A cancer diagnosis can shake the very core of a person’s life. For those confronted with multiple myeloma, a lesser known but deeply challenging blood cancer, the fear and uncertainty can feel overwhelming. Not long ago, patients had few options and even fewer answers. But today, a new chapter is unfolding, as scientific breakthroughs and transformative treatments offer hope for more time, more milestones, and more everyday moments that once felt out of reach.
Each year in Ireland, around 380 people are newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and more than 2,000 are living with the condition. It’s more common in people over 60, in those who have a family member with the condition, or in people who have been exposed to certain chemicals or radiation. It tends to affect men slightly more often than women. March is Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month, a time not only to raise awareness, but to embrace the hope now reaching patients and families across the country.
Multiple myeloma happens when some of the plasma cells in your bone marrow stop working the way they should, often due to a change in a person’s genes (DNA). Instead of helping your body fight infections, these cells start to grow too quickly and make unusual proteins that can cause problems. As the bone marrow is responsible for producing healthy blood cells, the build-up of myeloma cells can push out the normal cells, like weeds taking over a garden. This can weaken your bones, put strain on your kidneys and reduce your body’s ability to make the blood cells you need to stay healthy. Symptoms include bone pain, fatigue, frequent infections and kidney problems.
Data from the National Cancer Registry Ireland shows there has been notable progress in patient outcomes with the five-year net survival for multiple myeloma in Ireland improving significantly, rising from 27 per cent in the mid-1990s to 66 per cent in 2021. With new therapies and greater knowledge of disease mechanisms, some multiple myeloma patients are now reaching longer periods of remission.
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The progress seen in multiple myeloma care also aligns closely with the ambitions of Ireland’s National Cancer Strategy 2017–2026, which aims to improve survival through earlier diagnosis, enhanced treatment pathways and robust investment in cancer services. The Strategy’s emphasis on high quality, evidence based care mirrors the gains observed in treatments for blood cancers such as myeloma. System level commitments such as strengthened infrastructure, expanded staffing and increased research activity have enabled therapeutic breakthroughs to reach patients and support Ireland’s goal of becoming a leader in cancer survival.
While this era of innovation has enabled more personalised clinical decisions, there is no room for complacency. Many patients experience relapse and each subsequent treatment line tends to result in shorter periods of remission. This creates an ongoing need for new therapies with novel mechanisms of action and underscores the importance of early diagnosis, ensuring patients can benefit from improved outcomes as soon as possible.
The progress being made in multiple myeloma care reflects the power of an integrated, patient-centred approach. An approach that unites clinicians, scientists, industry partners and patient advocates in pursuit of better outcomes. At Johnson & Johnson, this spirit of collaboration is central to our mission. Our work in Ireland is driven by a long-standing commitment to improving the lives of people affected by multiple myeloma and a determination to develop more effective, personalised and ultimately curative treatments.
Building on decades of scientific innovation, we have developed five first-in-class licensed molecules in the search for a cure for multiple myeloma, expanding the options available to patients at every stage of their journey that can adapt to the evolving nature of the disease and meet the diverse needs of individuals and their healthcare teams.
Ireland is a cornerstone of this effort. Our state-of-the-art biopharmaceutical facility in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, plays a crucial role in supplying therapies to more than 100 countries and in supporting early-stage clinical research. The site’s ability to manufacture both approved medicines and clinical trial materials helps ensure a secure, reliable supply of multiple myeloma treatments, benefiting Irish patients and contributing to global availability.
‘The steady rise in survival rates in Ireland is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when scientific innovation, clinical expertise and patient advocacy work together’
We actively support investigator-initiated studies led by Irish clinicians, enabling new insights and fostering progress in how multiple myeloma is understood and treated. We are deeply committed to helping educate healthcare professionals at the pace of innovation and support medical educational events and activities within this rapidly evolving disease area.
We work closely with organisations such as Multiple Myeloma Ireland, whose support for patients, families and carers is invaluable. Through initiatives such as the annual Miles for Myeloma campaign, we are proud to help raise awareness, strengthen community support and contribute to Ireland’s broader health goals.
Together these efforts reflect a shared vision: to drive meaningful improvements in care, advance the science of multiple myeloma and give every patient the possibility of a brighter future.
The steady rise in survival rates in Ireland is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when scientific innovation, clinical expertise and patient advocacy work together. At Johnson & Johnson, our ambition is unwavering: to get in front of cancer and, over time, shift from simply managing the disease to delivering curative therapies.
We know this can only be achieved through partnership. That is why we work with dedicated healthcare professionals, with advocacy organisations such as Multiple Myeloma Ireland and indeed the wider healthcare system. Through pioneering research, the development of more effective and personalised treatments, and support systems that recognise the whole patient, not just the disease, we remain committed to helping people live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.
Every step forward brings us closer to a future where multiple myeloma is no longer life limiting but a condition that can be effectively controlled and, ultimately, overcome, shaping a future where a diagnosis of multiple myeloma carries far more hope than fear.
Contact your doctor if you are concerned about multiple myeloma. For further information, visit multiplemyelomaireland.org.
References are available upon request
