Tom Brokaw’s Multiple Myeloma: His Health, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Medically reviewed by Alfredo Chua, M.D.

Written by Torrey Kim

Updated on October 5, 2026

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Key Takeaways

Veteran news anchor Tom Brokaw has been living with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, for over 10 years since his diagnosis in 2013.
Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer where the bone marrow produces too many plasma cells, which can crowd out healthy cells and affect other parts of the body over time. Tom Brokaw has worked closely with his care team over the years, going through treatments including chemotherapy, maintenance therapy, and pain management options.
If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms that could be related to multiple myeloma, reaching out to a healthcare provider is a great first step, and getting involved in your own care by asking questions and staying informed can make a meaningful difference in your health journey.

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Tom Brokaw was a nationally recognized journalist for decades, achieving the top job as the NBC Nightly News anchor before retiring in 2021. But in addition to his role as a newscaster, Brokaw is also part of the multiple myeloma (MM) community. Though he has an incurable blood cancer, Brokaw has been living with myeloma for over 10 years.

Read on to discover how Tom Brokaw navigates his multiple myeloma treatments to manage the disease.

🗳️ Do you appreciate the improved awareness that comes when a celebrity shares about their myeloma diagnosis?

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What Is Myeloma?

Myeloma is a blood cancer without a cure. In myeloma, the bone marrow makes too many of certain white blood cells, called plasma cells, in your blood. There’s not enough space for other healthy cells.

Over time, myeloma can affect other parts of your body, like your kidneys.

People with myeloma may experience a variety of symptoms, including:

Significant tiredness
Constipation
Nausea
Dizziness
Bone pain
Weakness
Confusion
Shortness of breath
Frequent infections
Urinating more or less than usual
Muscle cramps
Vomiting

Anytime you have symptoms and don’t know why, talk to a healthcare provider. They can help you get to the bottom of your symptoms and find out what’s causing them. If this means a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, they can help you navigate that, too.

How Was Tom Brokaw Diagnosed With Multiple Myeloma?

Tom Brokaw first received a multiple myeloma diagnosis in August 2013. His doctor suspected something was going on with Brokaw’s health, so he ran some blood tests.

The doctor then brought in a hematologist to share the results with Brokaw. The doctors told him, “You’ve got a malignancy. It’s called multiple myeloma.”

Brokaw worked with his care team to develop a treatment plan so he could stay as healthy as possible. “The key is doing everything in your power to manage it,” Brokaw said.

He turned 86 in 2026, marking nearly 13 years of living with multiple myeloma. He credits his treatments, but also his wife for caring for him through his diagnosis and treatment. Overall, Tom Brokaw’s health seems to be holding steady.

How Does Tom Brokaw Treat Multiple Myeloma?

Tom Brokaw’s multiple myeloma treatment course has included medications to control the disease, as well as drugs to manage symptoms. He initially had chemotherapy and achieved remission in 2014.

In 2020, he said he was on lenalidomide (Revlimid). This myeloma maintenance therapy can improve progression-free survival. It may also prolong overall survival.

Brokaw also uses medical marijuana to control myeloma back pain. Living with back pain can impact your quality of life, so it’s important to work with your doctor to find ways to manage it.

Brokaw often talks to other people with myeloma to trade stories about how their treatment plans are working. “When I see people with multiple myeloma, they stop me, and I ask them what they’re on,” he said. “It’s sort of like a club.”

How Is Tom Brokaw Involved in His Own Care?

Brokaw encourages other people with cancer to take control of their care. He acknowledges that he has privileges that not everyone has. But he also notes that everyone with myeloma has the ability to manage their own treatment plans.

“You have to take an active role in it,” he said. “Everybody has to be constantly conscious of the fact, it’s your body, it’s your health, it’s the cancer that’s affecting you. Get involved in the fight.”

Brokaw has also spoken about how cancer treatment costs can deter some people from getting quality myeloma care. He has encouraged those in leadership roles to ensure that treatment access becomes more affordable for everyone.

“We have the ability to do it,” he said. “We have the greatest resources in the world. Let’s figure out how we can make it cost-effective, how we can have a true testing program for efficiency and results, and that people will have access to those results.”

How Is Tom Brokaw an Inspiration for Others?

Following his diagnosis, Brokaw wrote a book called “A Lucky Life Interrupted: A Memoir of Hope” about his experience with myeloma. His openness may help normalize the conversation around multiple myeloma and chronic cancer care.

“Tom Brokaw’s book is very readable and shows how his diagnosis of multiple myeloma interrupted his life,” one MyMyelomaTeam member said. “He gave an inclusive view into his life and multiple myeloma. I recommend it! He was the first celebrity to bring MM into the limelight. Not many people had even heard of multiple myeloma. Awareness is very important to raise money for research.”

Another member replied, “I am inspired by fellow and celebrity MM folks. We can learn so much from each other. It’s also quite affirming that we’re not alone in this journey.”

A third member said, “I read his book, and found my husband’s MM journey to be very similar, right down to the treatments he’s had. It was very inspirational and gives me hope that we can continue on doing as well as Tom Brokaw.”

Brokaw embraces the fact that his cancer diagnosis has given him new ways to connect with others. “Cancer gave me a new reason to want to live,” he said. “And it gave me a new mission as a human being about the relationships that I would develop with other people.”

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Thanks for the hug. Today was chemo day and feeling fairly well this evening. One day at a time. I’m hoping that my body and cooler temps will let me go for a short ride tomorrow. The Ole Gal needs to… read more