Kochi: The survival rate of the dreaded hematological cancer myeloma has increased significantly, say medical experts.
By 2020 it is expected that 2,301 per one lakh men and 1,236 per one lakh women under the age of 65 will suffer from myeloma, a study by GLOBOCAN, the comprehensive cancer surveillance database managed by the International Association of Cancer Registries says.
For people of more than 65 years, the number will raise to 3,052 in men and 2153 women.
"Compared to the past decade, overall survival rate of the disease has doubled due to the increased awareness and advanced treatment methods. Various chemotherapy and immunomodulatory drugs are available which help to control the disease more effectively," said Dr. N.V. Ramaswamy, senior consultant, Aster Medcity, Kochi.
In past 15 years, nine highly effective 'novel agents' have been approved for treatment of myeloma. "These are helping patients to live longer and providing them with better quality of life," said Dr. Neeraj Siddharthan, associate professor, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, AIMS, Kochi.
