
%
of all cases of myeloma are in African Americans
more common in African Americans
%
of all newly diagnosed myeloma patients will be African American
Multiple Myeloma
Did you know that myeloma is the most common blood cancer in people of African descent? But doctors do not typically check people for myeloma during a regular visit because currently there are no national screening recommendations for myeloma.
That’s why it’s important to learn the early symptoms of myeloma and let your doctor know that you—or a friend or family member—are at added risk for the disease.
Because even though myeloma affects African Americans at greater rates, with early diagnosis and treatment, African Americans can have better overall survival in living with the disease.
MYELOMA TOOLKIT
Abstracts on racial disparities in myeloma care
IMF Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Mikhael (TGen, City of Hope — Phoenix) talks about abstracts on racial disparities in myeloma care as reported from this year’s American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual conference held in Atlanta, GA.
Patient advocate Yelak Biru shares his story
Diagnosed at the young age of 25 with stage III multiple myeloma, Yelak Biru is a patient turned myeloma research advocate. Working with a team of medical practitioners and educating himself through support group leadership, information resources, advocacy sites, social media, and the IMF, Yelak has successfully integrated myeloma to his life for over two decades.