Multiple myeloma life expectancy varies depending on factors such as stage of diagnosis and treatment effectiveness. Early diagnosis can improve life expectancy, and bone marrow transplants may be successful in early stages. Symptoms include bone pain, anemia, and thinning bones. Chemotherapy and radiation are typical treatments. The disease is rare and diagnosed through tests such as blood or urine tests or a bone marrow biopsy.
Life expectancy for multiple myeloma cannot be determined precisely because several factors contribute to the equation. In general, most multiple myeloma patients live an average of five to eight years, depending on when the cancer is diagnosed, the stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis, and the effectiveness of treatment. A study by the European Cancer Registry shows that one third of patients with multiple myeloma lived longer than five years.
If the disease is diagnosed early, a longer life expectancy may result. This type of cancer gets progressively worse over time because the cancerous cells tend to spread throughout the body. Multiple myeloma means that tumors are present in more than one area of the bone marrow, commonly in the spine, skull, ribs and hips.
The disease is considered a rare non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and accounts for about 1% of all diagnosed cancers. It develops in white blood cells, called plasma cells, generated in the bone marrow. These blood cells make up the body’s immune system, which fights off infections. Because the bone marrow carries diseased plasma cells through the bones of the body, it makes it difficult to stop multiple myeloma.
Life expectancy for multiple myeloma can improve with a bone marrow transplant using donor cells. This treatment may be successful if the disease is caught early and the cancer hasn’t spread beyond one area of the bone marrow. During the later stages of the disease, treatment addresses the symptoms and prolongs the patient’s life through medications.
Symptoms of multiple myeloma include bone pain, especially in the spinal region. The disorder could also produce anemia which causes patients to become weak and tired. Bones could thin and become brittle, leading to fractures, or excess calcium could build up in the bones. Some people with this disease experience headaches, confusion, and vision problems because insufficient blood is transported to the skin and extremities.
Chemotherapy and radiation are typical treatments to kill cancerous blood cells, but unfortunately healthy blood cells are often killed as well. Patients might be given antibiotics to curb the infection, as the normal function of antibodies is disrupted. Other patients may receive periodic blood transfusions to address anemia.
People over the age of 60 face an increased risk of multiple myeloma, which is estimated at five to six cases per 100,000 people. The disease is diagnosed through urine or blood tests or a bone marrow biopsy. Tumors or signs of osteoporosis might also show up on X-ray images.
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