From the Guidelines
African Americans are at a significantly higher risk of developing multiple myeloma, with incidence rates twice as high as those in white Americans, and face disparities in treatment and outcomes due to systemic healthcare inequities. The lifetime probability of being diagnosed with multiple myeloma is higher among African American men and women, with an estimated 7810 new cases and 2530 myeloma deaths in this population in 2022 1. Multiple myeloma occurs at twice the rate in African Americans compared to white Americans, though the reasons involve both genetic factors and social determinants of health such as access to care 1.
Key Statistics
- The 5-year age-adjusted mortality rate per 100,000 persons is 7.3 in Black men vs. 3.7 in White men and 5 in Black women vs. 2.2 in White women 1
- The 5-year relative survival rate for multiple myeloma improved from 29% during 1975 through 1977 to 58% during 2011 through 2017 among Black patients versus 24% to 55%, respectively, among White patients 1
- African American individuals have not experienced similar survival benefits from recent treatment advancements because of poor access to care, including delays in treatment, and underutilization of new effective treatments in both real-world settings and clinical trials 1
Treatment Approaches
Treatment approaches remain similar across racial groups, including chemotherapy regimens (like bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone for multiple myeloma), stem cell transplantation, and targeted therapies, but African Americans are less likely to receive timely diagnosis and optimal treatments 1. Early symptoms like persistent fatigue, unexplained weight loss, frequent infections, easy bruising or bleeding, and bone pain should prompt immediate medical attention.
Improving Outcomes
Improving outcomes requires addressing both clinical factors and healthcare disparities through increased awareness, earlier screening, and ensuring equitable access to specialized hematology-oncology care and clinical trials 1. Ensuring equal access to care and addressing systemic healthcare inequities is crucial to improving outcomes for African Americans with multiple myeloma.
From the Research
Blood Cancer in African Americans
- There is limited research directly addressing blood cancer in African Americans in the provided studies.
- However, a study on participation of Black Americans in cancer clinical trials 2 highlights the challenges and proposed solutions to increase enrollment, which could potentially impact research on blood cancer in African Americans.
- Other studies focus on specific types of blood cancer, such as Burkitt lymphoma/leukemia 3, multiple myeloma 4, 5, and mantle cell lymphoma 6, but do not specifically address the African American population.
Relevant Studies
- A study on hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone for patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related Burkitt lymphoma/leukemia 3 may have some relevance, as it discusses the treatment of a specific type of blood cancer.
- Studies on multiple myeloma 4, 5 and mantle cell lymphoma 6 provide information on treatment options and outcomes for these diseases, but do not specifically address the African American population.
Limitations
- The provided studies do not directly address blood cancer in African Americans, limiting the availability of relevant information.
- Further research is needed to understand the specific challenges and outcomes of blood cancer in African Americans.