BBC presenter Lauren Laverne has revealed she has been diagnosed with a rare blood and bone marrow disorder, less than two years after undergoing treatment for cancer.
The BBC Radio 6 Music host, 48, told followers on Instagram that she has smouldering myeloma, an asymptomatic condition that can, in some cases, develop into blood cancer.
According to Myeloma UK, smouldering myeloma is “an early form of the blood cancer myeloma”.
The charity explains: “In smouldering myeloma abnormal cells can be detected in the bone marrow, and abnormal protein can be detected in the blood and/or urine.”
Sharing the diagnosis with her 299,000 followers, Laverne wrote: “Hi. So – personal news.
“I’m quite a private person by nature but am sharing this as one of the many things I’ve learned after going through health challenges in recent years is that talking about this stuff helps people.
“I’ve been diagnosed with something called smouldering myeloma. (yes that is a weird name and no I’ve never heard of it either).
“It’s an asymptomatic blood and bone marrow disorder that in some people can develop into blood cancer.
“Thankfully for me the risk of this happening in my case is pretty low. At the moment I feel OK and don’t need treatment.”
Laverne explained that the condition is often detected in people who are already being closely monitored following cancer treatment.
“Most people my age who have it have no idea – it tends to be cancer survivors like me who are diagnosed early as we’re so carefully monitored,” she continued.
“It has nothing to do with my previous illness or my recent surgery, it’s just one of those things.
“It is a chronic condition – no cure yet – and it does mean my immune system is a bit 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 (which I have recently discovered are even less fun than they sound).”
The broadcaster admitted the diagnosis had been difficult to process so soon after her previous health battle, but said she hoped speaking publicly would help others in similar circumstances.
“It’s been a lot, especially coming less than two years after my last diagnosis, but I know that seeing others in the public eye with comparable situations has helped me, so I thought I’d be upfront about it,” she said.
“I’ve had some difficult experiences in the last eight years, but I have learned more from then than some people do in a lifetime and that is helping me right now. I am so grateful for that.”
Laverne went on to thank her loved ones, BBC colleagues and medical team for supporting her.
“I also want to say thank you to my family, friends and the 6 Music team for their love and support and to the doctors, consultants and nurses who have been helping me as well as my brilliant therapist, and my wonderful GP who are both always in my corner,” she wrote.
“This is the second big problem my GP has caught early and it is frankly impossible to adequately express my gratitude.
“I was pretty blasé about my persistently low iron levels but he insisted we get to the bottom of what was going on. My message to others would 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.”
She confirmed that she would take a short break before returning to work as normal.
“I’m taking a couple of weeks holiday and will be back to work as normal after that,” she said. “I feel like I have more to say about this and the other experiences I’ve had, so maybe I’ll find a place to do that soon.
“For now, lots of love, especially to anyone dealing with a similar issue.”
What is smouldering myeloma?
Smouldering myeloma is an early form of the blood cancer myeloma.
It occurs when abnormal cells are found in the bone marrow and abnormal proteins are detected in the blood or urine.
Unlike active myeloma, it usually causes no symptoms and does not generally require immediate treatment.
Patients are monitored regularly for signs that the condition is progressing. Some go on to develop active myeloma, although the timing varies and, in some cases, the condition remains stable indefinitely. More rarely, it can develop into AL amyloidosis.
How is it diagnosed?
Because smouldering myeloma typically has no symptoms, it is often discovered by chance during routine blood tests or investigations for another condition.
Diagnosis may involve blood and urine tests, scans and a bone marrow biopsy, according to Myeloma UK.
How is it treated?
Smouldering myeloma is not usually treated unless there are signs it is developing into active myeloma or another related condition.
Instead, patients undergo regular monitoring, as the potential benefits of early treatment may not outweigh the risk of side-effects.
Friends and fellow broadcasters were quick to send messages of support.
Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway wrote: “Oh Lauren – hate that this is coming at you on top of everything else – sending you love and healing and you are right you will have helped so many by speaking up xx.”
Former Loose Women panellist Andrea McLean added:”“I’m so sorry to hear this Laverne. Thank you for sharing, you will have helped so many.”
ITV’s Dr Amir Khan commented: “Oh Lauren sending you all the love. You are such a wonderful beautiful person. Please call me if you need.”
Laverne’s latest diagnosis comes less than two years after she revealed she had been treated for cancer.
In August 2024, the presenter shared a photograph from her hospital bed and said the disease had been discovered unexpectedly during a screening appointment.
She did not disclose the type of cancer but said it had been caught early and that doctors expected her to make a full recovery.
Laverne also urged her followers to attend every scan and screening appointment offered to them, warning that doing so could prove life-saving.
