Understanding Why Multiple Myeloma Affects the Black Community More Often

Did you know that Black Americans are two to three times more likely to develop multiple myeloma? This isn't just a statistic – it's a reality that affects our community deeply, and understanding why matters for our health.

How Racial Disparities Correlate with Health Issues, Including Cancer

For too long, the Black community has faced a harder battle against cancer. Black Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer and more likely to lose the fight than other groups. This isn’t solely because of biology (though it may be correlated with some cancers),  but because of barriers to quality healthcare, resources, and support — all rooted in the long history of systemic racism.

Let's look at what this means for our community: In 2022 alone, cancer touched the lives of nearly a quarter-million Black Americans. Behind these numbers are our family members, friends, and neighbors – people who deserve better care and support.

Black men, for example, have a higher rate of certain cancers, but they’re also facing a much higher risk of dying from them — especially with cancers like myeloma, stomach, and prostate cancer.

These differences don’t have to be the future. Knowing what you’re up against is the first step toward demanding better access to the care, support, and resources we deserve. Every step counts in closing this gap and giving your community a fairer chance at health and life.

So, Are Black People More Likely to Get Multiple Myeloma? 

Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that begins in our bone marrow – the soft tissue inside our bones where blood cells are made. While this cancer affects people of all backgrounds, it has a particularly strong impact on our community. Each year, nearly 8,000 Black Americans learn they have myeloma, and over 2,500 die from it.

There are a lot of reasons behind these numbers. As seen across all cancers, things like access to good healthcare, the quality of care, and the effects of historical and ongoing racism make it harder for Black Americans to get the support they need to fight this cancer. And with higher rates of conditions like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure in our community, the cancer risk goes up, too. 

There's a good chance that something in your genes might make Black people more likely to get multiple myeloma. Myeloma experts are still investigating this to understand why the numbers are so high. 

How Age and Family History Play a Part

Myeloma tends to show up at a younger age for Black people than it does for White people, and having a family history of blood cancers is an even bigger risk factor in the Black community. You’d think that being younger at diagnosis might lead to better outcomes, but because of gaps in access to and use of quality treatment, that’s not always the case.

For many in the Black community, myeloma symptoms can be something you notice or have noticed in older family members, like grandparents or parents, and they’re easy to miss if you don’t know what to look for. 

Common signs include feeling really tired all the time, bone pain (especially in the back or ribs), sudden weight loss, and getting sick often because the immune system gets weaker. Sometimes, they might also have trouble with their kidneys or notice their bones breaking more easily. 

Knowing your family history is powerful. When we share health information within our families, we can better protect ourselves and future generations. If someone in your family has had myeloma or other blood cancers, make sure your doctor knows about it.

Why We Need More Awareness and Research

Building awareness about myeloma in the Black community is key to catching it early and getting the right care. Plus, having more Black representation in clinical trials is essential to create treatments that work better and are tailored for us.

Your voice and experience with myeloma matter. Join our growing community at the 3rd Annual Hope for the Future in Black Myeloma Virtual Roundtable. It's free, virtual, and designed specifically for our community.

Register now to:

• Connect with others who understand your journey
• Learn from Black myeloma specialists
• Get answers to your questions
• Help shape the future of myeloma care

Register for the Black Myeloma Health Roundtable

Sources: 

• How Racism Leads to Cancer Health Disparities
• 2022 Cancer Facts & Figures Cancer for African American/Black People | More Black Women Die from Breast Cancer Than Any Other Cancer
• Cancer Facts & Figures for African American/Black People
• SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Myeloma. National Cancer Institute
• Dissecting racial disparities in multiple myeloma