As with most forms of cancer, scientists don’t fully understand the exact causes of multiple myeloma. However, research has identified a number of risk factors that increase the likelihood of any one individual getting the disease during his or her lifetime:

• Age: Multiple myeloma is most common in older adults
• Gender: Multiple myeloma is more common for men than women
• Race: Multiple myeloma is twice as common for black people as for white people in the US
• Obesity: Being overweight or obese increases the risk

Multiple myeloma can be difficult to detect because the symptoms are often general, and some cases do not produce symptoms. However, some of the most common symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Bone pain
• Anemia and low blood cell counts
• Weakened bones, often breaking easily
• Weakened immune system
• Kidney problems

Multiple myeloma is quite serious. The overall 5-year survival rate is roughly 50%, although it depends on the stage at which the disease is diagnosed. The earlier the condition is diagnosed, the more likely treatment will be effective.

There are a number of possible treatments for multiple myeloma. Your doctor will work with you to decide which is right for you based on the stage of the condition and the specifics of your medical case. The main treatments used for multiple myeloma include:

• Surgery
• Radiation Therapy, including CyberKnife
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Targeted Therapy
• Bisphosphonates
• Stem Cell Transplant

Often, your doctor will recommend combining two or more treatments to give you the best possible chance at beating the disease.