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Only 10 to 20 percent of people with multiple myeloma are diagnosed before they have symptoms. The disease is caught in routine tests that reveal abnormal levels of proteins and/or calcium in the blood.
This means myeloma typically isn’t detected until after it’s progressed enough to cause symptoms, such as a broken bone. And, again, breaking a bone won’t necessarily be a red flag for doctors, who are more likely to suspect osteoporosis in someone with, say, a seemingly random hip fracture.
Screening for myeloma with a blood test could be an effective way to help more people get diagnosed early or even prevent the disease in people with MGUS — a potential game changer for Black Americans in particular. This idea is currently being evaluated by a collaboration of top cancer experts at institutions such as the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Mayo Clinic.
They’re conducting research called The Promise Study, with the goal of making multiple myeloma “preventable and curable.” The study will be based on the results of blood tests given to 50,000 people who are being actively recruited. To participate, volunteers must be 30 or older and have one of two important risk factors for multiple myeloma: being Black or having a close relative with myeloma.
People who fit this criteria can enroll in the study on their website or by calling 617-582-8544.
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