Multiple Myeloma: A Cancer with Racial Disparities
Despite progress in identifying and treating multiple myeloma, racial disparities persist, and the impact of federal cuts remains uncertain.
Diane Hunter, 72, experienced vague symptoms for over a year, including pain in her spine and hips, nausea, exhaustion, thirst, and frequent urination. Her primary care physician initially ruled out diabetes and attributed her ailments to aging. However, intense back pain eventually led her to the emergency room, where a doctor suggested she might have multiple myeloma.
Multiple myeloma is a cancer that develops in bone marrow plasma cells, crowding out healthy blood cells and damaging the bones.
It is one of the most common blood cancers and is most frequently diagnosed among African Americans.
Author's summary: Multiple myeloma affects many, especially African Americans.