WM World Awareness Day Date in the current year: April 17, 2025

There are many types of cancer that affect the lymphatic system, collectively known as lymphomas. They all fall into two main categories: Hodgkin lymphoma, which is characterized by the presence of Reed–Sternberg cells, and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) belongs to the latter category. It is named after the Swedish physician Jan Gösta Waldenströmm who first described it in 1944.

WM starts in the B lymphocytes (B cells), which produce antibodies to help the body fight infections. It leads to the production of lymphoplasmacytic cells, abnormal cells that resemble both lymphocites and plasma cells. These cells produce abnormally large amounts of immunoglobulin M (IgM), which thickens the blood and causes the symptoms associated with WM.

The signs and symptoms of WM are non-specific, making it somewhat difficult to diagnose. They include weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss, enlarged lymph nodes, swollen abdomen due to an enlarged spleen and/or liver, fever and night sweats, chronic nosebleeds and gum bleeding, headaches, and blurring or loss of vision. About 10% of patients have a condition called peripheral neuropathy, which is characterized by tingling or numbness in the hands or feet. About 25% of people with WM are asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis; the disease is often discovered when a patient has a blood test for another reason.

WM is a rare disease that accounts for approximately 1–2% of all blood cancers. It is more common in men than in women, in Caucasians than in African Americans, and in older people than in younger people. Most patients are diagnosed in their 60s.

WM is a slow-progressing (indolent) cancer that can be effectively treated to ensure a good quality of life and high survival rates. However, it should be noted that it is most often diagnosed in older people who may have other medical problems. The median survival rate is 6.5 years due to the older age at diagnosis, but some patients survive more than 10 years with proper treatment.

There is no single accepted treatment for this type of lymphoma. In asymptomatic cases, “watchful waiting” (i.e. regular monitoring) may be recommended. Irutinib has been approved for the treatment of WM in many countries, often used in combination with rituximab. Chemotherapy and corticosteroids may also be used in combination.

WM World Awareness Day was created by the International Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia Foundation (IWMF) to raise awareness of the disease, connect patients and their caregivers with the resources they need, and advocate for research to find a cure for WM. You can get involved by learning more about the disease and sharing what you’ve learned with others, donating to an organization that supports WM patients or funds research, and spreading the word on social media using the hashtag #WMWorldAwarenessDay.