When it comes to blood cancers, and specifically Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia, there are plenty of myths around. So, we want to bust a few, so you have the right information you need to live well with WM.
1. Myth: Only older people get WM
Reality: It’s more common in older adults (average age ~70), but younger adults can develop it too.
>> Meet our WM community and their different experiences
2. Myth: Blood cancer is inherited.
Reality: Most blood cancers are not genetic in the sense of being passed down from parents to children. While some genetic factors can increase the risk, lifestyle, environment, and random mutations in cells also play major roles.
>> Watch our webinar which explains the science behind WM
3. Myth: Clinical trials are only for patients who have exhausted other treatment options.
Reality: Not true! There are trials in development for many stages of cancer. Each trial has a different criteria so make sure you take a look.
>> Explore our Clinical Trial Hub
4. Myth: A healthy lifestyle completely prevents blood cancer.
Reality: Healthy living reduces risk, but blood cancers often arise from factors outside personal control, like DNA changes during cell division.
>> Watch our WM for beginners webinar
5. Myth: Chemotherapy always makes people lose their hair.
Reality: Not all chemotherapy drugs used for blood cancers cause hair loss. Side effects vary by treatment type and can affect each person differently.
>> Learn more about the different treatment options
6. Myth: People with blood cancer can’t live normal lives.
Reality: Many people living with blood cancer continue with work, study, and family life—sometimes with adjustments—especially during periods of remission.
7. Myth: WM will show up in a routine blood test.
Reality: You can’t be diagnosed with WM from blood tests alone. While they are often the first marker that there might be a problem, you’ll need a bone marrow biopsy to confirm a diagnosis of WM.
8. Myth: WM always requires chemotherapy.
Reality: Not everyone with WM needs chemotherapy when being treated. Treatment options may include targeted therapies (such as BTK inhibitors like Zanubrutinib), immunotherapy (such as Rituximab), or sometimes no active treatment at all if the disease is stable. In these cases, people may be placed on Active Monitoring instead.”
9. Myth: When you are in remission, WM is gone forever.
Reality: WM is usually a chronic condition. While treatments can bring long remissions (which means the symptoms lessen or disappear) it requires ongoing monitoring.
In WM, remission means the disease is under control and manageable, with improved symptoms and blood tests – it doesn’t mean the disease is gone. WM is a chronic condition, so although treatments can bring long periods of remission, ongoing monitoring is still needed.
>> Learn more about what WM is
10. Myth: The decision to start treatment for WM, is based only on blood results.
Reality: Blood results are important, but the decision to begin treatment should also consider any symptoms you are experiencing and how they affect your daily life.
