Multiple Myeloma Support Group

Well hello. I am Camille and I was diagnosed with SMM four years ago at the age of 34. My Dr. said he had once diagnosed an 18 year old with MM. So you are no the only LUCKY one.. LOL Do you have MM or are you in smoldering stage? Be glad to talk anytime. Take care

Hi Camille, I am Ashley. Honestly, I don't know what stage I am in, I just know the bone pain is what prompted everything else. I knew something was wrong and it took 8 months to figure it out. So I guess this started when I was 25. I am so worried but I am sure that I will be relieved come next week when I find out much more as far as the stage and what direction we will go. The paraprotein in my blood is what stood out. I Then more tests!! I have never had any type of health problems...and then boom! I hope and pray that all is well with you!

Hi Camille and Ashley,
I was diagnosed 6 weeks ago with MM. I am 46. They call this an older persons disease, and mostly affects those from 45 to 75.
As long as you are new at this, the most important thing you could do now is to avoid gettng sick. Get your flu shots (not the live mist), and avoid eating food at places where chances of food illness exist.
It seems unreal to me so far. I haven't even told anybody but by wife and doctor. So far my symptoms are so minor so I want to keep it that way. But I think a bone marrow transplant might be in my near future, so I'll have to fess up at that time.

In the past, the median age was 55 at diagnosis but with the progress in this area, all the previous criteria seems obsolete now. It used to be African American males who were primarily stricken with this but these new findings recently have disproven that. My husband was 40 when he was diagnosed. He is now 41 so I say all the previous info is out the window for me....hope this helps.

Hi, my name is Genelle and I was diagnosed last year when I was
46. The docs have all said that I am young but it seems that there are people of all ages on here. Best of luck to you.

Hey all-
I myself do not have MM, but I remember them telling my mom that MM usually hits males over the age of 45 and I believe they also told her that it is more common in african american males. Does any of this sound correct to all of you?

If I remember the stats correctly, whites have a 1% chance of getting MM, blacks 2% and asians have a 0.5% chance. Exposure to certain toxins increases rates too.
I'm a farmer and I spend a lot of time thinking about that stuff. But since 99% of farmers don't have MM and 99% of MM sufferers are not farmers, I have to believe the increase risk is very small.