Quality of life and cancer worry in a follow-up cohort of patients with asymptomatic monoclonal gammopathies.

Abstract

8049Background: Monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) and smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) are monoclonal gammopathies that precede multiple myeloma (MM). Although considered asymptomatic, patients diagnosed with these conditions are at greatly increased risk of developing MM. There is currently limited to no information on quality of life (QOL) or cancer worry/anxiety burden for patients with MGUS and SMM. Methods: We implemented a longitudinal QOL and cancer-related worry assessment in an observational cohort study of MGUS and SMM patients at MD Anderson Cancer Center (expected total enrollment of N = 200). Questionnaires included the QLQ-C30 cancer QOL tool and the MY20 myeloma-specific module, as well as questions to measure cancer worry. In this preliminary data analysis, a total of 46 patients completed the baseline questionnaires (MGUS = 17; SMM = 29). Results: Overall, individuals with MGUS have a worse QOL compared to SMM patients with MGUS patients reporting a > 12 point lower Gl...