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Multiple myeloma at at a glance

Mutiple myeloma is a type of cancer that develops from cells in the bone marrow called plasma cells. Almost 4,000 cases of multiple myeloma are diagnosed every year in the UK.

We do not know what causes mutiple myeloma. It is most likely to affect people over 40 and risk increases with age. It is also about twice as common in black people as it is in white. Certain rare medical conditions can increase the risk of developing the cancer.

Cancer Research UK is funding research to understand how and why myeloma develops in the bone marrow. We also fund clinical trials testing new treatments for the disease. .

To find out more about the causes, symptoms and treatment of multiple myeloma, please visit CancerHelp UK.

For more statistics on multiple myeloma, have a look at CancerStats.