Hi everyone,
I’ve posted this first in the diagnosis group and then realised it should probably be here instead. I’m Emily and I’m 42 and terrified I may have Multiple Myeloma.
I visited my GP in January when I first noticed I have quite frothy urine most of the time. It doesn’t matter if I have a full bladder or not and I drink lots and so definitely not dehydration. They ran a couple of tests and my eGFR has consistently been between 78-90 for the last few years, most recently in a routine test a couple of months ago it was 82 and my creatinine has always been slightly higher than the reference limit in the 70’s. They have also done a couple of albumin/creatinine ratios which came back normal from urine samples.
Since January, I assumed my frothy urine, which covers anything from half to all of the toilet bowl most of the time, must be normal. Then a couple of weeks ago I read an article about a lady who was almost my age had been diagnosed with Myeloma but believed her first symptom to be foamy urine a couple of years prior to diagnosis. Now I’m absolutely terrified that my frothy urine is Bence Jones protein as albumin has already been ruled out.
I have been back to my GP and they have ordered a 24 hour urine test. I have completed this yesterday and am now anxiously awaiting the result. Scared is an understatement. I’m absolutely petrified.
I’m not sure what I’m looking for on this group but I daren’t say anything to my friends or family as I don’t want my worried to become theirs, especially when I do t have a diagnosis of anything.
Has anybody else had frothy or bubbly urine as one of their early signs? With all the information on Doctor Google (who is my biggest enemy) I have pretty much written myself off and I am so scared and worried of what may lie ahead if I do have Bence Jones protein that it’s making me I’ll just from thinking about it.
Thank you to anybody who takes time to read this. Like I say, I’m just wondering if this was anybody else’s initial signs before they were given a Myeloma diagnosis?
Emily xx
Hi Emily, Dr Google is our enemy, i am Vespa AKA Kevin, Male 66 with MM and undergoing treatment, first i am not a health care professional, just responding to be a caring person, and support , Frothy urine is not something i experience, and this is the first i have heard of that being a pre curser to MM, i think your GP ( with a bit of pushing from you) may be consider sending off for some Blood tests, and explain your concerns, this would pick up more indicators than possibly Urine as of course MM is blood cancer ! it took my own GP four visits before the Blood tests showed high levels of Calcium, and then fast track to Cancer checks and bone marrow biopsy and MRI scan, i dont wish this to frieghten you more, but early detection is what the recent Blood cancer .org was campaigning about, This was not the retirement plan i had for me and my wife of 43 years, Do not hesitate to ask the GP for what you think may help you and them, get the info you need to be clear on the situation, as not knowing will only cause you more anxiety, please come back to the forum and share when you know, there are some great people on here to offer good words of support and indeed Macmillan books if you need them are great source of fact and not Google fiction, Kevin
Hi Emily, Dr Google is our enemy, i am Vespa AKA Kevin, Male 66 with MM and undergoing treatment, first i am not a health care professional, just responding to be a caring person, and support , Frothy urine is not something i experience, and this is the first i have heard of that being a pre curser to MM, i think your GP ( with a bit of pushing from you) may be consider sending off for some Blood tests, and explain your concerns, this would pick up more indicators than possibly Urine as of course MM is blood cancer ! it took my own GP four visits before the Blood tests showed high levels of Calcium, and then fast track to Cancer checks and bone marrow biopsy and MRI scan, i dont wish this to frieghten you more, but early detection is what the recent Blood cancer .org was campaigning about, This was not the retirement plan i had for me and my wife of 43 years, Do not hesitate to ask the GP for what you think may help you and them, get the info you need to be clear on the situation, as not knowing will only cause you more anxiety, please come back to the forum and share when you know, there are some great people on here to offer good words of support and indeed Macmillan books if you need them are great source of fact and not Google fiction, Kevin
Hi Kevin, thank you so much for such a quick reply. Google has taken me down a really dark hole and I know I shouldn’t look but it has not stopped me.
I have had quite a lot of blood work done recently, and although I’m not sure which if any of the tests give any indication of Myeloma, everything has come back within the ‘normal’ ranges. I can’t see that I’ve had one done for calcium levels though so I might ask about it when I get my results back from theb24 hour urine test.
I feel a bit of a fraud being on here as I haven’t actually had a diagnosis for anything but I’ve read so much about Bence Jones protein in urine being a sign of MM that I’ve convinced myself of the worst.
I hope you are doing well following your diagnosis. I will definitely post an update when I get some results (good or bad). The waiting is just so stressful.
Emily x
Hi Emily,
I am Stephen, I was diagnosed by accident back in June, It is scary of that there is no doubt, but like the others responses I would stay away from google, I would recommend Myeloma uk, Macmillan and Maggies Centres. Myeloma Uk has a large selection of material for reading and like Macmillan and Maggies offer help lines.
You are not a fraud and no questions will ever be considered stupid or foolish, oh and a good rant is good for you.
Wishing You Well
Whatever cancer throws your way, we’re right there with you.
We’re here to provide physical, financial and emotional support.
© Macmillan Cancer Support 2025 © Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also operating in Northern Ireland. A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 3rd Floor, Bronze Building, The Forge, 105 Sumner Street, London, SE1 9HZ. VAT no: 668265007