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risk factors
I know multiple myeloma occurs almost twice as often in African-Americans than in Caucasians, but are any other racial/ethnic groups also at higher risk?
Re: risk factors
This is a good question. I found different sources said slightly different things.
Like you've probably noticed, major sources like the American Cancer Society and the Mayo Clinic only mention the disparity in multiple myeloma rates between black Americans and white Americans. I found one article, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention in 2007, that said in its introduction that Hispanic people are also at higher risk. However, I also found a pamphlet published by the California Cancer Registry (pdf) that specifically said that non-Hispanic blacks have higher risk. There's a chart in the California Cancer Registry pamphlet that shows that the incidence of multiple myeloma among Hispanic Californians is about the same as for white Californians and the average of all races. Asian/Pacific Islander Californians, meanwhile, have a slightly lower incidence rate.
I think what would help me answer this question better would be if I could read the study that the Cancer Epidemiology article cited, "SEER cancer statistics review, 1975-2002." However, I couldn't seem to find or access it. I searched using Google Scholar, and found that it has been cited more than 100 times, but I couldn't find a link to the article itself. I also couldn't find the article right away in the databases PubMed or ISI Web of Science. Can anyone else find this article?
Like you've probably noticed, major sources like the American Cancer Society and the Mayo Clinic only mention the disparity in multiple myeloma rates between black Americans and white Americans. I found one article, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention in 2007, that said in its introduction that Hispanic people are also at higher risk. However, I also found a pamphlet published by the California Cancer Registry (pdf) that specifically said that non-Hispanic blacks have higher risk. There's a chart in the California Cancer Registry pamphlet that shows that the incidence of multiple myeloma among Hispanic Californians is about the same as for white Californians and the average of all races. Asian/Pacific Islander Californians, meanwhile, have a slightly lower incidence rate.
I think what would help me answer this question better would be if I could read the study that the Cancer Epidemiology article cited, "SEER cancer statistics review, 1975-2002." However, I couldn't seem to find or access it. I searched using Google Scholar, and found that it has been cited more than 100 times, but I couldn't find a link to the article itself. I also couldn't find the article right away in the databases PubMed or ISI Web of Science. Can anyone else find this article?
Re: risk factors
Hi,
i have a SEER bookmark on my PC.
Here is the document what you are looking for.
http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2006/results_merged/sect_18_myeloma.pdf
i have a SEER bookmark on my PC.
Here is the document what you are looking for.
http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2006/results_merged/sect_18_myeloma.pdf
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Rudi - Name: Rudi
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1999 at stage 1A, spinal column surgery
- Age at diagnosis: 46
Re: risk factors
Dr. Paul Richardson from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute said:
"Pacific Islanders, and populations from around the Mediterranean and the ancient world (such as Italians, Greeks, peoples of Middle Eastern heritage, including Israel) appear to have a higher incidence of the disease.
Environmental factors seem to be the most important, including radiation and chemical exposure, with exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange also a risk factor (so that increased multiple myeloma is seen amongst Vietnam vets, for example).
Certain other occupations are at increased risk - including health care workers, firefighters, agricultural workers, woodworkers, furniture makers, papermill employees and carpenters.
Familial myeloma has been reported but appears rare."
"Pacific Islanders, and populations from around the Mediterranean and the ancient world (such as Italians, Greeks, peoples of Middle Eastern heritage, including Israel) appear to have a higher incidence of the disease.
Environmental factors seem to be the most important, including radiation and chemical exposure, with exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange also a risk factor (so that increased multiple myeloma is seen amongst Vietnam vets, for example).
Certain other occupations are at increased risk - including health care workers, firefighters, agricultural workers, woodworkers, furniture makers, papermill employees and carpenters.
Familial myeloma has been reported but appears rare."
Re: risk factors
I wonder if racial differences account for obesity?
Blacks have higher rates of obesity than whites, who have higher rates of obesity than asians. Just a thought.
Blacks have higher rates of obesity than whites, who have higher rates of obesity than asians. Just a thought.
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Stann - Name: Stann
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 9/11/09
- Age at diagnosis: 46
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