| Multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma | | | | age at diagnosis of multiple myeloma is 62 |
| cell, is an incurable but treatable disease. | | | | years. Only 2 to 3 percent of cases are |
| While a myeloma diagnosis can be | | | | reported in patients younger than 30 years.2 |
| overwhelming, it is important to remember | | | | |
| that there are several promising new | | | | The disease is called multiple myeloma |
| therapies that are helping patients live | | | | because myeloma cells can occur in multiple |
| longer, healthier lives. The estimated | | | | bone marrow sites in your body. If you have |
| frequency of multiple myeloma is 5-6 new | | | | multiple myeloma but aren't experiencing |
| cases per 100,000 persons per year. | | | | symptoms, your doctors may just need to |
| Accordingly, in the USA 15,980 new cases are | | | | monitor your condition. If you're |
| expected to be diagnosed in 2005. At present | | | | experiencing symptoms, a variety of |
| there are more than 50,000 people in the | | | | treatments are available. |
| United States living with multiple myeloma. | | | | |
| | | | Blacks in the United States are twice as |
| Multiple myeloma is a malignant proliferation | | | | likely to suffer from multiple myeloma as |
| of plasma cells that involves more than 10 | | | | whites. In fact, multiple myeloma is the most |
| percent of the bone marrow. It is a prototype | | | | common hematologic malignancy in the U.S. |
| primary malignancy of the bone associated | | | | black population.3 Multiple myeloma is rare |
| with malignant plasma cells that secrete | | | | among persons of Asian descent, with an |
| monoclonal immunoglobulins into the serum, | | | | incidence of only one to two cases per |
| the urine or both. | | | | 100,000 population. Standard therapy for |
| | | | multiple myeloma includes alkylating agents |
| Multiple myeloma is the most common primary | | | | administered with prednisone. The most |
| cancer of the bones in adults. The annual | | | | commonly used alkylating agent is melphalan |
| incidence in the United States is three to | | | | (Alkeran). Melphalan, 9 mg per m2, is given |
| four cases per 100,000 population. Multiple | | | | orally with 100 mg of prednisone on days 1 |
| myeloma represents 1 percent of all cancers | | | | through 4. Courses of therapy are repeated at |
| diagnosed in the United States and 10 percent | | | | four- to six-week intervals for at least one |
| of all hematologic malignancies. The median | | | | year. |