How Are MGUS and Smoldering Multiple Myeloma Monitored?
SHARE

Medically Reviewed
SurvivorNet Fact Checking and Medical Review Standards:   The SurvivorNet News Team creates high quality medical information that complies with our industry leading standards for factual accuracy and sourcing from leading experts at academic medical institutions. Every news article is thoroughly fact-checked by our physician collaborators. We vet each piece of work for factual integrity, impartiality, and clearly label any professional conflicts. All SurvivorNet articles adhere to the following standards:
  1. All studies and research papers cited are from reputable academic medical institutions or peer-reviewed journals.
  2. When we use data, statistics, or quotes these references link to the original source.
  3. All content related to new treatments, drugs, procedures, and so on must clearly describe availability, side effects, treatment target (such as triple negative breast cancer)
  4. All medical information on SurvivorNet is sourced from respected medical professionals with verified medical credentials and links are provided to these sources.
  5. We strive to give the reader relevant background information and include, clearly-sourced contextual health information in all articles
6) Readers are clearly alerted to any conflicts of interest from a medical source or the authors of a cited study.
/ Updated February 11th, 2022

How Are MGUS and Smoldering Multiple Myeloma Monitored?

Medically Reviewed: Dr. Doris Hansen Written by: Joe Kerwin
×

Tracking the Pre-Cancerous Phases of Multiple Myeloma

  • People with MGUS and smoldering multiple myeloma need to be monitored so that doctors can know if and when their conditions develop into active multiple myeloma.
  • While healthy plasma cells can produce different types of antibodies to fight different kinds of infections, myeloma cells only produce one kind of antibody.
  • In order to track how many cancerous cells are in a person’s bone marrow, doctors can use the abnormal proteins that they secrete into the bloodstream as a surrogate.
As cancerous plasma cells reproduce, they secrete proteins that can be detected in the bloodstream. Monitoring people with MGUS, smoldering multiple myeloma, or multiple myeloma involves tracking these abnormal proteins.

RELATED: Making a Multiple Myeloma Treatment Plan

Read More
MGUS is the presence of a single abnormal protein without the presence of symptoms. Smoldering multiple myeloma is more severe, but it is still asymptomatic and precancerous. People with either of these conditions should be monitored for progression toward active multiple myeloma.

How Healthy Plasma Cells Work

Healthy plasma cells produce antibodies. Speaking with SurvivorNet, Dr. Matthew Ulrickson pointed out that healthy plasma cells need to be able to adjust the kinds of antibodies they produce to fight different infections.

"Since our body doesn’t know all of the various infections we’re going to be exposed to at the time we’re born," he explained, "The body has developed the ability to change the DNA and make different antibodies."

RELATED: Managing the Symptoms of Multiple Myeloma

This ability to adapt and produce different kinds of antibodies is essential to the function of healthy plasma cells.

Monitoring Multiple Myeloma Cells

Multiple myeloma cells behave differentlyall the multiple myeloma cells in a person's body produce the same type of antibody. This means that the reproduction of multiple myeloma cells can be estimated and monitored based on these antibodies.

"Over time, seeing these values change can help us know how quickly the multiple myeloma cells are growing and dividing, whether they’re staying stable and help predict that need for starting treatment," Dr. Ulrickson told SurvivorNet.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

Joe Kerwin is a writer and researcher at SurvivorNet, based in New York City. Read More

close

Patient Pathfinder

We’re here to help. Have you had any treatment for myeloma yet?

You might want to check out some top experts outlining the initial treatment for myeloma.

Here’s the link:


Multiple Myeloma Initial Treatment

Learn More

Got it. Are you looking for maintenance treatment?

You might want to check out some top experts outlining maintenance treatment for myeloma.

Here’s the link:


Multiple Myeloma Maintenance Treatment

Learn More

Ok. Has your Myeloma come back? Here are some useful resources:

Here’s the link:


Multiple Myeloma Reoccurrence Treatment

Learn More

If you’ve had at least four treatments that have not worked or stopped working you might be a candidate for a treatment called CAR T Therapy.

Here’s the link:


CAR-T Therapy for Multiple Myeloma

Learn More
Related Content
NOW
PLAYING
Olympian Cancer Survivor Scott Hamilton Decision To Forego Brain Tumor Surgery
NOW
PLAYING
A New Relationship With God, Olympic Skater Scott Hamilton, 65, On How His Third Brain Tumor Miraculous Shrunk
NOW
PLAYING
Miraculous Recovery – Teen Diagnosed With Aggressive Brain Tumor as a Boy & Given 10% Chance To Survive, Now Seemingly Cured as Tumor Vanishes From Scans
NOW
PLAYING
Shannen Doherty, 52, Reveals Moment She's 'Really Proud Of' In Her Acting Career & How She Pushed Through Adversity — Coping With Cancer Treatment Side Effects
NOW
PLAYING
For Advanced Bladder Cancer, The Drug Balversa Is Now Approved - A Promising Therapy
NOW
PLAYING
FDA Approval of a New Drug Elrexfio Offers More Option for Multiple Myeloma

Patient Pathfinder:

Clinical Trial Finder

Are you looking for other treatment options?
Right now there are ... multiple myeloma trials in the U.S. within 100 miles of

Enter your zip code and travel distance to explore trials in your area...

Continue The Journey

Explore: Initial Treatment

Related Articles

‘I Felt I Could Endure Anything’ – Olympian & Cancer Survivor Scott Hamilton, 65, Stunned Doctors With Decision To Forego Brain Tumor Surgery

Miraculous Recovery – Teen Diagnosed With Aggressive Brain Tumor as a Boy & Given 10% Chance To Survive, Now Seemingly Cured as Tumor Vanishes From Scans

Later Stage Treatment

For Advanced Bladder Cancer, The Drug Balversa Is Now FDA Approved– A Promising Therapy For People With Specific Mutations

FDA Approval of a New Drug Elrexfio Offers More Option for Multiple Myeloma

×

Introducing, the Journey Bar

Use this bar to access information about the steps in your cancer journey.