Guide To Multiple Myeloma Risk Factors

Plasma cells are white blood cells mostly found in bone marrow. They help the body fight against infections by producing antibodies. Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer that affects the plasma cells. This happens when the cells stop behaving normally. These cells will instead divide at uncontrolled rates. This is what results in cancer. The affected cells take over bone marrow and prevent healthy blood cells from working properly. Symptoms of multiple myeloma include frequent infections, appetite loss, pain in the bones, extreme tiredness, and nausea.

There are several multiple myeloma treatment options, including chemotherapy, radiation, and bone marrow transplants. New medicines and therapies for this type of cancer are being studied constantly. Treatment also involves multiple myeloma maintenance therapy drugs.

Older Age

Multiple myeloma gets more common as people age, especially in those over 60 years old. The average age of patients at diagnosis is 70 years old. Only 2 percent of cases are in those under 40 years old. So, it is clear age is a serious contributor to the development of this cancer. Unfortunately, this risk factor is unavoidable. This makes the need for treatments and a cure even more important.

Senior patients are also harder to treat. This is because they have other illnesses that must be managed at the same time. What’s even scarier is multiple myeloma results in death far more often in elderly patients.

Get the details on the connection between race and multiple myeloma next.

Race

Multiple myeloma is much more common among African Americans than Caucasians. In fact, it is twice as common. It is also the 3rd most common blood cancer in this group. This is especially so among the older population. Many suggest this is because Caucasians respond to treatment better.

Multiple myeloma is also common in the Mediterranean, Middle East, and North Africa. Research has proven individuals of Asian descent are at the least risk of this cancer. Unfortunately, research has not yet discovered exactly why race influences the development of multiple myeloma.

Does gender influence someone's risk of this cancer? Find out next.

Gender

Gender plays a few roles in the risk of multiple myeloma. Numbers show multiple myeloma is more common in men than in women. In other words, they are at a higher risk. That said, other studies have shown women are more likely to develop lesions than men. Of course, this applies to those who already have multiple myeloma.

Other developments are also being made. For instance, women are more likely to have immunoglobulin. These are natural antibodies produced by plasma cells. Men are more likely to have a higher chromosome count. That said, no research has confirmed how these facts relate to multiple myeloma.

Where someone works can very well affect their risk of multiple myeloma. Find out how much next.

Workplace

A study from Sweden showed diesel exhaust exposure was a big risk factor. Even exposure to low levels of radiation raises the risk of this cancer. Particular industries at a high risk of multiple myeloma are leather production, agriculture, and cosmetology. The reason for this is linked to the chemicals these industries use. They include asbestos, herbicides, plastics, insecticides, herbicides, and petroleum products. Some researchers say the workplace conditions in these industries partially explain why men are affected more than women, since many of them are male-dominated.

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Obesity

According to the CDC, a healthy body mass index (BMI) is between 18.5 and 25, the exact value depending on the person’s height and gender. Someone is overweight if their BMI is between 25 and 30, and BMIs of over 30 are classified as obese. Extreme obesity involves BMI values of over 40. Researchers believe any form of obesity puts people at a much higher risk of developing multiple myeloma. This research has also shown obesity in men is a higher risk factor than obesity in women. Currently, researchers are investigating how much interleukin-6, which is in fat tissue, influences the risk of multiple myeloma.

Examine whether or not multiple myeloma has a connection with family history next.

Family History

Multiple myeloma is quite rare. This means many patients do not have relatives who also have the condition. That said, this form of cancer does run in families. Breaking it down, it means if someone has an immediate family member with this form of cancer, they are at a 3 to 4 times greater risk of getting it. Families with African ancestry are at an especially high risk of multiple myeloma running in their family. Researchers have uncovered some specific information about how genetics raises the risk of multiple myeloma. This research includes where genes are located on chromosomes. This particular link was uncovered in the 1920s.