This year, an estimated 22,350 adults (12,440 men and 9,910 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma. It is estimated that 10,710 deaths (6,070 men and 4,640 women) from this disease will occur this year.

The five-year survival rate (percentage of people who survive at least five years after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases) of people with multiple myeloma is about 43%. However, several factors affect an individual’s survival, such as the person’s age and overall health. For instance, it is known that survival rates are higher in younger people than in older people. That’s why cancer survival statistics should be interpreted with caution. These estimates are based on data from thousands of people with this type of cancer, but the actual risk for a particular individual may differ. It is not possible to tell a person how long he or she will live with multiple myeloma. Because the survival statistics are measured in five-year intervals, they may not represent advances made in the treatment or diagnosis of this cancer. This is particularly true for myeloma because major improvements in treatment have occurred during the past decade. Learn more about understanding statistics [2].

Statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society's publication, Cancer Facts and Figures 2013.

Last Updated: February 6, 2013