Survival Rates for Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia

Survival rates are a way to measure how many people survive a certain type of cancer over time. They can’t tell you exactly what will happen with any one person, but they may help you better understand what to expect.

To estimate survival rates, doctors must look at people who were treated at least 5 years ago. Changes in treatment since then may result in a better outlook for people diagnosed with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) today.

What is a 5-year survival rate?

The 5-year survival rate refers to the percentage of people who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. Of course, people may live much longer than 5 years.

What is a relative survival rate?

Relative survival rates are a more accurate way to estimate the effect of cancer on survival. These rates compare people with the same type and stage of cancer to people in the overall population.

For example, if the 5-year relative survival rate for a specific type and stage of cancer is 90%, it means that on average, people with that cancer are about 90% as likely to live for at least 5 years after being diagnosed, compared to people who don’t have that cancer.

5-year survival rates for Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia

For Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM), the risk group is important for estimating outlook (prognosis). These scores use a person’s age and certain lab results at the time WM is diagnosed to help predict how long they will live after a diagnosis. See Diagnosis, Staging, and Outlook for WM for more on risk groups.

Survival rates are only an estimate and cannot tell what will happen in any one person’s case.

A person’s survival can also be affected by their overall health, the gene changes found in their cancer cells, and how well their WM responds to treatment. These factors are not a part of the prognostic scoring systems for WM.

Overall relative 5-year survival rate for WM

The overall relative 5-year survival of people with WM is about 78%, according to the National Cancer Institute’s SEER database, based on people diagnosed between 2001 and 2010.

5-year survival rates for WM, based on risk group

There are two prognostic scoring systems used to estimate survival rates for WM, based on risk group.

Revised ISSWM

The revised International Prognostic Scoring System for Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia (revised ISSWM) was created using data from about 500 patients with WM who were diagnosed and treated between 1999 and 2014.

It describes survival rates in 5 risk groups based on patient age, β2M level, LDH level, and serum albumin.

This system replaces the original version of the ISSWM to take into account newer therapies that have been developed.

Revised ISSWM risk group	5-year survival rate
Very low	95%
Low	86%
Intermediate	78%
High	47%
Very high	36%

 

Revised MSS-WM

The Modified Staging System for Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (MSS-WM) is also used to describe survival rates in WM. This system uses a person’s age, LDH level, and albumin level to define 4 risk groups.

It was developed using information from people diagnosed and treated with WM between 1996 and 2017.

Revised MSS-WM	5-year survival rate
Low	93%
Low-intermediate	90%
Intermediate	75%
High	57%

 

Understanding the numbers

Keep in mind that survival rates are estimates. They can’t predict what will happen in any person’s case. Improvements in treatment may result in a better outlook for people diagnosed with WM today.

Survival statistics can be confusing. Ask your cancer care team how these numbers apply to you.