As if patients with multiple myeloma didn't have enough to worry
about, an abstract presented at the recent American Society of
Hematology meeting suggests that, following diagnosis, their
cancer is not presenting the greatest threat to their lives.
Instead, Swedish researchers are reporting that more than one of
every five patients with multiple myeloma dies within a year of
being diagnosed on account of infection. Specifically, multiple
myeloma patients are at a very high risk of developing both
viral and bacterial infections during the first year following
their diagnosis and dying from the infection—a risk about 12
times higher compared to a control group. And that's just in the
first year. Overall, these patients face a sevenfold risk
compared to a control group. Said Cecilie Blimark MD, of
Gothenberg's Sahlgrenska University Hospital: "We found that
bacterial and viral infections represent a major threat to
myeloma patients. We found the risk of specific infections, such
as pneumonia and septicemia, to