Medical professionals at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) are raising concerns about a troubling trend in Antigua and Barbuda's health data: residents are being diagnosed with multiple myeloma — a cancer of the blood — at rates that significantly exceed both regional and global averages.
According to Antigua Observer, doctors at the facility are sounding the alarm over what they describe as an alarming pattern, with the twin-island nation recording disproportionately high cases of the rare but serious disease.
Multiple myeloma is a cancer that forms in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell, and can affect the immune system, kidneys, and bone structure. Its elevated prevalence in Antigua and Barbuda has prompted medical staff at SLBMC to draw attention to what they characterise as an underrecognised public health concern affecting many local families.
