STANDFIRST: September is the Blood Cancer Awareness Month. Blood cancers include leukemia and lymphoma, as well as multiple myeloma (MM), a complex and often devastating form of blood cancer which affects countless lives worldwide. Middle East Health magazine takes a look at the profound burden of MM and explores the unmet needs and particularly the innovative strides being taken to bring an end to this currently incurable disease.
Throughout this month, a multitude of initiatives, events, and campaigns are organised, geared towards spreading knowledge and fostering support for MM and other blood cancers. MM is a heterogeneous blood cancer that is unique to each patient, and there is currently no cure for the disease. Symptoms include bone pain, anemia, nausea and vomiting, unexplained weight loss, confusion, and being prone to easy bleeding and bruising. MM also continues to be associated with the lowest quality of life for patients when compared to other cancer survivors. Symptoms such as severe fatigue, insomnia, pain and loss of appetite impact the quality of survivors’ remaining years [O’Donnell EK et al.] (1).
MM treatment typically aims to control existing malignancy, manage disease complications, and prevent disease progression. Despite the advancement in diagnosis and therapies, the treatment of MM, particularly in the case of relapses, remains beset with challenges. While the treatment of solid cancers has seen a leap forward with the advent and progress of precision medicine – thus allowing physicians to prescribe treatments to patients displaying specific biomarkers, MM lacks specific response-predicting biomarkers that have been used to successfully develop novel treatments for cancers such as prostate or lung [Pal M et al. Current advances in prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers for solid cancers: Detection techniques and future challenges]. (2)
Unacceptably high mortality rate
To comprehend the gravity of MM, we must first take a look at the numbers: Its mortality rate remains unacceptably high, with over 50,900 people in Europe diagnosed in 2020, and more than 32,500 patients losing their lives to the disease (3). There is still an unmet need in MM. MM accounts for approximately one to two per cent of all cancers, and approximately 10 per cent of all hematologic malignancies, with an annual incidence of seven per 100,000 people per year (4). It is slightly more prevalent among males than females (men: women = 1.4:1), and the median age at diagnosis is the seventh decade of life. Some of the well‑known risk factors include African ethnicity and high body mass index.
However, according to Al Sharif, et al.: (5) a case series of 92 MM patients from the KSA who were treated at a single center between 1975 and 1987 showed the mean age to be 56 years, with a greater prevalence noted among men (men: women = 2:1). The experts also agreed with the opinion that in their practice, roughly two‑thirds of the patients they treated were men, and the median age was approximately the fifth decade of life. With regard to comorbidities, the experts predicted that approximately 25 per cent were expected to have renal impairment, and 10 per cent to 15 per cent were expected to have cardiac diseases.
Socioeconomic burden of the disease
Resource-constrained settings, such as the Middle East, are particularly beset with the globally increasing trend in both MM incidence and mortality, as well as with the high socioeconomic burden of the disease. The UAE and Qatar have, in fact, experienced the largest growth globally in terms of MM cases and deaths over the past three decades (6)
Janssen, a stalwart partner to the MM community for two decades, has been at the forefront of the fight against this debilitating disease.
Recognizing that change can only come through collaboration, Janssen actively seeks partnerships with all relevant stakeholders and which are pivotal in overcoming challenges for MM patients.
Janssen has established the Global Multiple Myeloma Collaboration Council, which, for the first time, brings together a multidisciplinary team featuring patient advocates, clinical leaders, researchers and policy experts from 10 countries across four continents. These experts, united by a commitment to improving MM care, come together to focus efforts at a global level and build momentum to advance patient access, care and outcomes.
Breaking down barriers
Janssen’s relentless pursuit in the fight against MM is evident in its ongoing clinical trials and commitment to innovation; their mission is to make MM a disease of the past, offering patients longer, better lives free of the disease.
In the quest to redefine possible, Janssen’s collaborative spirit, and patient-focused approach offer hope to countless MM patients worldwide. As Janssen continues to push boundaries and challenge the status quo, the vision of a world where multiple myeloma is curable, and where patients can live as people instead of patients, comes closer to reality.
Importance of awareness and early check-ups
Awareness and early check-ups are crucial in the fight against MM. Timely diagnosis can make a substantial difference in a patient’s journey, potentially leading to more effective treatments and improved outcomes. In the Middle East, where the prevalence of multiple myeloma seems to have unique characteristics, raising awareness about the disease’s signs and symptoms is essential.
Encouraging individuals to seek regular check-ups, and promptly report any unusual health concerns, can contribute significantly to the early detection, and better management, of this complex blood cancer. As Janssen and other organizations continue their pioneering work to redefine the possibilities for multiple myeloma treatment, proactive efforts from both healthcare providers and other stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem play an indispensable role in the quest for a world where MM is no longer an incurable threat.
References:
1 Quality of life, psychological distress, and prognostic perceptions in patients with multiple myeloma. Cancer.2022;128(10):1996-2004].
2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34894516/
3 (https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/908-europe-fact-sheets.pdf.)
4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5283695/
5 https://www.jahjournal.org/article.asp?issn=1658-5127;year=2023;volume=14;issue=2;spage=71;epage=77;aulast=Al
6 [Zhou L, et al. Measuring the global, regional, and national burden of multiple myeloma from 1990 to 2019.BMC Cancer]. https://bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12885-021-08280-y
