The median overall survival of an elderly (≥80 years) cohort of myeloma patients was 22 months, with an early mortality rate (at 2 months) of 14%. Performance status and treatment with novel agents, in addition to stage, age and cytogenetics, were independent prognostic factors for survival.

Multiple myeloma life expectancy in elderly

• The overall range of life expectancy in multiple myeloma patients extends from 1 year to more than 10 years in some cases. The median life expectancy in general is 3 years. Statistics reveal that about 35% or one third of affected patients live for five years.

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a disease of the elderly: the median age at diagnosis is increasing along with the increase in life expectancy in the general population and is currently more than 70. Age is an important prognostic factor in MM, and overall survival (OS) declines continuously by decade from age 50 to ages greater than 80.

What is the longest someone has lived with multiple myeloma?

If you can call someone who gets a rare form of cancer lucky, then Deb Graff says she fits the bill. At age 72, Graff has survived nine years with multiple myeloma , a blood cancer whose life expectancy used to be measured in months.

What are the final stages of multiple myeloma?

As active multiple myeloma gets worse, you’ll likely feel sicker, with fatigue or bone pain . You may have anemia, bleeding problems, or a lot of infections. Other symptoms of advanced multiple myeloma include unusual fractures, shortness of breath, weakness , feeling very thirsty, and belly pain.

How I treat multiple myeloma in the elderly?

New effective treatments including thalidomide, bortezomib, and lenalidomide have replaced the former standard melphalan-prednisone (MP). MPT and melphalan-prednisone-bortezomib are the reference treatments for elderly patients ineligible for high-dose therapy.

Is Multiple Myeloma always fatal?

Multiple myeloma isn’t considered “curable,” but symptoms wax and wane. There can be a long period of dormancy that could last several years. However, this cancer usually recurs. There are several types of myeloma .

Has anyone ever survived multiple myeloma?

The overall 5-year survival rate for people with multiple myeloma is 54%. For the 5% of people who are diagnosed at an early stage, the 5-year survival rate is almost 74%. If the cancer has spread to a distant part of the body, the 5-year survival rate is 51%.

Can you live 20 years with multiple myeloma?

The SEER(Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) data for multiple myeloma has been published in 2013 by the National Cancer Institute, and the average life expectancy remains at 4 years for the third year in a row. However, some people beat the odds and live 10 to 20 years or more.

How do myeloma patients die?

The most common cause of death related to multiple myeloma is infection, with pneumonia being the most common fatal infection. Other common causes of death are bleeding (from low platelet counts), complications of bone fractures, kidney failure, and blood clots in the lungs.

What are the symptoms of dying from myeloma?

The focus of end of life care is to help patients manage their symptoms so that they are experiencing the best possible quality of life. The most common symptoms at this stage include pain, fatigue , loss of appetite/anorexia, constipation , nausea and vomiting.

What is the most aggressive form of multiple myeloma?

Hyperdiploid- Myeloma cells have more chromosomes than normal. This occurs in about 45% of myeloma patients and is less aggressive . Hypodiploid– Myeloma cells have fewer chromosomes than normal. This occurs in about 40% of myeloma patients and is more aggressive .

How long is multiple myeloma treatment?

Treatment with a bone-modifying drug is recommended for up to 2 years. At 2 years, treatment may be stopped if it is working. If the myeloma comes back and new bone problems develop, treatment with a bone-modifying drug is usually started again.

How is multiple myeloma stages?

Durie-Salmon Staging In this system, there are three stages of myeloma : Stage I, Stage II, and Stage III. The stage depends on factors including: The amount of myeloma cells in the body. The amount of damage the myeloma cells have caused to the bone.

What happens if multiple myeloma goes untreated?

If left untreated , excess amounts of myeloma protein can cause kidney damage or even renal failure.

Is myeloma a death sentence?

Once a death sentence , myeloma patients are living much longer now. Over the past few years, myeloma research has reached an unprecedented level of advancement. The number of approved therapies for treatment of myeloma is expanding, and drugs like bortezomib and lenalidomide have transformed the landscape of survival.

What triggers multiple myeloma?

However, triggers or causes related to multiple myeloma may include toxic chemicals, radiation, some viruses, immune disorders, and family history of the disease or other related problems like MGUS .

Is Multiple Myeloma an aggressive cancer?

IgE multiple myeloma causes the same signs and symptoms as other types of multiple myeloma . It tends to be aggressive and progresses to plasma cell leukemia or spreads outside the bone marrow quickly. A protein in blood that acts like an antibody to fight infection.