What are the relapse rates for people with multiple myeloma?
Research shows that myeloma relapse is quite common. About 16% of people experience a relapse within the first year after treatment. By around 27 months after completing initial therapy, about half of patients will have experienced a relapse.
Most people respond Show Full Answer
What are the relapse rates for people with multiple myeloma?
Research shows that myeloma relapse is quite common. About 16% of people experience a relapse within the first year after treatment. By around 27 months after completing initial therapy, about half of patients will have experienced a relapse.
Most people respond well to their first-line therapy for about 2-3 years before experiencing a relapse. After the initial relapse, patients typically go through cycles of responding to new medications followed by subsequent relapses. A very early relapse may occur if:
• You don't respond well to initial therapy
• You have high-risk disease (primary refractory disease)
• You relapse during maintenance therapy
Your doctor will use blood work, imaging tests, and the CRAB criteria (Calcium levels, Renal function, Anemia, Bone disease) to diagnose and monitor for relapses. They may also use MRD (minimal residual disease) testing to check for remaining myeloma cells that could lead to relapse.
October 6, 2025
From what I have heard relapse rates are at or near 100%, but time of relapse varies quite a bit.
October 8, 2025
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