Multiple myeloma epidemiology and demographics

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

It is the second most common blood cancer after non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It follows a bimodal age distribution and is slightly more prevalent in men than women. The average survival is about 3 years. About 43.5% survive after 5 years as per a census conducted from 2003 to 2008. There are an estimated 77,617 people currently living with myeloma in the United States.

Epidemiology and Demographics

Prevalance

There are approximately 76,000 people in the United States living with multiple myeloma, and the American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 14,600 new cases of myeloma are diagnosed each year in the United States. In 2013 the number of newly diagnosed cases was close to 22,000. It follows from here that the average survival at diagnosis is about three years.

Age

Multiple myeloma is the second most prevalent blood cancer (10%) after non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It represents approximately 1% of all cancers and 2% of all cancer deaths. Although the peak age of onset of multiple myeloma is 65 to 70 years of age, recent statistics indicate both increasing incidence and earlier age of onset.

Gender

Multiple myeloma affects slightly more men than women.

Race

African Americans and Native Pacific Islanders have the highest reported incidence of this disease in the United States and Asians the lowest. Results of a recent study found the incidence of myeloma to be 9.5 cases per 100,000 African Americans and 4.1 cases per 100,000 Caucasian Americans. Among African Americans, myeloma is one of the top 10 leading causes of cancer death.