Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month

Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month

March is Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month. Burgundy is the awareness color associated with multiple myeloma awareness. Wear a burgundy enamel awareness ribbon pin, fabric ribbon, or burgundy awareness bracelet wristband for this important awareness month.

Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month educates the public that myeloma is a type of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow. It forms in the body’s plasma cells. Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell that normally helps to fight infections. When myeloma cells multiply beyond control and overtake the normal plasma cells, they cause serious medical complications.

What is Multiple Myeloma?

White blood cells are important to a healthy immune system. Over time, myeloma cells collect in the bone marrow, forming tumors in many of the body’s bones. These tumors may keep the bone marrow from making enough healthy blood cells and may weaken the bones.

Learn About Causes of Multiple Myeloma During Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month

While the causes of multiple myeloma are not fully understood, it is more common in older people. Other common populations are men and African Americans. Some common symptoms include bone pain, weakness or fatigue, weight loss, frequent infections, and frequent urination.

The National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program estimates that more than 35,730 people living in the United States will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2023. 12,590 will die of the disease. Today, almost 120,000 people are living with, or in remission, from myeloma.

Racial Disparities – Raise Awareness During Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month

Multiple myeloma is one of the specific cancer types, along with stomach and prostate cancer, that show the largest racial disparities in incidence and mortality. For example, death rates are more than two-fold higher in Black people than in white individuals. This may be due to disparities in access to quality health care and newer treatment options.

Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma

Symptoms of those with Multiple Myeloma differ. People with Multiple Myeloma may feel fatigued and short of breath on exertion. Less common, when the white blood cell count is low, patients may have an increased risk of infection. In addition, pain may be prevalent for people with bone lesions.

For a very small percentage of patients, myeloma is hereditary. Others have been exposed to environmental toxins. These include high doses of radiation or Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Most people, however, don’t have a family history or known environmental exposure.

Multiple myeloma can be an isolating diagnosis. For example, many people don’t know much about the condition or can’t understand what treatment can be like. Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month is an opportunity to become more educated and involved, even if you are already a part of the myeloma community.

Ideas to consider:

• Find out more about your risk for multiple myeloma by speaking with a doctor about your medical and family histories.
• Learn how to spot the warning signs and possible early symptoms of multiple myeloma.
• Reach out to someone in your community who lives with multiple myeloma and offer to drive them to an appointment. In addition, offer to help with housework, relieve a primary caregiver for an hour or two, or simply take them out for coffee.
• If you have multiple myeloma, consider signing up to be part of a clinical trial.
• Donate to an organization that funds research and support for multiple myeloma.
• Plan a workplace event that raises money for a vetted organization or promotes information from a trusted expert in oncology.