Karmanos Cancer Institute Recognizes March as Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month
The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, cancer centers and other organizations nationwide recognize March as Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month. Multiple myeloma is cancer of the plasma cells, a white blood cell type that produces antibodies that fight off infection. Though there is not a cure for multiple myeloma, there have been many advancements in treatment over several decades, with Karmanos physicians and researchers leading many of these treatment advances. New standards of care and clinical trials offered at Karmanos give patients increased survival rates and more positive patient outlooks.
Multiple Myeloma Facts and Figures
- In the U.S., the average lifetime risk of getting multiple myeloma is less than 1% - about 1 in 108 for men and about 1 in 133 for women.
- Most individuals diagnosed with multiple myeloma are at least 65 years old, with the average age being 69.
- Less than 1% of cases are diagnosed in people younger than 35.
- Due to continued advancements in treatment, multiple myeloma five-year survival rates have steadily increased, now exceeding 60%.
All data reported by the American Cancer Society (2025).
Multiple Myeloma Symptoms and Risk Factors
In the early stages of multiple myeloma, symptoms usually do not occur, and a diagnosis is incidentally made at a routine blood test or check-up. Multiple myeloma is common in older adults. As the cancer progresses, symptoms may include anemia, bone pain or weakness, elevated calcium levels, frequent need for urination, kidney injury, recurrent infections, shortage of red and white blood cells, and unexplained fatigue.
Learn more about multiple myeloma here.
Multiple Myeloma Treatment at Karmanos Cancer Institute
At Karmanos, multiple myeloma is treated by the Multiple Myeloma and Amyloidosis Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), which includes hematologists, medical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, pharmacists, dietitians, social workers, and genetic counselors. The team is entirely focused on treating multiple myeloma and amyloidosis and shares its collective expertise to create a customized treatment plan for each patient. The team of researchers not only has vast clinical expertise but also years of clinical research experience.
In addition, the Multiple Myeloma and Amyloidosis MDT works closely with the Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant MDT. Karmanos is one of few cancer centers in the region offering CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma treatment.
In addition, Karmanos has clinical trials available to multiple myeloma patients. Karmanos has one of the most robust clinical trial programs in the country. Thanks to clinical studies and newer treatments, the average survival rate of multiple myeloma patients is now 13 years.
To learn more about the clinical trials offered at Karmanos Cancer Institute, please visit karmanos.org/clinicaltrials.