Technology and Science17 July, 20262 min read
Lauren Laverne Reveals Smouldering Myeloma Diagnosis After Cancer Recovery
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She announced smouldering myeloma diagnosis on Instagram. Asymptomatic and currently not requiring treatment.
Diagnosis After Cancer
BBC presenter Lauren Laverne said she has been diagnosed with smouldering myeloma, describing it as an asymptomatic blood and bone marrow disorder that in some people can develop into blood cancer. Laverne wrote that she currently feels OK and does not need treatment, adding that the risk of it turning into cancer in her case is “pretty low”.
She said the condition is “chronic” and means her immune system is compromised, requiring regular monitoring through “blood tests, MRIs, and bone marrow biopsies.” The new diagnosis comes nearly two years after she announced a cancer diagnosis in August 2024 and after she said she received the “all clear” by November of that year.
Monitoring and No Cure
Laverne told followers that she will be carefully monitored with blood tests, MRIs and bone marrow biopsies, and she said she has “recently discovered” the procedures are “even less fun than they sound.” She also said she is taking a couple of weeks holiday and “will be back to work as normal after that,” framing the disclosure as part of what she has learned after “health challenges in recent years.”
The BBC reported that smouldering myeloma has no symptoms and does not require treatment but can develop into myeloma, and it noted that patients are regularly monitored for signs of developing active myeloma or related conditions. Myeloma UK’s description in the BBC piece said smouldering myeloma is detected by the presence of abnormal cells in the bone marrow and abnormal protein in blood and/or urine.
Public Support and Stakes
Laverne said the diagnosis has “nothing to do with my previous illness or my recent surgery,” and she described it as “just one of those things” while thanking her doctor and her GP for catching problems early.
She urged others to “Advocate for yourself if you need to and ask to see a haematologist if you are in the same situation,” and she wrote that “This is the second Big Problem my GP has caught early.”
In response to her announcement, ITV’s Doctor Amir Khan wrote: “Oh Lauren sending you all the love. You are such a wonderful beautiful person. Please call me if you need.”
The Independent also said Laverne told Instagram followers there is currently “no cure yet,” while reiterating that she said her immune system is “a bit compromised” and that she will need to take good care of herself.
