It’s known that this type of cancer might be traced back to abnormalities in a person’s DNA, but it’s still uncertain if these abnormalities are present from birth (indicating that the illness might primarily be hereditary) or should they develop in some time after birth (indicating that the illness may primarily as a result of ecological factors).
Regardless of the lack of definite understanding about its cause, scientists have made some significant strides in multiple myeloma research–especially in identifying risk factors for the disorder. Here’s a look at some of the very common ones:
The risk of multiple myeloma rises as you age. In Actuality, just approximately 1% of the cases are diagnosed in individuals younger than 35. The median age for this disorder is much closer to 60 or 70, and this age range can provide credence to the idea that multiple myeloma is caused by environmental factors and not genetics.
Race
While individuals of all races have the possibility to come up with multiple myeloma, this disorder is observed more often in some races than the others. People of African American religions are nearly twice as likely to come up with multiple myeloma as the others are.
Gender
Men are somewhat more inclined to come up with multiple myeloma compared to women, but this disparity between the sexes is not as great since the disparity between races.
Family History
Your possibility of developing multiple myeloma can double or even triple when you have close relatives with the disorder also. Additionally, your hazard also increases in the event you have family members together with monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (also referred to as MGUS). This illness, while it self not dangerous, can be viewed as a precursor to a lot of myeloma, and it’s believed that there’s an immediate connection between them both.
Chemical Presence
All these may indicate that something out of genetics causes at least some cases of the disorder and are an environmental risk.