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Multiple Myeloma

Multiple Myeloma - Causes and Risk Factors

What are the risk factors for multiple myeloma?

There is no specific cause for myeloma, but some factors that can increase the risk of myeloma include:

  • Age – Myeloma is more common in people over the age of 55 and increases with age such that over the age of 80 years up to 5% of patients may have myeloma.
  • Gender – Males are slightly more likely to develop myeloma compared to females.
  • Repeated exposure to toxic elements such as agricultural chemicals or pesticides, and petrochemicals are thought to increase the risk of Myeloma.
  • Exposure to DNA damaging ionising radiation or chemotherapeutic agents
  • Obesity is a common risk factor for several forms of cancers, including Myeloma
People with a first degree relative (a parent, sibling, or child) with Myeloma are nearly two times more likely to develop it compared to the general population

Our Care Team

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Ng Heng Joo Clin Prof

Clin Prof Ng Heng Joo

Head & Senior Consultant

MBBS, MMed (Int Med), MRCP(UK), FRCPath(UK),FAMS

Clinical Interests: Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Laboratory Haematology

Chandramouli Nagarajan Clin Assoc Prof

Clin Assoc Prof Chandramouli Nagarajan

Senior Consultant

MBBS, FRCP(Edin), FRCPath(UK)

Clinical Interests: Lymphoma, Myeloma

Chen Yunxin Dr

Dr Chen Yunxin

Senior Consultant

MBBS, MRCP(UK), FRCPath(UK)

Clinical Interests: Lymphoma, Myeloma

Charles Chuah Assoc Prof

Assoc Prof Charles Chuah

Senior Consultant

MBChB, MMed(Int Med), MD(London), FRCP(Edin)

Clinical Interests: Myeloproliferative Neoplasm, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Denise Tan Yan Dr

Dr Denise Tan Yan

Senior Consultant

MBBS (Singapore), MRCP (UK), MMed (Internal Medicine), FRCPath (UK)

Clinical Interests: General Haematology, Myeloproliferative Neoplasm

Nicholas Grigoropoulos Dr

Dr Nicholas Grigoropoulos

Senior Consultant

MBBS, PhD, MRCP(UK), FRCPath(UK)

Clinical Interests: Lymphoma

Goh Yeow Tee Clin Prof

Clin Prof Goh Yeow Tee

Senior Consultant

MBBS, M Med (Int Med)

Clinical Interests: Stem Cell Transplantation, Lymphoproliferative Disease, Myeloma

Than Hein Dr

Dr Than Hein

Senior Consultant

MBBS, MRCP(UK), MMed(Int Med), FRCPath(UK), FAMS

Clinical Interests: Acute Leukemia, Myeloproliferative Neoplasm, Haematopoietic Stem Cell & Cellular Therapy

Ho Liam Pock Dr

Dr Ho Liam Pock

Senior Consultant

​MBBS, FRCPA

Clinical Interests: Haematopathology

William Hwang Prof

Prof William Hwang

Senior Consultant

​MBBS, M Med(Int Med), FRCP(London), FAMS

Clinical Interests: Haematopoietic Stem Cell & Cellular Therapy

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