There is a type of blood cancer that is disproportionately impacting Black Americans. Despite making up only 13 percent of the U.S. population, Black individuals account for over 20 percent of the blood cancer, multiple myeloma cases. Yet, this disease often goes undetected or is diagnosed late in Black patients, resulting in higher mortality rates than in other racial groups.
The Impact It’s Having on Black America
Multiple myeloma disproportionately affects Black Americans in several critical ways:
- Higher Incidence: Black Americans are twice as likely to develop multiple myeloma compared to white Americans.
- Delayed Diagnosis: Many Black patients are diagnosed at later stages of the disease due to delayed access to healthcare and screening, leading to worse outcomes.
- Higher Mortality Rates: Although Black patients tend to have less aggressive disease forms, they are twice as likely to die from multiple myeloma because of delayed diagnosis and inadequate access to treatments.
Symptoms
According to the Mayo Clinic, there might be no symptoms early in multiple myeloma. When signs and symptoms happen, they can include:
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- Bone pain, especially in the spine, chest or hips.
- Nausea.
- Constipation.
- Loss of appetite.
- Mental fogginess or confusion.
- Tiredness.
- Infections.
- Weight loss.
- Weakness.
- Thirst.
- Needing to urinate often.
When You Should See a Doctor
Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have symptoms that worry you.
What Causes this Disease?
So far, it’s not exactly clear what causes myeloma.
Multiple myeloma begins with one plasma cell in the bone marrow. The bone marrow is the soft matter inside bones where blood cells are made. Something happens that turns the plasma cell into a cancerous myeloma cell. The myeloma cell begins making a lot more myeloma cells quickly.
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Healthy cells grow at a set pace and die at a set time. Cancer cells don’t follow these rules. They make a lot of extra cells. The cells continue living when healthy cells would die. In myeloma, the cancer cells build up in the bone marrow and crowd out the healthy blood cells. This leads to tiredness and not being able to fight infections.
The myeloma cells continue trying to make antibodies, as healthy plasma cells do. But the body can’t use these antibodies, called monoclonal proteins or M proteins. Instead, the M proteins build up in the body and cause problems, such as damage to the kidneys. Myeloma cells can damage bones and increase the risk of broken bones.
The stark reality of this horrible disease underscores the urgent need for tailored healthcare solutions to close the gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and access to cutting-edge therapies for Black patients.
What Is Being Done About It?
At the forefront of these efforts is Tyrone Brewer, a seasoned healthcare executive with over 30 years of experience. As the President of U.S. Hematology at Johnson and Johnson (J&J), Brewer oversees one of the company’s most dynamic and fast-growing therapeutic areas. Under his leadership, J&J is making strides to address health disparities in multiple myeloma and improve outcomes for the Black community.
“We recognize that healthcare is advancing at a rapid pace, yet significant gaps in access to quality continue to persist — often for communities who are at risk of experiencing the greatest inequities. A major focus of J&J’s enduring commitment is to close health gaps for people of color and advance racial health equity across the U.S.,” Brewer tells BlackDoctor.org.
Brewer recognizes that healthcare must not be a privilege for a few but a right for all, regardless of race or socioeconomic status. His background in managing complex product portfolios and navigating diverse healthcare landscapes has positioned him to bring innovative solutions to a challenging and underserved area of healthcare.
“Studies show that with early diagnosis, early treatment initiation and equal access to care, Black patients can achieve better outcomes. It is not only imperative – it is incumbent – that as a leader in multiple myeloma, we invest significantly in improving access to education and access to care,” Brewer adds.
Under his leadership, J&J has launched several initiatives aimed at addressing the specific needs of Black Americans facing multiple myeloma:
That’s My Word™
This program was designed to provide Black patients and their caregivers with culturally relevant resources to help them navigate the challenges of multiple myeloma. It promotes early diagnosis, patient advocacy, and a trusted relationship with healthcare providers. The goal is to empower Black patients with the knowledge and tools to take control of their health.
Community-Centered Healthcare
J&J is focused on creating community-based solutions by collaborating with organizations like the National Association of Community Health Centers. These partnerships aim to strengthen community health services, educate patients about multiple myeloma, and increase trust in the healthcare system.
“We know we cannot solve this problem alone. We take a community-centered approach, collaborating with those closest to the challenge, who understand the solutions that will close the gap between communities and the healthcare they deserve. We work with community health centers, community health workers, national associations, and grassroots organizations to empower patients, strengthen community-based services, and support individuals to make informed decisions about their health through resources and education,” Brewer shares.
Empowering Care Partners
Brewer and his team also understand the critical role that care partners play in the patient’s journey. In collaboration with patient advocates like Kimberly Alexander, who lost her husband, former NFL player Elijah Alexander, to multiple myeloma, J&J’s That’s My Word™ campaign brings real-life stories and support to those impacted by the disease. These partnerships help raise awareness, particularly within Black communities that have historically faced healthcare neglect.
“We are honored to have Kimberly Alexander join the That’s My Word™ campaign and share her incredibly personal and inspiring experiences of being a care partner for her husband, former NFL player Elijah Alexander, who sadly passed from multiple myeloma. She has since become a very influential and fierce advocate to encourage and activate others to learn more about multiple myeloma and take control of their health. We know that supporting multiple myeloma patients takes a village, and that the care partner role is not only so critical to that village, but they, too, undergo extreme stressors, and hearing from others in their shoes can provide support and connection,” Brewer notes.
Increasing Diversity in Clinical Trials
A major component of Brewer’s strategy is increasing diversity in clinical trials, particularly for Black and Latino populations, which have been historically underrepresented in medical research. Despite Black Americans representing a significant portion of multiple myeloma cases, only six percent of participants in clinical trials are Black. This lack of representation limits the understanding of how new treatments may affect this group and further widens healthcare disparities.
To address this, J&J has implemented the Research Looks Like Me initiative, which seeks to build trust with underrepresented communities and increase their participation in clinical trials. By providing culturally relevant information and partnering with community leaders, this initiative has helped over 80 percent of J&J’s clinical trials meet their diversity enrollment goals.
In the hematology space, Brewer is pushing for all trials to have a diversity plan in place. This ensures that the research reflects the populations most impacted by the disease, particularly Black Americans who are disproportionately affected by multiple myeloma.
“Our desire is to create a world where the color of your skin does not determine your access to care, quality of care or health outcomes. Clinical trials are a critical component of being able to bring treatments to bear for the populations who are affected by the disease,” Brewer says.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Health Equity in Hematology
As J&J continues to advance its hematology portfolio, Brewer remains steadfast in his mission to eliminate health disparities in multiple myeloma and ensure that the Black community receives the care they deserve. His leadership is driving the company’s focus on early diagnosis, community partnerships, and diverse clinical trials—all essential components of creating a more equitable healthcare system.
“We know that better education among communities at risk creates more action and better outcomes. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure patients are aware of all of their treatment options, including access to clinical trials; conversely, healthcare professionals need to recognize and address potential intrinsic biases and explore and communicate about clinical trial opportunities for all patient populations. Only then will we, the healthcare industry as a whole, move the needle and gain more equitable ground for patients, in which everyone receives the opportunity to pursue any and all treatments to ultimately help improve their health outcomes,” Brewer concludes.
