Pathways to Progress: Advancing Black Myeloma Care

If you're Black or African American, you should know that multiple myeloma affects our community at twice the rate compared to white Americans. This higher risk comes from several factors - some related to our biology and genetics, and others tied to social and healthcare challenges we face. While treatment options have improved greatly over the years, many in our community still face obstacles in getting diagnosed early and accessing the latest treatments.

What's in Our Genes and Biology

• Family history matters: Multiple myeloma tends to run in families more often in our community. This suggests there may be genetic factors that affect how the disease develops and responds to treatment.
• Health factors: Being overweight increases myeloma risk, and this affects many in our community.
• Disease patterns: Interestingly, the myeloma seen in Black patients often grows more slowly, which can mean better survival rates - especially when we get the right treatment at the right time.

Beyond Biology: The Healthcare Journey

• Trust and history: Many of us have concerns about the healthcare system based on historical mistreatment and ongoing challenges. These experiences can affect how comfortable we feel seeking treatment or participating in new therapies.
• Access to care: Getting quality healthcare can be harder for many in our community. Whether it's insurance coverage, finding the right doctor, or managing treatment costs, these practical challenges can make getting care more difficult.
• Getting diagnosed: Too often, our community members wait longer to get diagnosed and start treatment. This can happen for many reasons - from difficulty getting to a doctor to having symptoms dismissed or misunderstood.

Making Positive Changes

• Building better relationships: We're seeing more healthcare providers working to earn our trust by providing respectful, culturally aware care that understands our community's needs and concerns.
• Raising awareness and building a community: The more our community knows about multiple myeloma, the better equipped we are to spot early warning signs and seek care. That's why the Black Myeloma Health Community at HealthTree Foundation offers resources specifically for Black patients and families - from connecting with specialists to finding support groups and learning about clinical trials.
• Opening doors: There's growing focus on making sure Black patients can access the newest treatments and participate in research studies. This is crucial because having our community represented in research helps develop treatments that work better for us.
• Pushing for more research: Scientists are working to better understand why myeloma affects our community differently. Initiatives like the PROMISE study are looking at ways to prevent myeloma and improve treatment specifically for Black patients.

The Path Forward

Multiple myeloma affects our community deeply, but we're not in this fight alone. By understanding both the medical and social aspects of this disease, we can work toward better outcomes. Whether it's through earlier diagnosis, better access to treatment, or stronger community support, positive changes are happening.

Want to connect with others who understand your journey? Join our Black Myeloma Health Community at HealthTree Foundation.

We offer:

• Support from people who understand what you're going through
• Information about the latest treatments
• Connections to specialists who understand our community's needs
• Regular events where you can learn and share experiences

Want to hear more stories from members of our community? Start below: 

Source:

• Addressing the disparities: the approach to the African American patient with multiple myeloma