@alicat01 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I know from experience, that getting a diagnosis you're not expecting can be very scary.

-Do not Google your condition! There is good information, but also a lot of questionable things out there! And it does nothing to relieve your fear.

- The vast majority of us do not advance to smoldering myeloma or beyond to multiple myeloma. The odds are in your favor to stay only with MGUS.

-While it might feel impossible today, you will find that living your life as you can, focusing on what is important to you, enjoying your children and their activities/growing up, will go a long way to ease your mind. Having rechecks every 6-12 months is a good sign!

-Come back here for support! There are many of us who will be here for you, and give you a shoulder to lean on.
Ginger

Please try to stay positive for your sons' sakes. Try to live a normal life. You probably will come ahead on this deal! I am 72 and was diagnosed 3 months ago with mgus. I was devastated like you. My mom died of multiple myeloma last March and my mind has been in overdrive lately. All we can do is try to live a normal life. It is what it is! We can't change what's been given to us. Prayers for you and yours. Take care!

Offering you a big hug as I have been where you are. I was diagnosed with MGUS 11/2021 after a CT Scan for another reason indicated an enlarged spleen. I was afraid when they referred me to an oncologist/hematologist as I immediately thought "cancer" and all that went with that word. Lots of bloodwork, bone marrow biopsy, 24 hour urine, and visits every 3 months, I'm now on a follow-up schedule for 6 months. I was the worst with Dr. Google looking for answers, but Dr. Google did not have my chart in hand and I have fired him. I had never heard of MGUS or understood its' precursors to more serious blood cancers, and now I am grateful for knowing, rather than not knowing. I'm no longer thinking about this 24/7 and waiting for the other shoe to drop--I know what to look for and have a medical team who will help me if I have any symptoms. At first, I was scared and my oncologist has talked me off the ledge a few times. Now, I keep a journal to track everything I feel, think, want to know, etc., and bring it to my appointments. Does the cancer thought ever go away completely? No, but I have taken more control of how I deal with it. As others have recommended, you may want to reach out to someone to talk about it to learn how to deal with these thoughts. Ask your Oncology Team to make recommendations to help find the right care. Also, I read this website daily to keep up to date and just stay informed. Congrats to you for taking the first step and being part of the community and sharing your story! Please stay in touch!

Yes- felt exactly the same- the mental part has been a real challenge to be honest. Some days are better than others.

My 83 year-old husband has MGUS that was diagnosed over two years ago, and it is the only one of his four autoimmune diseases that has never caused him any problems. He also has the follow-ups.