Do survival rate and life expectancy of patients with multiple myeloma remain low?
Answer: In the past, survival rate and life expectancy of patients with multiple myeloma were considerably low, especially if the cancer already spread to a distant part of the body. The average life expectancy after diagnosis was only 3-5 years. Due to the advancements in diagnostic and treatment technology, survival rate and life expectancy have continued to improve significantly. Novel therapy and bone marrow transplant play a critical role to improve clinical outcomes and extend life expectancy. Recently, life expectancy of patients with multiple myeloma has increased to 5-10 years after diagnosis. Catching disease at its early stage greatly helps increasing success rate of treatment.
