Recently Diagnosed or Relapsed? Stop Looking For a Miracle Cure, and Use Evidence-Based Therapies To Enhance Your Treatment and Prolong Your Remission
Multiple Myeloma an incurable disease, but I have spent the last 25 years in remission using a blend of conventional oncology and evidence-based nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle therapies from peer-reviewed studies that your oncologist probably hasn't told you about.
Click the orange button to the right to learn more about what you can start doing today.
- You are here:
- Home »
- Blog »
- Multiple Myeloma »
- Myeloma Stage and Overall Survival
Myeloma Stage and Overall Survival
How does the newly diagnosed myeloma patient’s (NDMM) stage affect the overall survival and therapy plan? Why do some oncologists tell patients that the stage doesn’t make a difference and not stage the patient at all?
The vast majority of MM specialists practice “one size fits all” therapy when it comes to multiple myeloma. This means that oncology ignores the stage of the NDMM patient and prescribes the FDA-approved SOC therapy plan of
- Induction Therapy
- Autologous Stem Cell Transplant
- Low-dose maintenance Therapy
Regardless of the NDMM patient’s stage. In my experience, the stage 1 NDMM patient needs much less toxicity/treatment/chemo to reach complete remission.
The video below discusses the complexities of staging without mentioning the most important issue. And that issue is the difference in prognosis and possible overall survival.
How does a patient know the stage of myeloma?
Does the newly diagnosed stage 1 myeloma patient need less treatment than the newly diagnosed stage 3 myeloma patient?
Yes, in general, a newly diagnosed stage 1 multiple myeloma patient may require less aggressive treatment than a stage 3 patient, but this depends on several clinical factors.
Key Differences:
| Factor | Stage 1 Myeloma | Stage 3 Myeloma |
|---|---|---|
| Disease burden | Lower | Higher |
| Organ damage (CRAB symptoms) | Less likely/severe | More likely/severe |
| Prognosis | More favorable | Less favorable |
| Treatment intensity | May start with standard therapy; sometimes even observation (e.g., for smoldering myeloma) | Often requires aggressive and immediate treatment |
| Risk features | Usually standard-risk | Often high-risk cytogenetics present |
Factors Affecting Treatment Decisions:
-
Patient age and performance status
-
Presence of CRAB features (Calcium elevation, Renal failure, Anemia, Bone lesions)
-
Cytogenetic abnormalities (e.g., del(17p), t(4;14))
-
Response to initial therapy
-
Comorbidities
Typical Treatment Path:
-
Stage 1: Often treated with standard regimens (e.g., lenalidomide + dexamethasone or triplet regimens like VRd – bortezomib, lenalidomide, dexamethasone). In some lower-risk or smoldering cases, close observation may be an option.
-
Stage 3: More aggressive treatment is often needed due to higher tumor burden or high-risk cytogenetics, and the same triplet/quad regimens may be intensified, with earlier consideration for autologous stem cell transplant.
Conclusion:
Yes, the stage of the disease helps guide the intensity and urgency of treatment, but it is not the sole factor. Risk stratification, symptoms, and individual patient characteristics are crucial in shaping the treatment plan.
I am a long-term MM survivor. I have witnessed the remarkable strides that oncology has made in the diagnosis and treatment of MM. However, treating all NDMM patients the same, regardless of their stage at diagnosis, is, in my mind, a missed opportunity.
Email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com for more information about both conventional and evidence-based non-conventional MM therapies.
Good luck,
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Survival for myeloma
Survival depends on many factors. No one can tell you exactly how long you will live.
Below are general statistics based on large groups of people. Remember, they can’t tell you what will happen in your individual case…
Survival by stage
No UK-wide statistics are available for different stages of myeloma. Survival statistics are available for the 3 stages of myeloma in England. These figures are for people diagnosed with myeloma in England between 2016 and 2020.
Stage 1
Almost 80 out of 100 people (almost 80%) will survive their myeloma for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
Stage 2
Around 60 out of 100 people (around 60%) will survive their myeloma for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
Stage 3
40 out of 100 people (40%) will survive their myeloma for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
Survival statistics for myeloma
The following statistics are for people diagnosed with all stages of myeloma.
Generally for people with myeloma in England:
- around 85 out of every 100 (around 85%) will survive their myeloma for a year or more after diagnosis
- around 55 out of every 100 (around 55%) will survive their myeloma for 5 years or more after diagnosis
- around 30 out of every 100 (around 30%) will survive their myeloma for 10 years or more after they are diagnosed
What affects survival
Your prognosis depends on the stage of your myeloma when it is diagnosed. The stage tells your doctor how the myeloma is affecting you, and how it might develop. The doctors do blood, urine and bone marrow tests to find out what stage your myeloma is.
The doctors also look for particular gene changes (mutations). These are called cytogenetic tests. They describe the results as low or high risk cytogenetics. The results affect your stage and your prognosis.
Another important factor is your age and fitness, and the type of treatment you have. Doctors call how well you are your performance status. There are some very intensive treatments available for myeloma and to have them you need to be well enough to get through them.
It is a good sign if your myeloma responds well to treatment and goes into complete remission. Remission means that there is no physical sign of your disease and no longer any abnormal immunoglobulin in your blood or urine. Remission can last for months or years, but unfortunately the myeloma is likely to come back eventually and will then need further treatment.
Myeloma can be variable in how it behaves. In some people, it develops very slowly and so the outlook will be better. It is best to discuss this with your own specialist. It may be a while before your doctors can say how your myeloma is likely to behave.
myeloma stage and overall survival myeloma stage and overall survival