Cases of multiple myeloma, featured in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines,' doubled in decade

A scene from "When Life Gives You Tangerines" / Courtesy of Netflix

The disease Yang Gwan-sik in the Netflix series “When Life Gives You Tangerines” is diagnosed with is multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.

In Korea, the number of patients with the condition more than doubled from about 1,000 in 2010 to around 2,500 in 2020. With over 60 percent of patients aged 65 or older, experts warn that the figure is likely to continue rising as the population rapidly ages.

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that affects a type of white blood cell known as lymphocytes, which are responsible for immune function. The disease develops when plasma cells — which normally produce antibodies — proliferate abnormally.

These excessive plasma cells generate an abnormal protein known as M protein, which can thicken the blood or interfere with the production of normal white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets, causing a variety of symptoms.

One of the most common symptoms is bone pain, particularly in the lower back and ribs. This results from the activation of osteoclasts, which break down bone tissue. As bones are broken down, calcium is released into the bloodstream, potentially leading to hypercalcemia — a condition in which elevated calcium levels can cause fatigue, nausea and decreased consciousness.

Other major symptoms include reduced urination, kidney failure and anemia.

“As depicted in the drama, many patients with multiple myeloma first come to the hospital due to bone pain or fractures,” Lim Sung-won, a hematologist-oncologist at H+ Yangji Hospital, said.

The five-year survival rate for multiple myeloma stands at just 50.7 percent, meaning that one in two patients dies within five years of diagnosis. However, survival rates vary significantly depending on the stage at diagnosis. For patients diagnosed at stage 1, the five-year survival rate is around 82 percent. On average, those diagnosed at stage 1 live more than 10 years, compared to about 7 years for stage 2 and only 3 years for stage 3.

Patients under the age of 70 are typically treated through autologous stem cell transplantation. “While multiple myeloma is difficult to cure, some patients who undergo autologous stem cell transplantation experience outcomes close to a cure,” Lim said. For patients over 70, who are often ineligible for transplantation, chemotherapy is usually the primary treatment method.

Because multiple myeloma tends to relapse more frequently than other types of blood cancer, patients are advised not to become complacent even if treatment initially goes well. Due to the risk of spinal fractures and other bone injuries, patients should avoid high-impact physical activities and refrain from lifting heavy objects alone. It is also recommended to limit exposure to known risk factors such as radiation, herbicides and pesticides.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.