From 15th – 21st June 2026.
Myeloma Awareness Week runs from 15th – 21st June 2026.
WHAT IS MYELOMA?
- Myeloma is an incurable blood cancer that occurs in the bone marrow and approximately 6200 people are diagnosed with myeloma in the UK each year.
- At any one time there are over 35,000 people living with myeloma in the UK.
- Despite being the third most common type of blood cancer, myeloma is especially difficult to detect as symptoms, chief among them pain, easily broken bones, fatigue and recurring infection, are often linked to general ageing or minor conditions.
- While it is incurable, myeloma is treatable in the majority of cases.
- Treatment aims to control the disease, relieve the complications and symptoms it causes, increase patients’ life expectancy and improve their quality of life. It generally leads to periods of remission, but patients inevitably relapse requiring further treatment.
10 MYELOMA RED-FLAG SYMPTOMS
- Persistent or unexplained pain for more than 4–6 weeks, particularly in the back or ribs.
- Easily broken bones or unexpected fractures.
- Experiencing either frequent urination or minimal to no urination.
- Frequent or hard-to-clear infections.
- Swollen legs or abdomen.
- Tiredness that doesn’t improve with rest (fatigue).
- Nosebleeds or unexplained bleeding or bruising.
- Unexplained shortness of breath.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Numbness in the feet, hands, or legs
ABOUT MYELOMA UK
Myeloma UK is the only organisation in the UK exclusively dedicated to myeloma and related conditions and it relies almost entirely on voluntary donations and fundraising.
Their free Myeloma Infoline is available on 0800 980 3332, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm (closed weekends and some public holidays).
To find out more about myeloma and the work of Myeloma UK, visit www.myeloma.org.uk.
Read more about tests and treatments for haematological cancers – including myeloma – at the Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.