What are the key statistics about Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia?

Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) is very rare, with an incidence rate of about 6 cases per million people per year in the United States. About 1,000 to 1,500 people are diagnosed with WM each year in the United States.

It is almost twice as common in men as it is in women, and is rare among African Americans. There are few cases of WM in younger people, but the chance of developing this disease increases as people age. About 7 in 10 cases of WM are diagnosed in those over the age of 65.