Public figure
Tom Brokaw's Multiple Myeloma Diagnosis and What This Blood Cancer Is
News anchor Tom Brokaw shared his multiple myeloma diagnosis to raise awareness. Here's what this blood cancer really is.
Please note: this page is educational only — it is not medical advice, and it does not speculate about anyone’s health beyond reliable public reporting. For questions about your own health, talk with your healthcare team.
On screen
Longtime NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2013 and shared the news publicly in 2014. In statements reported widely at the time, he expressed optimism about the future and gratitude for the life he had lived. He later wrote a memoir about his experience with the disease. By speaking openly, Brokaw helped bring attention to a cancer that many people had never heard of.
The reality
According to the National Cancer Institute, multiple myeloma is a type of plasma cell neoplasm. Plasma cell neoplasms occur when abnormal plasma cells form cancerous tumors in bone or soft tissue. When there is only one tumor, the disease is called a plasmacytoma; when there are multiple tumors, it is called multiple myeloma. Plasma cells are a kind of white blood cell, which is why myeloma is often described as a blood cancer.
Brokaw's decision to name his diagnosis publicly gave a widely recognized name a place in everyday conversation, helping more people understand what multiple myeloma is.
What the story gets right — and what to remember
Brokaw shared his outlook and his gratitude, but he did not turn his private medical details into a public roadmap — and that is worth respecting. Multiple myeloma affects people differently, and treatment and outcomes vary from person to person. A public figure's optimism is encouraging, but it is not a prediction for anyone else. Stories like his are an invitation to learn, not a source of medical advice.
Awareness, screening & prevention
The NCI states that it does not have evidence-based information about screening for or preventing plasma cell neoplasms, including multiple myeloma. In other words, there is no routine screening test recommended for the general public. Because of this, it is especially valuable to mention any persistent or unexplained symptoms to a healthcare team, who can decide whether further evaluation is needed. For general guidance, the NCI offers overviews of cancer prevention and cancer screening.
Turning a story into something useful
Tom Brokaw used his platform to make a lesser-known cancer more familiar, and that awareness has real value. Learning what multiple myeloma is, sharing that knowledge, and feeling comfortable raising symptoms with a healthcare team are all worthwhile steps. Free cancer education helps spread accurate information, and supporting it keeps clear answers available to anyone who needs them.
Questions to ask a healthcare team
- What is multiple myeloma, and how is it usually found?
- Since there is no routine screening, what symptoms should prompt a check-up?
- What kinds of treatment options exist for multiple myeloma?
- Where can I find reliable, plain-language information about this blood cancer?