Bruce Springsteen's wife Patti Scialfa shares blood cancer diagnosis. What is multiple myeloma?
The 71-year-old singer and E Street Band member was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2018.
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Bruce Springsteen’s wife and bandmate Patti Scialfa opened up about her “new normal” after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, in 2018. Scialfa spoke candidly about her health in the new documentary, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, which premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.
“This affects my immune system, so I have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go,” Scialfa said in the film.
The 71-year-old, who has been a member of the E Street Band since the ‘80, married Springsteen in 1991. The couple share three children, 34-year-old Evan, 32-year-old Jessica and 30-year-old Samuel.
Although it’s unclear whether or not Scialfa is still being treated for cancer, she’s no longer a regular fixture on stage with her husband and band.
“Every once in a while, I come to a show or two and I can sing a few songs onstage, and that’s been a treat,” Scialfa said in the documentary. “That’s the new normal for me right now, and I’m OK with that.”
Multiple myeloma is considered a rare form of cancer. However, it’s estimated that 4,100 Canadians will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2024; approximately 1,750 will die from it.
Keep reading to learn more.
What is multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is a form of blood cancer that begins in plasma cells, a type of white blood cells that help bodies fight infection. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, multiple myeloma is the most common form of plasma cell cancer, and develops when abnormal plasma cells build up in the bone marrow. The build-up of myeloma cells can cause high levels of protein in the blood and produce proteins that can impact organs, such as the kidneys.
What are the symptoms of blood cancer?
Leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma are all forms of blood cancer, each with multiple subtypes. Symptoms may vary by type.
Symptoms of multiple myeloma can include:
Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Weakness
Frequent infections, including pneumonia
Fever
Nosebleeds or bleeding gums
High than normal levels of protein in blood or urine
Unexplained weight loss
Headaches
Blurred vision
Bruising
Swelling
Bone pain in the back, chest, ribs, hips or skull
How is multiple myeloma diagnosed?
Blood cancer, including multiple myeloma, can be diagnosed through various blood tests and bone marrow biopsies. There are several scans that can also test for multiple myeloma, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), A computed tomography (CT) and A positron emission tomography (PET) to look for weakened bones, and look for plasma cell tumours called plasmacytomas.
Who is at risk for developing blood cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society, less than 1 per cent of all multiple myeloma cases are diagnosed in people under 35. A majority of cases occur in people who are 65 years of age or older. Family history is a significant risk factor as well as sex; men are more likely to develop multiple myeloma than women. In addition, multiple myeloma is twice as common in Black people, although the reason is unknown.
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