Multiple myeloma often comes back after treatment, but newer treatment options are helping many people reach longer remissions. The exact length depends on how advanced the cancer is and which treatments you’ve tried. In rare cases, people with multiple myeloma have lived for 20 years or longer after diagnosis.

In this article, we’ll cover what studies say about how long remission can last. We’ll discuss the average length of remission and what factors play a role.

What Is Remission for Multiple Myeloma?

With the right treatment plan, multiple myeloma can go into remission. Complete remission means tests don’t show any signs of cancer after treatment.

A relapse is when multiple myeloma comes back after remission. This can happen even when treatment worked well at first.

Many new treatments for multiple myeloma have been approved since 2016. Remissions are lasting longer now with more effective medications.

Remission with multiple myeloma looks different for everyone. Some people go years without any cancer returning. Others may relapse within months of remission.

Doctors and researchers keep finding new and better ways to treat multiple myeloma. Many are improving remission times and helping people live longer.

Multiple myeloma is usually not considered curable, and many people will relapse at some point. But a small number of people can have long remissions. You’ll work with your cancer care team to find the treatment plan that’s best for you.

Studies Can’t Always Identify the Length of Multiple Myeloma Remission

Doctors and researchers learn about myeloma remission through studies. Many of these studies look back at people who were treated years ago.

These studies don’t always give the full picture. For example, one study required participants to be followed for a minimum of eight years. They could include only people who had stem cell transplants during a certain time frame.

Strict rules about who can join a study can limit what researchers learn. In this study, we may have missed information on how long remission can last.

What’s the Longest Remission With Multiple Myeloma?

In rare cases, people can live decades after a multiple myeloma diagnosis.

Phil Falkowitz was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in April 1997 at age 45. In 2025, he spoke with the International Myeloma Foundation about his long-term myeloma journey.

Falkowitz had many rounds of remissions and relapses. For example, he had a stem cell transplant in 1998. His remission only lasted four months before he had an early relapse.

Falkowitz and his wife Barbara also discussed how multiple myeloma treatments have changed. In the 1990s, Falkowitz was treated with chemotherapy and bisphosphonates. These medications help stop bone breakdown from myeloma.

Now, targeted therapies are designed to attack cancer cells more directly. Phil has also started taking a bispecific antibody drug to treat multiple myeloma.

The First Multiple Myeloma Remission Is Usually the Longest

Doctors believe that the first remission from multiple myeloma is typically the longest. An older study from 2016 followed 511 people who received their first multiple myeloma treatment.

The median remission lasted 26.9 months. This means that half of the people had their first relapse before 26.9 months, and half relapsed later.

Many new treatments for multiple myeloma have been approved since 2016. Remissions are lasting longer now with more effective medications.

Early Multiple Myeloma Relapses May Be a Sign of Aggressive Disease

The time it takes to relapse after remission depends on each person’s myeloma. Some people have shorter remissions, known as early relapses.

There isn’t an exact definition for an early relapse. Doctors usually classify an early relapse as cancer returning within 12 to 24 months of starting the very first round of treatment.

People with early relapses may have more aggressive multiple myeloma. They may also have lower survival rates.

Multiple Myeloma Relapses Change Over Time

Over time, myeloma can become harder to control. For many people, remissions may get shorter with later relapses, but this pattern isn’t the same for everyone.

Doctors may estimate how fast myeloma is growing by watching how your myeloma markers (like M-protein and light chains) change over time. This helps your care team see whether the disease is moving slowly or more quickly.

With every relapse, it can become harder for your bone marrow to make healthy cells, but this isn’t the same for everyone. Over time, myeloma cells may stop responding to some treatments.

What’s the Average Length of Remission for Multiple Myeloma?

The average remission time for multiple myeloma varies from person to person. The IMF notes that some people can be in remission for three or more years. Overall, it can range from months to decades.

Doctors believe that the first remission from multiple myeloma is typically the longest.

The length of remission depends on your cancer and the treatments you’ve tried. Your myeloma specialist can help you find the best treatment options. You may have better chances of reaching remission with certain approaches.

Certain Factors Help With Longer Remissions in Multiple Myeloma

Some people may respond better to multiple myeloma treatments than others. These responses can affect how long your remission lasts.

One treatment option for multiple myeloma is a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). This treatment replaces damaged blood-forming cells with healthy ones.

A large study followed more than 1,500 people living with multiple myeloma after an HSCT. The authors found that around 15 percent of participants were long-term responders. Overall, among the long-term responders, half stayed in remission for more than 14 years after their transplant.

Certain factors played a role in who responded well to the HSCT. People who were long-term responders:

• Were younger
• Took maintenance therapy after their transplant, like lenalidomide
• Had a lower stage of multiple myeloma
• Had less disease in their bone marrow

The timing of your HSCT can also affect your remission. Transplants work best right after starting your first multiple myeloma treatment.

Remission may last longer when the transplant happens earlier in treatment. Recovery may also be easier, with fewer side effects than transplant later in treatment.

CAR T-Cell Therapy Improves Remission in Multiple Myeloma

For years, several types of medicines have been used to treat multiple myeloma. One important group is immunomodulatory drugs, such as lenalidomide and thalidomide.

Cancer researchers have found new ways to activate the immune system to fight cancer. Studies show that some treatments put people in remission longer than before.

One example is chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR T-cell therapy). This approach uses engineered immune cells called T cells to fight cancer. Ciltacabtagene autoleucel (Carvykti) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat certain people with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, including some people after as little as one prior line of treatment.

Another FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma is idecabtagene vicleucel (Abecma), which is also used for certain relapsed or refractory cases after at least two prior lines of therapy.

Researchers in one clinical trial followed 74 people whose myeloma had come back or stopped responding to treatment. They were treated with CAR T-cell therapy. All participants had relapsed after other treatments before the study. Most had tried an average of three other medications.

Overall, the authors found that 50 people (67.6 percent) had deep remission after CAR T-cell therapy. Over the course of 5 years, 12 people (16.2 percent) never relapsed.

Of the people who did relapse after CAR T-cell treatment, many responded to other medications. This means they could still manage their multiple myeloma.

Another study followed 97 people with relapsed-refractory multiple myeloma, meaning their cancer had come back or stopped responding to treatment. They were also treated with CAR T-cell therapy. After five years, 33 percent of the participants had no relapses and were still alive.

Talk to Your Myeloma Specialist About Your Treatment Plan

Remission with multiple myeloma looks different for everyone. Be sure to keep in touch with your hematologist/oncologist. Always let them know any questions or concerns you have. This is especially true if you notice any new or worsening myeloma symptoms.

A key part of managing multiple myeloma is sticking to your maintenance medication. You’ll also need regular monitoring to make sure you’re still in remission. Your cancer treatment team may recommend additional blood tests and imaging when needed.

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