1. < Blood Cancers & Disorders

Kappa light ratio and beta 2 microglobin

Posted by ldschaefer @ldschaefer, Mar 20, 2023

I have been unwell for literally years and diagnosed with fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. At some point I had abnormal results and had high kappa and protein in my blood according to my dermatologist that I was never told about. I was sent to hematology this month and have elevated kappa light chains at 30 and my ratio is at 3. Beta 2 is also elevated. M protein is unclear and lab said repeat in 3-6 months. I looked back at urine results with my primary care and there was an instance where there was protein in my blood. What would be protocol to proceed by hematology or can anyone give me an opinion about my scenario. Thank you

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Mar 20, 2023

@ldschaefer Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It sounds like your dermatologist has pointed out some important information. We are not medical professionals here, and cannot diagnose conditions.

If you approach your primary care doctor and give him/her the opportunity to explain the results you have seen, that may be a good first step. It sounds like you have been seen by a hematologist, already? Personally, I go by what my doctor says, not a lab. If you haven't been seen by a hematologist, push for it so you can get answers. We cannot expect our primary care to know all the specialty things, that why there are specialists!

Does this sound doable for you?
Ginger

REPLY
ldschaefer | @ldschaefer | Mar 20, 2023

I did see hematology but he is not a myeloma specialist I was just wondering what steps are usually taken next with these circumstances and what to expect.

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2 replies
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Mar 21, 2023
In reply to @ldschaefer "I did see hematology but he is not a myeloma specialist I was just wondering what..." + (show)
@ldschaefer

I did see hematology but he is not a myeloma specialist I was just wondering what steps are usually taken next with these circumstances and what to expect.

Jump to this post

@ldschaefer After all testing is done, and there is a definitive answer to your symptoms, then I would push for a specialist to handle the situation. Just my personal opinion.
Ginger

REPLY
Mentor
Patty, Volunteer Mentor | @pmm | Mar 21, 2023
In reply to @ldschaefer "I did see hematology but he is not a myeloma specialist I was just wondering what..." + (show)
@ldschaefer

I did see hematology but he is not a myeloma specialist I was just wondering what steps are usually taken next with these circumstances and what to expect.

Jump to this post

Greetings. It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it? The hematologist surely would refer you to a hematologist/oncologist if your bloodwork indicates M protein and MGUS or sisters Smoldering Multiple Myeloma and/or Multiple Myeloma. I would certainly push for that or ask for the rationale as to why that isn’t indicated. This is complicated stuff and my PCP admits having very minimal understanding aside from knowing that having M protein in my blood is abnormal. After working with physicians for 15 years, I find that when they are unsure of themselves, they say very little and refer. So there you are… Waiting for the referral to kick in and getting an appointment with overbooked specialists and no answers. It’s scary and it’s frustrating.
The truth is, they’re not saying much because they don’t know much, and they don’t want to say the wrong thing which is really sound judgment. Lots of us have been there. I’m so sorry.
When you finally get in to see a hematologist/oncologist, there will be more blood tests. They may want to do scans and other diagnostic tests. Or maybe they will look at the bloodwork that is been done and decide you don’t need all that. You won’t really know until you talk to them. If that pesky M protein shows up in your blood and you are diagnosed with MGUS, they’ll probably do blood test every three months or so. It’s a watch and wait kind of thing. MGUS it’s not cancer (even though you are seeing an oncologist). MGUS infrequently progresses to Smoldering Multiple Myeloma or Multiple Myeloma but they will be on guard against that.
So the bad news is is that you have this worry, but the good news is that you will get excellent care and frequent analysis of your blood and body so if anything does go wrong, they are on top of it in a hurry. I feel quite fortunate to get the medical care that I receive on a quarterly basis. I am confident in my hematologist/oncologist, my PCP and other specialists who poke and prod and ensure that I stay healthy. I really look at it as a “glass, half full“ kind of thing. I feel good and I live my life fully.
Thanks for checking in with us and please let us know how things go with you.

Patty

REPLY
2 replies
ldschaefer | @ldschaefer | Mar 21, 2023
In reply to @pmm "Greetings. It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it? The hematologist surely would refer you to..." + (show)
@pmm

