ON THIS PAGE: You will find information about the number of people who are diagnosed with multiple myeloma each year. You will also read general information on surviving the disease. Remember, survival rates depend on several factors. Use the menu to see other pages.
This year, an estimated 34,470 adults (19,100 men and 15,370 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Myeloma is less common than other types of blood-related cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma. Worldwide, an estimated 176,404 people were diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2020.
It is estimated that 12,640 deaths (7,090 men and 5,550 women) from this disease will occur in the United States this year. In 2020, an estimated 117,077 people worldwide died from multiple myeloma.
The 5-year survival rate tells you what percent of people live at least 5 years after the cancer is found. Percent means how many out of 100. The overall 5-year survival rate for people with multiple myeloma in the United States is 55%.
For the 4% of people who are diagnosed at an early stage, the 5-year survival rate is over 77%. If the cancer has spread to a distant part of the body, the 5-year survival rate is over 54%. Approximately 96% of cases are diagnosed at this stage.
Survival rates have steadily increased over time, so the 5-year survival rate may underestimate the impact of recent progress made in the treatment of this disease. Moreover, 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.
It is important to remember that statistics on the survival rates for people with multiple myeloma are an estimate. The estimate comes from annual data based on the number of people with this cancer in the United States. Also, experts measure the survival statistics every 5 years. This means the estimate may not reflect the results of advancements in how multiple myeloma is diagnosed or treated from the last 5 years. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions about this information. Learn more about understanding statistics.
Statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society’s publication, Cancer Facts & Figures 2022, the International Agency for Research on Cancer website, and the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. (All sources accessed January 2022.)
The next section in this guide is Medical Illustrations. It offers drawings of body parts often affected by multiple myeloma. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.