I was diagnosed with MGUS in 2010 (age 55). I do not recall what the count was at that time. My protein levels were monitored regularly for a couple of years by a hematologist, then I stopped going.
Recently, I had blood work done to check on another possible issue. My abnormal protein band 1 result showed 1.2 g/dL (H) (12 g/L). I was told to go back to the hematologist and have it checked out. I've not done anything about it as all the research I can find shows 1.2 g/dL to be a fairly low level – nothing that would make me feel a trip to the hematologist would be necessary.
Am I being naive / stupid to ignore this?
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Re: M-spike of 1.2 with MGUS - can I ignore this?
Hi MrMoots -
Welcome to the forum. I agree, an M-spike of 1.2 g/dL is fairly low. Over 4 years ago I was diagnosed with MGUS from a routine screening. When I first visited the referred hematologist (another blood test), my spike was 1.5 g/dL and she requested a followup blood test 6 months later. After the second blood test, she said I was stable, the spike was lower, and felt annual monitoring was appropriate. Two years ago I started having my PCP monitor the MGUS and spike is now 0.8 g/dL. I'm using the same lab the hematologist uses for monitoring.
I prefer/trust using my PCP to monitor MGUS and feel he would refer me to hematologist if necessary. Is your PCP the doctor suggesting you see a hematologist?
Take care, Diane
Welcome to the forum. I agree, an M-spike of 1.2 g/dL is fairly low. Over 4 years ago I was diagnosed with MGUS from a routine screening. When I first visited the referred hematologist (another blood test), my spike was 1.5 g/dL and she requested a followup blood test 6 months later. After the second blood test, she said I was stable, the spike was lower, and felt annual monitoring was appropriate. Two years ago I started having my PCP monitor the MGUS and spike is now 0.8 g/dL. I'm using the same lab the hematologist uses for monitoring.
I prefer/trust using my PCP to monitor MGUS and feel he would refer me to hematologist if necessary. Is your PCP the doctor suggesting you see a hematologist?
Take care, Diane
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DianeM
Re: M-spike of 1.2 with MGUS - can I ignore this?
Thanks, Diane.
Yes, he did, because the 1.2 was a higher spike from the levels we've seen in other tests he's done. But I don't feel the spike is anything for concern, at this point, that would warrant a visit to the hematologist. I believe he made the recommendation merely as a precaution. I guess I should ask him.
Yes, he did, because the 1.2 was a higher spike from the levels we've seen in other tests he's done. But I don't feel the spike is anything for concern, at this point, that would warrant a visit to the hematologist. I believe he made the recommendation merely as a precaution. I guess I should ask him.
Re: M-spike of 1.2 with MGUS - can I ignore this?
MrMoots,
Welcome to the forum.
One's M-spike doesn't always tell the whole story. You should also be looking at what your kappa and lambda free light chain values have done since your diagnosis.
You should also be looking at your CBC and metabolic panel tests to make sure that your calcium, hemoglobin and creatinine levels continue to be looking good.
I agree with Diane that you can probably get away with working with your PCP on this and just make it part of your annual physical workup, but I wouldn't just ignore it and not get the standard monitoring tests every year or so. If and when your MGUS were to start to progress to symptomatic multiple myeloma, it could do so quite rapidly, and you don't want to be discovering it has progressed by virtue of a fractured vertebrae or something awful like that.
Welcome to the forum.
One's M-spike doesn't always tell the whole story. You should also be looking at what your kappa and lambda free light chain values have done since your diagnosis.
You should also be looking at your CBC and metabolic panel tests to make sure that your calcium, hemoglobin and creatinine levels continue to be looking good.
I agree with Diane that you can probably get away with working with your PCP on this and just make it part of your annual physical workup, but I wouldn't just ignore it and not get the standard monitoring tests every year or so. If and when your MGUS were to start to progress to symptomatic multiple myeloma, it could do so quite rapidly, and you don't want to be discovering it has progressed by virtue of a fractured vertebrae or something awful like that.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
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