Can Young Adults Get Multiple Myeloma? (https://www.myeloma.org/videos/can-young-adults-get-multiple-myeloma)
Is Multiple Myeloma Only a Disease of Older Adults?
Myeloma Can Affect Younger Adults Too
Multiple myeloma is often thought of as a cancer of the elderly, with the average age of diagnosis around 69–70. But younger adults (even those in their 20s, 30s, and 40s) can also be diagnosed. In fact, African American and Latino communities are often diagnosed about five years earlier on average.
In this video, IMF Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Mikhael explains why multiple myeloma awareness matters, the importance of early diagnosis, and why it’s critical to know that myeloma can affect adults at any age.
Join the #KnowMyeloma campaign during Blood Cancer Awareness Month:
- Share this video with friends & family
- Post your story or a fact about multiple myeloma using #KnowMyeloma
- Help raise awareness for earlier diagnosis, better treatment access, more research, and greater equity in cancer care
- Learn more & get involved: https://knowmyeloma.org (https://knowmyeloma.org)
Is multiple myoma really just a disease of the elderly?
Well, as you can see from this chart, myoma typically is diagnosed in older individuals. And I always want to be careful how I define older, but the typical average age of diagnosis of myoma is about 69 or 70. But that doesn't mean that everybody is diagnosed at 69 or 70. As you can see, many patients are diagnosed at a younger age.
This is particularly important within the African-American and Latino-American populations where typically the diagnosis of myoma is 5 years younger in their 60s. But even patients in their 20s and their 30s and their 40s can be diagnosed with multiple myoma which again emphasizes the importance of an awareness campaign like blood cancer awareness month so that we can see that myoma can affect adults at any age.
Too many people say what's myoma? Let's change that together. You can raise awareness during blood cancer awareness month by sharing this video with your friends and family. You can also post using the hashtag noyoma. Know myoma. The more people know about myoma, the louder our call for earlier diagnosis, greater access to treatment, more investment in research, and equity in cancer care. Let's make myoma known.
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.