BBC broadcaster Lauren Laverne announced on Tuesday that she has been diagnosed with smouldering myeloma, a condition that can develop into a type of blood cancer. Laverne revealed her diagnosis in a personal statement, emphasizing the chronic nature of the condition and the need for ongoing medical monitoring.
"It is a chronic condition - no cure yet - and it does mean my immune system is a bit compromised, compromised, so I will need to take good care of myself and I will be carefully monitored with blood tests, MRIs and bone marrow biopsies," Laverne stated. She noted that this diagnosis comes less than two years after a previous one, and she shared her condition publicly to help others facing similar health challenges.
Laverne expressed gratitude for her general practitioner, whom she credited with detecting her current condition early. "This is the second Big Problem my GP has caught early and it is frankly impossible to adequately express my gratitude," she wrote. She recalled being initially dismissive of her persistently low iron levels but credited her doctor's insistence on further investigation.
She urged the public to be proactive about their health, advising, "My message to others would be: be like him, not me! Advocate for yourself if you need to and ask to see a haematologist if you are in the same situation."
Smouldering myeloma is characterized by the presence of abnormal cells in the bone marrow and abnormal protein in the blood and/or urine, according to Myeloma UK. Patients with this condition are regularly monitored for any progression to active myeloma or related disorders. While smouldering myeloma often develops into active myeloma over time, the timeline varies.
Laverne stated that she is taking a two-week break for a holiday and plans to return to work afterward. She concluded her statement with well wishes, "For now lots of love, especially to anyone dealing with similar issues."