What is multiple myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a bone marrow-based cancer that arises in plasma cells, a type of white blood cells that produce proteins that help the body fight infections (known as antibodies). Multiple myeloma occurs when plasma cells become abnormal and begin to divide and reproduce in an uncontrolled way.

How do members experience multiple myeloma?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with multiple myeloma*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for multiple myeloma*

*Data from patients with multiple myeloma, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with multiple myeloma*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Darzalex)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple myeloma (5 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
5
Tried for
multiple myeloma (12)
Treatment

(Pomalyst)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
multiple myeloma (4)
Treatment

(Velcade)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
multiple myeloma (3)
Treatment

(Decadron)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple myeloma (4 evaluations)
Side effects
difficulty staying asleep food cravings 2 more
Total evaluations
4
Tried for
multiple myeloma (2)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
multiple myeloma (1)

*Data from patients with multiple myeloma, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has multiple myeloma on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 0
20s 17
30s 58
40s 147
50s 666
60s 1,516
70+ 2,671

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 2,029
Female 3,106

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What is multiple myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a bone marrow-based cancer that arises in plasma cells, a type of white blood cells that produce proteins that help the body fight infections (known as antibodies). Multiple myeloma occurs when plasma cells become abnormal and begin to divide and reproduce in an uncontrolled way.



Common symptoms reported by people with multiple myeloma

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for multiple myeloma

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Darzalex)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
65
Tried for
multiple myeloma (12)
Treatment name(s)

(Pomalyst)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
103
Tried for
multiple myeloma (4)
Treatment name(s)

(Velcade)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
181
Tried for
multiple myeloma (3)
Treatment name(s)

(Decadron)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
359
Tried for
multiple myeloma (2)
Treatment name(s)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
1
Tried for
multiple myeloma (1)

Data from patients with multiple myeloma, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years. Filters for M Protein (blood) show results within 90 days of the treatment start date.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with multiple myeloma

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Darzalex)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple myeloma (5 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
5
Tried for
multiple myeloma (12)
Treatment name(s)

(Pomalyst)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
multiple myeloma (4)
Treatment name(s)

(Velcade)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
multiple myeloma (3)
Treatment name(s)

(Decadron)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple myeloma (4 evaluations)
Side effects
difficulty staying asleep food cravings 2 more
Total evaluations
4
Tried for
multiple myeloma (2)
Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
multiple myeloma (1)
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with multiple myeloma, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years. Filters for M Protein (blood) show results within 90 days of the treatment start date.
Last updated:



Who has multiple myeloma on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 4 new patients joined this month
  • 5,528 say multiple myeloma is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 0
20s 17
30s 58
40s 147
50s 666
60s 1,516
70+ 2,671
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 2
20-29 years 7
30-39 years 62
40-49 years 179
50-59 years 282
60-69 years 271
70+ years 63

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 2,029
Female 3,106

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 3,786
Not Diagnosed 303

These charts show data from multiple myeloma patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: