1. < Blood Cancers & Disorders

M-spike dropped from .13 to .08.

Posted by jdm02 @jdm02, May 4 2:19pm

I’m seeing this as a good sign after being officially dx. w/MGUS 10/24. All my other blood work was good except my beta % was slightly high.
Originally my gammas were slightly low, now they’re normal.
Am I understanding these readings as positive? My hydration could use some help. Working on that and adding bone protein. I have severe Osteoporosis which was the beginning of finding the MGUS. I’m 68 and still work as a RN 2/days/wk.
I was extremely nervous of the MGUS. dx.
I was also recommended to have a full body X-rays. Isn’t this a bit too much radiation? Thank you so much.

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kayabbott | @kayabbott | May 5 8:26am

The full body DEXA scan is low energy and gives a baseline of bone density and if there are lesions (generally not present in MGUS or SMM). I had early osteoporosis that was reversed to osteopenia after 3 Reclast infusions over 4.5 years; now I lift weights and other resistance training and get enough calcium (my B12 numbers are good). I am 71 and was diagnosed with MGUS 9 years ago. It has slowly ramped up over the years but numbers go up and down some. MGUS is a waiting game; it is important to take care of yourself, healthy diet, enough sleep, avoid stress (not always easy for RNs), and have things to look forward to every day. I take a gram of bioavailable curcumin supplements (from turmeric); no telling if it helps to decrease MGUS risk, but it is anti inflammatory and doesn't have side effects in me. For most people, MGUS never turns into C, but having the possibility is hard.

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1 reply
edl75 | @edl75 | May 5 11:18am

I had similar situation. My M protein went from .7 then 3 mths later was .8 and 3 mths after that was .6. My oncologist advised it can vary a bit from one test to another but it doesnt go away or mean much when drops a bit. They are looking for significant increases especially in a short period. I get tested every 3 mths for now

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jdm02 | @jdm02 | May 5 12:34pm
In reply to @kayabbott "The full body DEXA scan is low energy and gives a baseline of bone density and..." + (show)
@kayabbott

The full body DEXA scan is low energy and gives a baseline of bone density and if there are lesions (generally not present in MGUS or SMM). I had early osteoporosis that was reversed to osteopenia after 3 Reclast infusions over 4.5 years; now I lift weights and other resistance training and get enough calcium (my B12 numbers are good). I am 71 and was diagnosed with MGUS 9 years ago. It has slowly ramped up over the years but numbers go up and down some. MGUS is a waiting game; it is important to take care of yourself, healthy diet, enough sleep, avoid stress (not always easy for RNs), and have things to look forward to every day. I take a gram of bioavailable curcumin supplements (from turmeric); no telling if it helps to decrease MGUS risk, but it is anti inflammatory and doesn't have side effects in me. For most people, MGUS never turns into C, but having the possibility is hard.

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Full body DEXA is paid by Medicare and Supplemental? I know full body MRI is not. I would consider this over full body X-ray. Thanks.
Working towards the bone density drugs. So many women have had very serious SE.
MGUS I tell people is like being a no kaboom bomb, maybe slightly goes kaboom or completely kaboom.
Waiting game for sure. I intend to wait confidently and with much prayer.
Thanks to everyone here on this thread. My heart is with y’all.

REPLY
1 reply
doreen78 | @doreen78 | May 6 8:58am
In reply to @jdm02 "Full body DEXA is paid by Medicare and Supplemental? I know full body MRI is not...." + (show)
@jdm02

Full body DEXA is paid by Medicare and Supplemental? I know full body MRI is not. I would consider this over full body X-ray. Thanks.
Working towards the bone density drugs. So many women have had very serious SE.
MGUS I tell people is like being a no kaboom bomb, maybe slightly goes kaboom or completely kaboom.
Waiting game for sure. I intend to wait confidently and with much prayer.
Thanks to everyone here on this thread. My heart is with y’all.

Jump to this post

I've read and have been told that only about 1% of people diagnosed with MGUS will actually get full blown Multiple Myeloma, which I've been seeing my oncologist for 16 months. However, in February 2025 I was diagnosed with Mycosis Fungoides and then told last month that I was in remission. I'm going nuts because I've always had "weird" labs since I was a kid and many autoimmune disorders so sometimes I think they are all causing havoc with labs. I get labs again in 2 days and see my oncologist a week later so I hope I get more answers. I hate this hurry up and wait--you may have ???? -- then you have something else ??? -- then maybe you don't. I am the type of person who just wants answers and then I deal with it, but I feel that all the things I've been doing have either caused a "miracle" like my PCP said or we still don't have an answer so I decided to just keep doing what I've been doing and what my doc says and try not to be anxious about the unknown. When I think how far science has gone from when I was a kid and my friend got bruises and was dead 2 weeks later from Leukemia and now many people survive all types of cancer, I feel hopeful.

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1 reply
amberl99 | @amberl99 | May 6 11:20am
In reply to @doreen78 "I've read and have been told that only about 1% of people diagnosed with MGUS will..." + (show)
@doreen78

I've read and have been told that only about 1% of people diagnosed with MGUS will actually get full blown Multiple Myeloma, which I've been seeing my oncologist for 16 months. However, in February 2025 I was diagnosed with Mycosis Fungoides and then told last month that I was in remission. I'm going nuts because I've always had "weird" labs since I was a kid and many autoimmune disorders so sometimes I think they are all causing havoc with labs. I get labs again in 2 days and see my oncologist a week later so I hope I get more answers. I hate this hurry up and wait--you may have ???? -- then you have something else ??? -- then maybe you don't. I am the type of person who just wants answers and then I deal with it, but I feel that all the things I've been doing have either caused a "miracle" like my PCP said or we still don't have an answer so I decided to just keep doing what I've been doing and what my doc says and try not to be anxious about the unknown. When I think how far science has gone from when I was a kid and my friend got bruises and was dead 2 weeks later from Leukemia and now many people survive all types of cancer, I feel hopeful.

Jump to this post

It’s actually 1% per year. For some types it’s 2% per year. Still low but if I’ve had this since my 40’s, which I suspect I have (we don’t know when it developed, only when discovered) I’m in a 20% range. All the more reason for regular followup.

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DMD81 | @dmdinapoli81 | May 6 11:34am

Your MGUS in terms of M-spike numbers are low(.08), my hemanoc said 1.5 is considered SMM and 3.0, and 10% in bone marrow.

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