The natural history of myeloma is heterogeneous and the survival times may vary from few weeks to more than 20 years. According to the International Staging System (ISS) the median survival for multiple myeloma patients are
Outcome in myeloma has been shown to be dependent on certain cytogenetic and molecular genetic abnormalities (1)
Poor prognostic indicators are high paraprotein spikes, renal failure, hypercalcaemia, or extensive bone disease.
Two sub-groups are recognised:
A third (33%) of people diagnosed with myeloma in England and Wales survive their disease for ten years or more (2010-11)
Almost half (47%) of people diagnosed with myeloma in England and Wales survive their disease for five years or more (2010-11)
More than three-quarters (77%) of people diagnosed with myeloma in England and Wales survive their disease for one year or more (2010-11)
Around three quarters of people in England diagnosed with myeloma aged 15-49 survive their disease for five years or more, compared with a quarter of people diagnosed aged 80 and over (2009-2013).
Myeloma survival is improving and has quadrupled in the last 40 years in the UK. In the 1970s, around 5 in 100 people diagnosed with myeloma survived their disease beyond ten years, now it's a third
Increasing age (2)
Reference:
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