Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a precursor condition for multiple myeloma.
Multiple Myeloma Survival Lower Than Previously Reported, but Powerful New Later Line Options Offer Hope
Including survival statistics for the nonmalignant precursor of multiple myeloma (MM), smoldering multiple myeloma, has led to a significant overestimation of 5-year survival patients with MM. But the news is not all bad. Recent approval of powerful new later line options are offering hope for patients who have tried multiple therapies are offering hope for more durable survival.
‘Close to Me’ Model Enables Multiple Myeloma Therapy, Other Infusions at Home
Travel-related burdens are an ongoing issue for veterans with multiple myeloma and other specialty care patients.
Veterans Face Elevated Risk for Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma (MM), the second most common blood cancer in the United States, occurs at a much higher rate in veterans than in the general population. For U.S. veterans the burden of disease is shaped by a convergence of demographic, biologic and service-related risk factors.
Why Older Male Veterans Face a Higher Risk of Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma (MM) occurs about twice as often in men as in women, but until recently the biologic and clinical drivers of that disparity have been poorly understood.
Options Multiply for Treating Veterans With Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma (MM) remains treatable but not curable; however, the therapeutic landscape has changed dramatically over the past decade.
Multiple Myeloma Remains a Challenging Malignancy for Many Veterans
Since 2022, the VA has recognized multiple myeloma (MM) as a presumptive condition for a growing number of veterans, significantly raising the hematological malignancy’s profile within the agency.
New Therapies Offer Options for Veterans With Multiple Myeloma
Past research has suggested a disproportionately high occurrence of multiple myeloma in patients with recorded military services and toxin exposures when compared to control groups.
GLP-1 RAs Show Promise for Reducing Risk of MGUS Progression to Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is preceded by a benign, asymptomatic, and incidentally discovered plasma cell disorder known as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), which has a prevalence of about 3% of the U.S. population 50 and older.
Military Health System Multiple Myeloma Patients Survive Longer
Military Health System (MHS) beneficiaries with multiple myeloma have longer 5- and 10-year survival rates compared to multiple myeloma patients from the U.S. general population, according to a recent study.
Multiple Myeloma Patients Have Longer Survival With Military Healthcare
MHS beneficiaries with multiple myeloma (MM) had improved overall survival compared to MM patients from the U.S. general population, according to a new report.
Intensive Therapy Is Effective Treatment for Frail Multiple Myeloma Patients
For frail patients with multiple myeloma, receiving more intensive therapy, triplet bortezomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone (VRd) rather than doublet lenalidomide-dexamethasone (Rd), is a more-effective treatment, according to a recent study of patients treated in VA facilities.
Monoclonal Antibodies Are Promising for Improving MM Survival Time
The last 20 years have brought many more therapeutics for multiple myeloma (MM).
Which Veterans Should Undergo SPEP Testing for Plasma Cell Dyscrasia?
Plasma cell dyscrasia affects up to 5% of adults. While often asymptomatic, its characteristic clonal expansion of bone marrow plasma cells can also indicate the presence of several hematological malignancies including multiple myeloma.
GLP-1 Use Reduces Risk of MGUS Progression in Some Veterans
Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have gained huge popularity as they have demonstrated the ability to substantially reduce both blood-glucose levels and weight. In addition, recent research suggests cardiovascular and renal benefits to their use in certain populations.
VA Will Assess Leukemias, Multiple Myeloma as Presumptive Service Conditions
In what could be the first conditions added to the new PACT Act, the VA is conducting a scientific review to determine any relationship between three conditions—acute leukemias, chronic leukemias, and multiple myeloma outside of the head and neck—and toxic exposures for servicemembers who deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Uzbekistan, and the entire Southwest Asia theater of operations.
Multiple Myeloma Unusual in Younger Patients, Behaves Differently
Multiple myeloma (MM) is extremely unusual in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) younger than 45, and, when it does occur, often has some unusual features.
Obesity/Weight Gain Associated with MGUS Progression to Multiple Myeloma
Obesity ranks high in the list of risk factors for the development of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and multiple myeloma (MM).
MGUS-MM Progression Differs Between African Americans, Caucasians
While it is widely known that African Americans (AA) are at higher risk for multiple myeloma (MM), precisely what factors create the disparity are not well understood.
Is It Time to Rethink Stem Cell Transplantation in Young Patients With MM?
BETHESDA, MD—Multiple myeloma (MM) is primarily a disease of the elderly, with an average age at diagnosis of 68. Still, adolescents and young adults (AYAs) do develop the blood disease and represent about 5% of all new cases. Because MM is so uncommon in younger age...
COVID-19 Minimally Affected Prescriptions, Hospital Admissions for Veterans with MM
As COVID-19 burst upon the world stage, medical care rapidly shifted from in-person visits to telemedicine consultations with varying results among patients with chronic conditions, cancer and other diseases that required regular and ongoing interaction with medical personnel.
Surprise! Some Secondary Primary Malignancies in MM Linked to Longer Overall Survival
For 70 years, physicians and researchers have been aware of secondary primary malignancies (SPM) in patients with multiple myeloma.
Multiple Myeloma Patients Usually Respond Well to COVID-19 Vaccines
While about one-fourth of blood cancer patients failed to produce detectable antibodies after COVID-19 vaccination, those with multiple myeloma fared better than most.
Genetic 17p Deletion Doesn’t Affect MM Survival by Race
African Americans have an increased incidence of multiple myeloma (MM) but do not appear to be at a disadvantage in terms of overall survival, however.
Hormones Affect Sexual Function After AHSCT
How do hormones affect sexual function recovery after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT), which is the standard of care for younger patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.