Did anyone else get their Myeloma diagnosed via a routine health check?

Hi padjo59 

I’m Anne, one of the Community Champions here on the Online Community and, although I'm not a member of this group, I noticed that your post hadn't had any replies yet. Responding to you will 'bump' it back to the top of the discussion list again.

Wishing you all the best

• Yes I was diagnosed after feeling anaemic...yet again. I thought it was menopause.  This time it was smouldering multiple myeloma. I've not needed treatment in 4 years. Thank fully but my lambda is rising.

Hi Windy, 

Good luck with the continuing low level, and glad they got the diagnosis fairly early. I'm just surprised that so many people go through lots of treatment for things such as back problems before anyone joins the dots. As the blood tests are petty indicative - ie the normal level for paraprotein is zero - why don't they simply add that blood test when someone has suspiciously easy fractures or obvious bone pain? And earlier treatment always gives us more options. I'm currently having a totally normal life after my SCT. Actually typing this from a hotel in China! Which wouldn't be happening if they'd diagnosed me 12 months later.

P

I'm just waiting for my results but they think myloma.

I was the same. I'd had routine bloods 10 months ago as I got called for my 60 years check - all fine. Since Christmas, feeling a bit tired, constipated and at the beginning of Feb got covid.

Felt a bit anaemic so went to the doctors who did blood tests and for good measure added one for coeliac disease.  This threw up something and they analysed blood further and found serum paraproteins.  Even the doctor was surprised! Had a few aches and pains but at nearly 62 and still exercising hard, not unexpected.

Life has changed dramatically literally since Tuesday! Have had CT scan and bone biopsy and results Monday.  What a week! 

So glad to have found MacMilliam chats. Have used it quite a lot this week!

Hi Julie,

It's good that they get an early diagnosis from a lot of different points of view, but it's still a bit surprising to me that myeloma isn't there in the standard bank of bloods that they do. If they find paraproteins you almost definitely have myeloma, and it's not all that rare a cancer.

I feel very lucky when I hear other people's stories about long futile treatment for back problems when the cause it the bone lesions from myeloma.

And the earlier it's diagnosed, the more aggressive they can be with treatment.

I'm assuming that as well as Macmillan you've also been into the Myeloma UK site, which has lots of good info.

If the diagnosis is confirmed, good luck with your treatment!

I felt tired. Thought it was menopause. Went in for bloods. 4 years ago now. No treatment yet. Iron for 4 years.

Hi, yes I've been looking a Myloma UK a bit. Lots of positive stories on there. Building up my bravery to read more later!

Still in the very early days as I only found out on Tuesday that the doctor was referring me.

I too thought it was just signs of wear and tear. I did go to the doctors in the last few months with different minot aches and pains but was told it was my age!!

Thank you for replying. 

I had a routine blood test in October, I’m in surgical menopause, and experiencing symptoms although on gel HRT since total hy in 2023, bloood test Thursday, called  Monday for more bloods and urin phone call Wednesday off gp to say referal as paraprotein was high, instantly knew what it was as dad had MGUS and I’d studied this awful disease fully diagnosed 2nd December 2025, dad died 18tDecember  gone from carer to ‘ disabled cancer patient with uncurable disease’ ♀️ no symptoms other than, tiredness, and I thought achy bones from menopause 

1. Hello betty, I am sorry to read about your father passing away. He had Mgus or subseuently he developed MM? And in your case are the protein markers very high? I have lived easy asymptomatic (smouldering M) 4 years till October 25 that the lambda chains started to climb up. At the mo I am having chemo weekly and has not been too bad. I suppose it is non reversible but controllable. At least so they say and coincides with my hopes. 

Hello Betty,

Sorry to hear about your father's death and how close it was to your own diagnosis. And yes, the fact that you have seen myeloma affect someone you love is going to make it seem more hateful. The positive, if you don't mind me saying it, is that survival (and length of remission) for myeloma has increased steadily over the last 20 years. Whatever the average outcomes are now will be better by the time we finally check out. And getting a diagnosis before symptoms should always help with treatment and outcomes. 

I should also mention that I got my own diagnosis one year after my wife died from lung cancer. We had been together 23 years and did everything together to the very end. And in some ways, it does make my own current illness easier, because there is no sudden 'How could that happen?' because I knew very well how it could. It might seem a bit perverse, but it has not made it harder to handle the diagnosis of my own cancer.