What causes myeloma?
There is no known cause of multiple myeloma, but we know myeloma starts with an abnormal plasma cell that multiplies and eventually crowds out healthy cells in the bone marrow. There are certain factors that make a person more likely to have this disease, like age, sex, race, obesity, and the presence of other plasma cell disorders. Growing older increases the chances of developing multiple myeloma. Men are 50% more likely to develop multiple myeloma than women. Myeloma is twice as common in African Americans than in Caucasians, and the risk of developing multiple myeloma is lowest among Asian Americans. If a person is overweight or obese, he or she is at increased risk of developing multiple myeloma. And, some people with plasma disorders like MGUS (Monoclonal Gammopathy of Unknown Significance) or a solitary plasmacytoma can eventually develop multiple myeloma. In addition, some studies have noted that exposure to toxic chemicals—like agricultural chemicals, Agent Orange used in Viet
