The list of risk factors mentioned for Multiple Myeloma in various sources includes:
Some research suggests that certain risk factors increase a person's chance of getting multiple myeloma. For example, a person's family background appears to affect the risk of developing multiple myeloma; children and brothers and sisters of patients who have this disease have a slightly increased risk. Farmers and petroleum workers exposed to certain chemicals also seem to have a higher-than-average chance of getting multiple myeloma. In addition, people exposed to large amounts of radiation (such as survivors of the atomic bomb explosions in Japan) have an increased risk for this disease. Scientists have some concern that smaller amounts of radiation (such as those radiologists and workers in nuclear plants are exposed to) also may increase the risk. At this time, however, scientists do not have clear evidence that large numbers of medical x-rays increase the risk for multiple myeloma. In fact, most people receive a fairly small number of x-rays, and scientists believe that the benefits of medical x-rays far outweigh the possible risk for multiple myeloma.
In most cases, people who develop multiple myeloma have no clear risk factors. The disease may be the result of several factors (known and/or unknown) acting together. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Multiple Myeloma: NCI)
The following medical news items are relevant to risk factors for Multiple Myeloma:
Risk factors for Multiple Myeloma are factors that do not seem to be a direct cause of the disease, but seem to be associated in some way. Having a risk factor for Multiple Myeloma makes the chances of getting a condition higher but does not always lead to Multiple Myeloma. Also, the absence of any risk factors or having a protective factor does not necessarily guard you against getting Multiple Myeloma. For general information and a list of risk factors, see the risk center.
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