As with most cancers, survival for myeloma is improving. Some of the increase is likely to be attributable to earlier diagnosis and better detection,[1] though improvements since the early 1990s probably reflect the effective and widespread use of high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation from the mid-1980s onwards.
One-year 
net survival for myeloma in men has increased from 37% during 1971-1972 to 78% during 2010-2011 in England and Wales – an of 41 percentage points.[2] In women, one-year survival has increased from 38% to 75% over the same time period (a difference of 37 percentage points).
Myeloma (C90), Age-Standardised One-Year Net Survival, Adults (Aged 15-99), England and Wales, 1971-2011
Five-year age-standardised net survival for myeloma in men has increased from 12% during 1971-1972 to a predicted survival of 50% during 2010-2011 in England and Wales – an absolute survival difference of 38 percentage point.[2] In women, five-year survival has increased from 11% to 44% over the same time period (a difference of 32 percentage points).
Myeloma (C90), Age-Standardised Five-Year Net Survival, Adults (Aged 15-99), England and Wales, 1971-2011
Five-year survival for 2010-2011 is predicted using an excess hazard statistical model
Ten-year survival has increased by a lesser amount than one- and five-year survival since the early 1970s. Ten-year age-standardised net survival for myeloma in men has increased from 7% during 1971-1972 to a predicted survival of 37% during 2010-2011 in England and Wales – an absolute survival difference of 29 percentage points.[2] In women, ten-year survival has increased from 6% to 28% over the same time period (a difference of 23 percentage points). Overall, a third of people diagnosed with myeloma today are predicted to survive their disease for at least ten years.
Myeloma (C90), Age-Standardised Ten-Year Net Survival, Adults (Aged 15-99), England and Wales, 1971-2011
Ten-year survival for 2005-2006 and 2010-2011 is predicted using an excess hazard statistical model
Myeloma survivors may experience long-term consequences of their disease and side effects of the treatments they receive for it, including peripheral neuropathy, blood clots and gastrointestinal problems.[3] Accordingly, as survival rates improve, supportive care will play an increasingly vital role in myeloma management.
References
- Renshaw C, Ketley N, Møller H, et al. Trends in the incidence and survival of multiple myeloma in South East England 1985-2004. BMC Cancer 2010;10:74.
- Data were provided by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on request, 2014.
- Snowden JA, Ahmedzai SH, Ashcroft J, et al. Guidelines for supportive care in multiple myeloma 2011. Brit J Haematol 2011;154(1):76-103.
About this data
Data is for: England and Wales, 1971-2011, ICD-10 C90