Is multiple myeloma cancer curable?

Treatment for multiple myeloma can often help control symptoms and improve quality of life. But myeloma usually can’t be cured, which means additional treatment is needed when the cancer comes back.

How serious is myeloma cancer?

Myeloma is not usually considered a curable disease, but it is very treatable. Myeloma is a disease that shifts between periods of remission (when cancer cells are no longer detected or are at a low level) and relapse (when cancer cells have returned or increased).

Is multiple myeloma an aggressive cancer?

IgE multiple myeloma causes the same signs and symptoms as other types of multiple myeloma. It tends to be aggressive and progresses to plasma cell leukemia or spreads outside the bone marrow quickly.

How do we diagnose multiple myeloma?

A plasma cell tumor (proven by biopsy) OR

At least 10% of the cells in the bone marrow be plasma cells. AND one of the following:

M protein over a certain level in the blood (3g/dL) OR

M protein in the urine over a certain level (1g/dL) OR

Holes in bones due to tumor growth are found on imaging studies.

What are my chances of getting multiple myeloma?

β2-M less than 3.5 mg/L

Serum albumin of 3.5 g/dL or more

Normal LDH

No high-risk chromosome changes in myeloma cells found by FISH test

How long can you Live after a multiple myeloma diagnosis?

Topic Guide Multiple myeloma is an uncommon cancer of the blood. The median length of survival after diagnosis with multiple myeloma is 62 months for Stage I, 44 months for Stage II, and 29 months for Stage III. Life expectancy depends on many factors, including the person’s age, health, kidney function, and more.

How to cure multiple myeloma?

– Functional cure is when a patient is in a prolonged remission, but a small amount of myeloma is known to be left, based upon follow-up testing. – Normal relative survival is another way to consider cure. – True cure is the goal and the most difficult to confirm for sure.