MGUS diet: Any tips on food to enjoy or prevent progression?

I was diagnosed with MGUS also. I get bloodwork every 6 months. I also had a bone marrow test done. It's been about 3 years, no progression of disease. I was concerned for a while, now, I don't worry at all. I eat anything I want and I love my red wine too. I'm thankful for my great Dr's at Mayo clinic, and for monitoring me. I hope you can feel some comfort and thankfulness for the early detection, and being monitored. Try not to worry.

The answer to your question is no. I saw something wrong with my standard bloodwork in 2019 that my regular doctors fluffed off as nothing. So I had to get another pcp because of transportation restrictions. So I asked him to check my blood and do a specialized blood workup. Within 48 hours the cancer clinic in my hospital wanted to see me immediately.

Being a health activist for my body, I was soon seeing an Oncologist/ Hematologist. Bad news followed, I had MGUS. My story is to long and complicated but let me give you the beginning basics. You are at the very beginning of a long journey with the diagnosis of having MGUS. It’s a shock to learn you could get cancer from it but your chances of getting it are 99 to 1 you won’t. In other words, only 1% of all people with MGUS will get cancer. Either Multiple Myeloma, Leukemia or one of the Lymphomas.

Unfortunately, I’m in that 1% as my bad guys progress into it. So stop getting upset, it’s a waiting game right now for both of us. You’ll be going thru a multitude of blood tests and a 24 urine collection to begin your MGUS classification. You could go the rest of your life without a problem. So sit down, relax and eat a bowl of your favorite snack, mine is Strawberry ice cream. I could go into more detailed information but it would only confuse you. So stop worrying, it’s up to your body to decide what’s going to happen, that could be 20 years from now, I’m working on year #4. Good luck,
Becky 1024

@pmm You took the words right out of my mouth! Absolutely right, a small percentage of people progress to smoldering myeloma, and a small percentage of those progress to multiple myeloma. Most people go for years with a simple MGUS diagnosis, even though they may feel it is super critical, thanks to Dr. Google. That is why we rely on and trust our doctors to monitor things.

@momsys You're certainly not the only one who has gone through this. With the latest technologies, finding abnormal values is easier, but it can certainly lead to anxiety and "oh, no! Now what!?" Falling down the rabbit hole of Dr. Google is easy to do. Ask me, been there, done that! UCLA has great doctors, and you're welcome to come here and ask questions. And vent. And share your experience. We're fellow patients, and getting others' viewpoints helps us all.
Ginger

I am seeing a hematologist/oncologist at UCLA. He wants me to get a blood test every six months and see him once a year. My PC doctor discovered it when he tested me for neuropathy. Thank you for your kind words and upbeat message.

I think it’s important to note that a very small percentage of patients with MGUS progress to smoldering or multiple myeloma.
I am not an expert. I try very hard to stay away from Dr. Google. Dr. Google seems to focus on worst case scenarios. I was diagnosed about a year ago and I have bloodwork done every three months to ensure that there is not progression. Indeed, there has been virtually none since my first set of bloodwork. I’m grateful for that. Most people don’t have any symptoms with this blood disorder. As a matter of fact, it is usually diagnosed because they are looking for something else. That was the case with me. They did bloodwork in conjunction with a spot I had on my spine which turned out to be osteoarthritis. That’s when they found the M protein in my blood.
Is your physician a hematologist/oncologist? I think it’s important to snag one of those docs and one who has experience with MGUS.
Welcome to the group, although I’m sad that you have to go through the anxiety.

I found out this year that i have MGUS. I am scared and was told to go back to my doctor every 6 months. This feels like… wait and see until you get multiple myeloma…like a ticking time bomb. Can anything be done to prevent the progression to MM?

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is doing research on diet and nutrition. Dr Urvi Shaw. Check it out. Also on YouTube.

I believe it to be a group of people just like you and me that suffer from a blood disease. You can keep track of your counts , symptoms and journey on your phone. There are video taped real life stories and great information.

Hi Jerrlin,
What is voices for MPNs?
Thank you

I joined Voices for MPN’s. It has a lot of good information. I’m as confused as you, but always make sure you get more than one professional opinion.