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Should I be worried about my MGUS diagnosis and my M Spike rising?
I’m a 33 year old male and I was diagnosed with MGUS at the beginning of this year after recurring fevers and body aches the year before, with no one around me getting sick. I went to the doctors in the beginning of 2022 and they did a full blood panel and it came back with an abnormal protein in my blood and it came back as monoclonal gammopathy with IgG Kappa. It was very low at .16 g/dl. I went to see a blood specialist and at first they shrugged it off and said it could just be autoimmune. I decided to then get a second opinion and was told to go to Boston to see a specialist who just deals with multiple myeloma patients and studies younger patients.
Since seeing a specialist in Boston my protein spike stayed relatively the same and went to .19 and .25 g/dl. I just got tested last week and I saw it went to .68 g/dl. Now I know it’s still small and has to be above 3 or 10g/dl to be more serious. My doctor said he’s not worried and that it’s a 1% chance every year to become multiple myeloma, which is a very small odd.
Should I be worried about the small jump in my spike? All my other labs were normal, with just a slight elevated LDH.
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Hubby discussed his latest labs with his doctor today. She is not concerned with his MSpike rising from 1.0 to 1.3. It was 1.2 before that, so apparently it can go down as well as up. Said to get re-tested in 6 months.
@gingerw hello, I just came from hematologist, my M Protein was 0.5 is that high. I will have another blood test in Dec.
First: the first, second, third and last person to whom you should ask that type of question is your doctor. If that doctor is not a hematologist/oncologist, get one. While hardly dire, this is not a situation for Amateur Hour.
Second: while the presence of any monoclonal protein is an abnormal finding, an M-spike of .5 alone does not diagnose anything specific. A number of other tests are in order: FLC (free light chains), 24-hour urine, CBC, metabolic panel, perhaps a BMB (bone marrow biopsy). If you have not done so already, consult a hem/onc.
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1 Reaction@wesleym, sally4910
There are so many variables when determining the significance of our lab results that we don’t offer advice to our fellow MGUS travelers. Coexisting conditions, age and significant symptoms are important considerations. So making health predictions based upon the blood analysis if others isn’t productive. It’s comforting, however, to hear the stories of others and to learn of the resilience of humans and the tenacity of science. The gains that have been made in the treatment of Multiple Myeloma in the past 10-15 years are amazing. My hem/onc doc always reminds me that if my numbers ever do tank, it’s all treatable.
I also enjoy hearing about the stories of the members of this forum. Some have improved their health through diet, supplements and mental health exercises to reduce stress. I learn from them. It may not work in exactly the same way for me or it may not even be something I want to try, but I run it by my doctor and sometimes I try it.
I don’t rely on the information to make my own health decisions, I always talk to my doctor who I consider my partner in my own journey. Does that make sense?
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1 ReactionI am 71 and was diagnosed with IgA kappa MGUS 9 years ago; it is gradually creeping up but still at 9% risk of MM. My IgA and Kappa numbers do fluctuate. They have damped some since taking 10 gm/day of bioavailable turmeric, but that doesn't mean the curcumin helped decrease the inflammatory response. It is hard not to worry about what might be. It is also important to avoid stress, and the usual things doctors tell us. If you have not, try to modify your diet to help decrease your LDL (mine is also elevated, a gift from Dad's genes). https://www.mskcc.org/news/diets-for-mgus-smoldering-myeloma-and-multiple-myeloma-q-with-msk-cancer-and-nutrition-experts
@sally4910 Hi Sally! We want to look at a combination of factors and blood results. That said, I cannot and should not tell you if that M Protein reading is a concern for you. Please talk to your doctor, and they will give you an overall picture. And, please let me know what they say, okay?
What are you doing today to ease your anxiety?
Ginger