Lauren Laverne has disclosed that she is living with smouldering myeloma, a rare disorder affecting the blood and bone marrow, just 18 months after receiving the all-clear from cancer.
The 48-year-old BBC Radio 6 Music presenter shared the news with her Instagram followers on Friday, explaining that the asymptomatic condition can potentially progress to blood cancer in certain cases.
“Thankfully for me the risk of this happening in my case is pretty low,” she wrote. “At the moment I feel OK and don’t need treatment.”
The Desert Island Discs host acknowledged the unusual terminology, noting she had never encountered the name before her own diagnosis.
Lauren Laverne has disclosed that she is living with smouldering myeloma
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She described it as a chronic condition with no current cure, though her prognosis remains encouraging.
Smouldering myeloma represents an early stage of the blood cancer myeloma, characterised by abnormal cells in the bone marrow and unusual proteins detectable in blood or urine samples.
Unlike its active counterpart, the condition typically produces no symptoms and does not require immediate medical intervention.
Ms Laverne explained that her diagnosis came about precisely because cancer survivors undergo rigorous ongoing surveillance.
“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 said.
The broadcaster emphasised that this new diagnosis bears no connection to her previous cancer or any recent surgical procedures.
“It has nothing to do with my previous illness or my recent surgery, it’s just one of those things,” she added.
Ms Laverne admitted that processing this latest health setback has proved challenging, arriving less than two years after her previous cancer diagnosis in August 2024.
The broadcaster emphasised that this new diagnosis bears no connection to her previous cancer or any recent surgical procedures
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“It’s been a lot, especially coming less than two years after my last diagnosis,” she wrote, adding that witnessing other public figures navigate similar circumstances had provided comfort during difficult moments.
The presenter expressed profound gratitude towards her medical team, singling out her GP for particular praise.
“This is the second big problem my GP has caught early and it is frankly impossible to adequately express my gratitude,” she said.
She revealed that her doctor had refused to dismiss persistently low iron levels, instead insisting on thorough investigation.
Fellow broadcasters rallied around Ms Laverne following her announcement
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Her advice to others facing comparable symptoms was direct: “Advocate for yourself if you need to and ask to see a haematologist.”
Fellow broadcasters rallied around Ms Laverne following her announcement.
Kate Garraway responded: “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.”
ITV’s Dr Amir Khan offered personal support, writing: “Oh Lauren sending you all the love. You are such a wonderful beautiful person. Please call me if you need anything.”
Singer Jessie Ware added: “Sending you all the love. Thank you for sharing.”
The presenter confirmed she would take a fortnight’s holiday before resuming her broadcasting duties as normal.
True to form, Laverne maintained her characteristic wit throughout the announcement, revealing her preferred nickname for the condition.
“I call it Smouldering Mye. Sounds more like a drag queen,” she quipped.