRSR-250001 August 2025