I just wanted to give folks an update on my husband's (dx 7/06 MGUS IgG kappa) curcumin use

& visit to Mayo in May.

First, Steve has been taking 8 grams of curcumin for five months. His blood results before

he started (we told his doctor Steve was doing it) were: 2/08 M-spike 1.51; IgG 1884

July 11 was Steve's first blood test after starting curcumin which show a reduced m-spike

from 1.51 to 1.35 (IgG was also down from 1884 to 1792): 7/08 M-spike 1.35; IgG 1792

Second, we both appreciated being able to meet with Dr. John Lust (who wrote several articles

on the transition of MGUS to Myeloma!) at Mayo. Dr. Lust spent a good bit of time with us and

was very patient. Much of his work focuses on the role of inflammation and the transition of

MGUS to myeloma. We told Dr. Lust about the curcumin and he was one of the first doctors

not to laugh at it. We agreed to have follow-up appointments with Dr. Lust once a year.

P.S. Dr. Lust suggested that ESR (Sed Rate) and C - reactive protein CRP are important

markers to look at. However, our local hemo/onc doctor did not request those two tests

for the July blood tests (he also did not request LDH, Beta-2-Microglobulin, or Freelite).

Hopefully, I can make sure we can get those measured in the 10/08 blood tests.

All thoughts & suggestions are greatly appreciated! History: 4/06 Numb right arm/neck hospitalized for Transerve Myelitis. Received steroids (w/o tapering dose), Developed Shingles (herpes zoster) after discharge. Dx 7/06 M-spike 1.1; IgG 1970 BM Plasma Cells: 2%8/06 M-spike 1.1; IgG 195610/06 M-Spike 1.25; IgG 19914/07 M-spike 1.17; IgG 1875 9/07 M-spike 1.65; IgG 1660 Dr thinks might be lab error (IgG should move in same direction as M-spike) so retested9/07 M-spike 1.51; IgG 179510/07 M-spike 1.27; IgG 159011/07 M-spike 1.29; IgG 17441/08 M-spike 1.33; igG 18212/08 M-spike 1.51; IgG 18843/08 Steve begins curcumin (w/fish oil) gradually up to 8 grams/day. 7/08 M-spike 1.35; IgG 1792 Right hand fingers still numb.