How Long Do I Have to Live with Myeloma? In a Minute or Less (https://www.myeloma.org/videos/how-long-do-i-have-live-myeloma-minute-or-less)
How Long Do I Have to Live with Myeloma? In a Minute or Less
Dr. Joseph Mikhael, Chief Medical Officer of the International Myeloma Foundation, answers this common question in a minute or less: How long do I have to live with myeloma?
For more guidance or if you have questions about myeloma, visit us at myeloma.org, email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), or call the IMF InfoLine at 1-818-487-7455.
How long do I have to live with myeloma? This is a question very often asked by patients.
Hi everyone. I’m Doctor Joseph Mikhael, Chief Medical Officer of the International Myeloma Foundation, and I'm going to share with you some thoughts about myeloma survival in the next minute.
Thankfully, multiple myeloma has gone through a complete transformation over the last 20 years. Most of our patients sadly, back then lived one, maybe two years with myeloma. And yet now we know the average patient with myeloma is going to live more than 10 years and many of them even longer than that.
Of course, it's important to remember that every patient is different. Myeloma still humbles us. We still sadly do see patients who don't survive more than six months or a year with myeloma, but thankfully now that's become extremely rare. This is the result of newer therapies and newer approaches to myeloma that are giving patients longer and better lives.
For more information about multiple myeloma or if you have personal questions related to your own or a loved one's diagnosis, please visit us at Myeloma.org
Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, FASCO
International Myeloma Foundation Medical Advisor
TGen, City of Hope Cancer Center—Phoenix, AZ, USA
Dr Mikhael is a Professor in the Clinical Genomics and Therapeutics Division at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope Cancer Center. He is also the Director of Myeloma research at the HonorHealth Research Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr Mikhael specializes clinically in plasma cell disorders, namely multiple myeloma, amyloidosis, and Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia. He is the PI of many clinical trials, primarily in relapsed multiple myeloma, and his other clinical research interests include pharmaco-economics, communication skills, and media relations.
Dr. Mikhael recently served as the Chief Medical Officer of the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) from 2018 to 2026 – he now serves as Medical Advisor to the IMF to provide guidance and strategic input in areas such as patient education, health disparities, collaboration with partners, international research, and publications.
Dr Mikhael has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles in these fields and lectures internationally on a regular basis. Dr. Mikhael is deeply committed to health disparities in myeloma and is the chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council at TGen. Dr. Mikhael is heavily involved in training future researchers and mentors junior faculty worldwide. Dr. Mikhael is an active member of the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) and recently led the ASCO guidelines in myeloma. Dr. Mikhael also serves as the Treasurer on the executive of the American Society of Hematology.
Dr. Mikhael did his medical training in Canada, including a fellowship in Multiple Myeloma at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. He also obtained his master’s degree in education from the University of Toronto. He then worked at the Mayo Clinic Arizona as a Hematologist from 2008-2018.