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Blacks live longer than Whites with multiple myeloma if they get equal treatment

Black people with multiple myeloma live longer than white patients with similar disease symptoms when both receive the same new and updated medical treatments, according to an analysis of more than 24,000 patients treated between 1999 and 2017.

However, Black myeloma patients were less likely to receive the latest treatments than White patients, even if they had the same demographics, socioeconomic status, and co-existing medical conditions. Notably, with similar symptoms, Black patients had significantly longer 5-year survival than White patients when given like treatment for multiple myeloma.

Our findings reinforce the importance of equitable access to effective treatment modalities to further improve the survival of Black patients with multiple myeloma,” Parameswaran Hari, MD (above), of the Medical College of Wisconsin and his colleagues wrote.

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