Greetings. It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it? The hematologist surely would refer you to a hematologist/oncologist if your bloodwork indicates M protein and MGUS or sisters Smoldering Multiple Myeloma and/or Multiple Myeloma. I would certainly push for that or ask for the rationale as to why that isn’t indicated. This is complicated stuff and my PCP admits having very minimal understanding aside from knowing that having M protein in my blood is abnormal. After working with physicians for 15 years, I find that when they are unsure of themselves, they say very little and refer. So there you are… Waiting for the referral to kick in and getting an appointment with overbooked specialists and no answers. It’s scary and it’s frustrating.
The truth is, they’re not saying much because they don’t know much, and they don’t want to say the wrong thing which is really sound judgment. Lots of us have been there. I’m so sorry.
When you finally get in to see a hematologist/oncologist, there will be more blood tests. They may want to do scans and other diagnostic tests. Or maybe they will look at the bloodwork that is been done and decide you don’t need all that. You won’t really know until you talk to them. If that pesky M protein shows up in your blood and you are diagnosed with MGUS, they’ll probably do blood test every three months or so. It’s a watch and wait kind of thing. MGUS it’s not cancer (even though you are seeing an oncologist). MGUS infrequently progresses to Smoldering Multiple Myeloma or Multiple Myeloma but they will be on guard against that.
So the bad news is is that you have this worry, but the good news is that you will get excellent care and frequent analysis of your blood and body so if anything does go wrong, they are on top of it in a hurry. I feel quite fortunate to get the medical care that I receive on a quarterly basis. I am confident in my hematologist/oncologist, my PCP and other specialists who poke and prod and ensure that I stay healthy. I really look at it as a “glass, half full“ kind of thing. I feel good and I live my life fully.
Thanks for checking in with us and please let us know how things go with you.

Patty

Jump to this post

Thank you for your response. This is a complicated situation. Obviously I have one of the three but which one? I found out this showed up in blood work 3 years ago but I wasn’t told and it wasn’t followed up on so I’ve already clicked off three years. I’m not really confident in the local hematologist but I will find out Thursday his opinion. With all my spine pain and health problems the last few years I’m preparing for the worst but hope for the best. If the news is bad at least I know why I don’t feel good and maybe treatment will make me feel better in the future. I will post what they tell me Thursday but I would think they would order 24 hour urine and maybe X-rays.

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Mentor
Patty, Volunteer Mentor | @pmm | Mar 22, 2023

We will hope for the best for you too.

REPLY
ldschaefer | @ldschaefer | Mar 22, 2023

I thought 3 years ago I had protein in my blood and high kappa but it was in 2016….😢

REPLY
kitkidders | @kitkidders | Mar 22, 2023
In reply to @pmm "Greetings. It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it? The hematologist surely would refer you to..." + (show)
@pmm

Greetings. It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it? The hematologist surely would refer you to a hematologist/oncologist if your bloodwork indicates M protein and MGUS or sisters Smoldering Multiple Myeloma and/or Multiple Myeloma. I would certainly push for that or ask for the rationale as to why that isn’t indicated. This is complicated stuff and my PCP admits having very minimal understanding aside from knowing that having M protein in my blood is abnormal. After working with physicians for 15 years, I find that when they are unsure of themselves, they say very little and refer. So there you are… Waiting for the referral to kick in and getting an appointment with overbooked specialists and no answers. It’s scary and it’s frustrating.
The truth is, they’re not saying much because they don’t know much, and they don’t want to say the wrong thing which is really sound judgment. Lots of us have been there. I’m so sorry.
When you finally get in to see a hematologist/oncologist, there will be more blood tests. They may want to do scans and other diagnostic tests. Or maybe they will look at the bloodwork that is been done and decide you don’t need all that. You won’t really know until you talk to them. If that pesky M protein shows up in your blood and you are diagnosed with MGUS, they’ll probably do blood test every three months or so. It’s a watch and wait kind of thing. MGUS it’s not cancer (even though you are seeing an oncologist). MGUS infrequently progresses to Smoldering Multiple Myeloma or Multiple Myeloma but they will be on guard against that.
So the bad news is is that you have this worry, but the good news is that you will get excellent care and frequent analysis of your blood and body so if anything does go wrong, they are on top of it in a hurry. I feel quite fortunate to get the medical care that I receive on a quarterly basis. I am confident in my hematologist/oncologist, my PCP and other specialists who poke and prod and ensure that I stay healthy. I really look at it as a “glass, half full“ kind of thing. I feel good and I live my life fully.
Thanks for checking in with us and please let us know how things go with you.

Patty

Jump to this post

Thank you

REPLY
ldschaefer | @ldschaefer | Mar 23, 2023

Apparently the local hematologist thinks my unrelenting spine pain, high k/l ratio and high beta 2 m is “my” normal. How can this be? Am I nuts…… do I need a second opinion from a myeloma specialist? I’m so confused.

REPLY
3 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 2, 2023
In reply to @ldschaefer "Apparently the local hematologist thinks my unrelenting spine pain, high k/l ratio and high beta 2..." + (show)
@ldschaefer

Apparently the local hematologist thinks my unrelenting spine pain, high k/l ratio and high beta 2 m is “my” normal. How can this be? Am I nuts…… do I need a second opinion from a myeloma specialist? I’m so confused.

Jump to this post

@ldschaefer, often a second opinion can help or at least give you peace of mind that you have pursued all options. Should you wish to consider a second opinion at Mayo Clinic, here is how you can request an appointment http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

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