Risk
Factors
What are the risk factors for Multiple Myeloma?
There are a few risk factors that may affect a person's chance of multiple myeloma. People with many risk factors may never develop multiple myeloma, while others with no risk factors can still get the disease. Although researchers do not yet know what causes most cases of multiple myeloma, progress has been made in understanding how certain DNA changes can make plasma cells become cancerous. A few risk factors associated with multiple myeloma include:
- Age: The risk of multiple myeloma increases as we age, and most people diagnosed with multiple myeloma are over the age of 60. The average age at diagnosis is 70 years old. Only 2% of people diagnosed with multiple myeloma are under 40 years old.
- Race: Although the reason is unknown, multiple myeloma is twice as common in blacks than in caucasians. It is also more common in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterranean.
- Personal or Family History: Having a first-degree relative (parents, siblings, children) with multiple myeloma can increase your risk. A personal history of a solitary plasmacytoma of the bone can increase your risk for developing multiple myeloma.
- Exposure to Radiation or Chemicals
- Other Plasma Cell Diseases
- Gender: Multiple myeloma is slightly more common in men.
Additional Resources: Information on Risk Factors Statistics
