1. < Blood Cancers & Disorders

Diagnosed: MGUS

Posted by sandramgus @sandramgus, Jul 29, 2024

Hello everyone, I was diagnosed with MGUS after a routine physical, and my doctor made it sound like it wasn't that serious, but my (favorite) aunt died of multiple myeloma about 20 years ago. So, while I'm glad we caught it early, I have so much to learn. I'm still grieving the death of my mother (from a year ago) and it's a bit much to get this diagnosis after watching her die (she died from ALS.) I'm hoping to find some resources and advice here. Thank you all!

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DMD81 | @dmdinapoli81 | Apr 14 1:47pm
In reply to @gingerw "@DMD81 I also did a spreadsheet, but I list the dates/place of blooddraw across the top,..." + (show)
@gingerw

@DMD81 I also did a spreadsheet, but I list the dates/place of blooddraw across the top, and results down the side. Using a landscape configuration, it makes sense to me. My labs can come from 3 different sources. Once I have the basic spreadsheet printed out, I fill in values by hand.
Ginger

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It definitely is hard for test results when you go to Quest or Labcorp. My hemonoc has Labcorp in his office so if I get bloodwork outside the office I go there.

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Patty, Volunteer Mentor | @pmm | Apr 14 12:10pm
In reply to @msh466 "I have smoldering multiple myeloma. Not sure how long I had MGUS before it progressed. Found..." + (show)
@msh466

I have smoldering multiple myeloma. Not sure how long I had MGUS before it progressed. Found totally by accident. M Protein is 2.0 and 15% plasma cells in bone marrow. Many do not progress past MGUS. This is a condition they will have the rest of their lives. Get tested often. Follow ups often and wait and see what develops if anything. No symptoms or illness with MGUS. So catching it with blood tests is usually by random. I too was taken aback seeing Hemonc doctor. Felt overwhelmed like this is it. But it’s been stable now for over a year. No progression or lesions and calcium normal. Abnormalities in M Proteins. Super high IgA. But they haven’t moved much. Blood work is due in May. Always a tense time waiting for results. A lot of this is mental. It’s a roller coaster of emotions.

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@msh466
I think anxiety leading up to our schedule blood tests is pretty universal. How do you cope with that stress?

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Patty, Volunteer Mentor | @pmm | Apr 14 12:06pm
In reply to @dmdinapoli81 "Good morning, I was diagnosed with MGUS at 36, it is important to understand that all..." + (show)
@dmdinapoli81

Good morning, I was diagnosed with MGUS at 36, it is important to understand that all the research focuses on people in their 60’s and 70’s. they say 1% chance of progression every year to MM. so you age should factor a lot of decisions you make. I’m tell everyone to get a Baseline! finding MGUS in your 30’s can change things. Also underlying factors can change you Immunoglobulins so don’t freak it they are raised. But do you reach on a Hemonoc. Find one that specializes in MM and MGUS. Also make an excel spreadsheet sheet of the key blood work numbers so you can see any progression or plateau. I have my M-spike, IGG,IGA, Kappa, K/L ratio. Etc.

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@dmdinapoli81
thanks so much for jumping in. It's true that most of the research involves older patients. Of course this disorder mostly affects older patients. I'm so sorry that you were diagnosed so early. Since MGUS is usually diagnosed incidentally when something else is wrong and we older folks are more frequent healthcare fliers, I wonder how long I've actually had MGUS. Maybe decades.
You sound very organized and you have inspired me to create some graphs (if I can remember how!)

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Patty, Volunteer Mentor | @pmm | Apr 14 11:59am
In reply to @harty "Why not show your spread sheet? Harty" + (show)
@harty

Why not show your spread sheet?
Harty

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@harty
we discourage the sharing of medical records on connect. It's a privacy issue and although some people are quite willing to self disclose, not everybody is and once things get on the Internet… They tend to show up other places.
At my cancer center there is a graph of lab results in my EMR which is useful enough for my purposes but an excel spreadsheet would be very convenient.

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Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Apr 14 11:50am
In reply to @dmdinapoli81 "It’s easy to make one on excel. The column to the left has the dates of..." + (show)
@dmdinapoli81

It’s easy to make one on excel. The column to the left has the dates of blood draw and the top row has the different test markers.

Jump to this post

@DMD81 I also did a spreadsheet, but I list the dates/place of blooddraw across the top, and results down the side. Using a landscape configuration, it makes sense to me. My labs can come from 3 different sources. Once I have the basic spreadsheet printed out, I fill in values by hand.
Ginger

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1 reply
harty | @harty | Apr 14 9:59am
In reply to @dmdinapoli81 "It’s easy to make one on excel. The column to the left has the dates of..." + (show)
@dmdinapoli81

It’s easy to make one on excel. The column to the left has the dates of blood draw and the top row has the different test markers.

Jump to this post

Why not show your spread sheet?
Harty

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2 replies
DMD81 | @dmdinapoli81 | Apr 13 2:12pm

It’s easy to make one on excel. The column to the left has the dates of blood draw and the top row has the different test markers.

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2 replies
amberl99 | @amberl99 | Apr 13 10:17am
In reply to @dmdinapoli81 "Good morning, I was diagnosed with MGUS at 36, it is important to understand that all..." + (show)
@dmdinapoli81

Good morning, I was diagnosed with MGUS at 36, it is important to understand that all the research focuses on people in their 60’s and 70’s. they say 1% chance of progression every year to MM. so you age should factor a lot of decisions you make. I’m tell everyone to get a Baseline! finding MGUS in your 30’s can change things. Also underlying factors can change you Immunoglobulins so don’t freak it they are raised. But do you reach on a Hemonoc. Find one that specializes in MM and MGUS. Also make an excel spreadsheet sheet of the key blood work numbers so you can see any progression or plateau. I have my M-spike, IGG,IGA, Kappa, K/L ratio. Etc.

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Do you have a spreadsheet template you can share? Thanks for your insight.

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DMD81 | @dmdinapoli81 | Apr 12 10:50am

Good morning, I was diagnosed with MGUS at 36, it is important to understand that all the research focuses on people in their 60’s and 70’s. they say 1% chance of progression every year to MM. so you age should factor a lot of decisions you make. I’m tell everyone to get a Baseline! finding MGUS in your 30’s can change things. Also underlying factors can change you Immunoglobulins so don’t freak it they are raised. But do you reach on a Hemonoc. Find one that specializes in MM and MGUS. Also make an excel spreadsheet sheet of the key blood work numbers so you can see any progression or plateau. I have my M-spike, IGG,IGA, Kappa, K/L ratio. Etc.

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4 replies
msh466 | @msh466 | Apr 12 10:08am
In reply to @bobweller "How do they test for plasma in your bone marrow?" + (show)
@bobweller

How do they test for plasma in your bone marrow?

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Plasma cell proliferation happens in bone marrow. 10-60 percent is indicative of SMM. Also plasma cells can be seen in a differential of venous blood work where they are not normally seen. Bone marrows have to be performed and flow cytometry needs to be done to evaluate cellular components in bone marrow.

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