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Does multiple myeloma run in families?
Most of what I've read indicates that this disease does not run in the family. Is this still true? I'm asking because my half uncle was just diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
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Blackbird - Name: Rick Crow
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb, 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Does multiple myeloma run in families?
My husband was diagnosed in the fall. Only after his diagnosis did he learn that his uncle (father's brother) also had myeloma. He died about 10 years ago and we had understood it to be bone cancer, but after my husband's diagnosis, his uncle's widow called and talked with him and told him that it was actually myeloma.
Coincidence maybe, but maybe not.
Coincidence maybe, but maybe not.
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reece93 - Name: reece93
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Does multiple myeloma run in families?
You might want to read this article, as well as the referenced links:
HT Lynch and SD Thomé, "Familial multiple myeloma," Blood, Jul 23, 2009 (link to full text)
Excerpts:
HT Lynch and SD Thomé, "Familial multiple myeloma," Blood, Jul 23, 2009 (link to full text)
Excerpts:
In this issue of Blood, there are 2 reports on the increased risk of plasma cell disorders in the first-degree relatives of patients with multiple myeloma or MGUS ...
Landgren et al note that they are describing for the first time “… a critically and statistically significant increase in the prevalence of MGUS among first-degree relatives of patients with MGUS or multiple myeloma compared with a reference population, using identical screening and diagnostic techniques.” They note that the first-degree family members of an MGUS or multiple myeloma case show at least a 2-fold greater risk of MGUS when compared with population rates. ... Therefore, their findings provide valuable evidence of a familial aggregation of MGUS and multiple myeloma, and certainly answers the concept that shared genes and their environment are crucial for development of multiple myeloma or MGUS among relatives ...
Also in this issue, Vachon and colleagues found, perhaps for the first time, a clinically and statistically significant increase in the prevalence of MGUS by screening first-degree relatives of patients with MGUS or multiple myeloma when compared with a well-characterized reference population.9 First-degree family members of an MGUS- or MM-affected individual have at least a 2-fold greater risk of MGUS when compared with general population rates. These findings support a heritable genetic predisposition for the occurrence of MGUS.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Does multiple myeloma run in families?
Thanks, Multibilly. The article deals primarily with first-degree relatives. He is my half uncle on my mother's side (he and my mother have the same father), so there is no first-degree relationship.
I realize that this doesn't count out the fact that both of our cases may be familial. But, as far as I know, I am the first one in my family to be diagnosed with multiple myeloma (or any cancer, for that matter), so I was floored this morning when I received notification from one of my cousins as to his condition.
I don't know all of the details as of yet; however, it appears to be manifesting itself quite differently in him than it has in me.
I realize that this doesn't count out the fact that both of our cases may be familial. But, as far as I know, I am the first one in my family to be diagnosed with multiple myeloma (or any cancer, for that matter), so I was floored this morning when I received notification from one of my cousins as to his condition.
I don't know all of the details as of yet; however, it appears to be manifesting itself quite differently in him than it has in me.
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Blackbird - Name: Rick Crow
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb, 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Does multiple myeloma run in families?
Hi Rick,
About 10 years ago, my dad's brother was diagnosed with MGUS (IgM) that eventually progressed to Waldenstrom's disease.
I was diagnosed with MGUS (IgG) over three years ago, and my doctor said MGUS / multiple myeloma and Waldenstrom's are related disorders.
Diane
About 10 years ago, my dad's brother was diagnosed with MGUS (IgM) that eventually progressed to Waldenstrom's disease.
I was diagnosed with MGUS (IgG) over three years ago, and my doctor said MGUS / multiple myeloma and Waldenstrom's are related disorders.
Diane
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Dianem
Re: Does multiple myeloma run in families?
Here is information from the Canadian Cancer Society, which states that there is some risk factor of myeloma being in families. The article also mentions occupational risks, and health risks for multiple myeloma. It's not a scholarly article, just a description.
Multiple myeloma is more common in some families. The risk of developing multiple myeloma is nearly 4 times greater for a person who has a parent or sibling with multiple myeloma. Some studies have found that there is a stronger risk of multiple myeloma in families of African ancestry. However, most people with multiple myeloma have no family history of the disease."
https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/multiple-myeloma/risks/
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Does multiple myeloma run in families?
Hi there! First time responder on a post, but wanted to reply.
My grandfather and father both had multiple myeloma, so a question of heredity has been on my mind since my father passed. My dad learned of the multiple myeloma in the last month of his life (he was in the hospital over 60 days with no diagnosis ... frustrating!), but only 3 months before had perfect blood work and was cruising the Panama Canal with my mother.
I appreciate seeing that article. I have been having some issue (anemic, kidneys not great, pain for 2-3 weeks in back / spine / arms / legs / ribs) but have not pushed any testing with my GP. I may reconsider this now.
mhda
My grandfather and father both had multiple myeloma, so a question of heredity has been on my mind since my father passed. My dad learned of the multiple myeloma in the last month of his life (he was in the hospital over 60 days with no diagnosis ... frustrating!), but only 3 months before had perfect blood work and was cruising the Panama Canal with my mother.
I appreciate seeing that article. I have been having some issue (anemic, kidneys not great, pain for 2-3 weeks in back / spine / arms / legs / ribs) but have not pushed any testing with my GP. I may reconsider this now.
mhda
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mhda - Name: mhda
- Who do you know with myeloma?: father and grandfather
- Age at diagnosis: 69
Re: Does multiple myeloma run in families?
Hello, my aunt (my mother's sister) had multiple myeloma. Sadly, it took a year for her doctors to figure it out. They dismissed her back pain and fractured humerus to aging. She died a few months later (2013). I was just diagnosed with MGUS.
Re: Does multiple myeloma run in families?
When you consider how multiple myeloma is not one of the more common cancers, and the overall percentage numbers are low (1-2% of all cancers), how can finding multiple myeloma in the same family be a coincidence?
My mother has multiple myeloma and two of her first cousins have multiple myeloma.
BTW, the two cousins I'm referring to have always lived overseas, so the same environment is less of a factor.
My mother has multiple myeloma and two of her first cousins have multiple myeloma.
BTW, the two cousins I'm referring to have always lived overseas, so the same environment is less of a factor.
Last edited by lindahyemoog on Thu Feb 26, 2015 4:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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lindahyemoog - Name: Linda
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Mother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Dec 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 87
Re: Does multiple myeloma run in families?
Although I personally think that a person's genetics do influence whether or not they get myeloma, I think it's dangerous to draw conclusions about the issue from anecdotal evidence. That's why it's valuable to see some of the studies that people have posted in this thread.
Things that can seem like more than coincidence, because the chances of them happening are so low, will happen often when there are lots of opportunities for them to happen. For example, something that has a one-in-a-million chance of happening to a single person in any year will end up happening, on average, more than 300 times each year in the U.S., given that there are more than 300 million people in the country.
Probability can be tricky. There's a classic example that some of you probably have heard of. If you go to a party and there are, say, 25 people there, what is the chance that two people at the party will have the same birthday? You might think the chances are low, but there's actually more than 50-50 chance it will happen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthday_problem
Things that can seem like more than coincidence, because the chances of them happening are so low, will happen often when there are lots of opportunities for them to happen. For example, something that has a one-in-a-million chance of happening to a single person in any year will end up happening, on average, more than 300 times each year in the U.S., given that there are more than 300 million people in the country.
Probability can be tricky. There's a classic example that some of you probably have heard of. If you go to a party and there are, say, 25 people there, what is the chance that two people at the party will have the same birthday? You might think the chances are low, but there's actually more than 50-50 chance it will happen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthday_problem
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