The Third Space

You have been referred to The Third Space MGUS team by your GP in order for us to monitor your MGUS.

MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance) is a non-cancerous blood condition which usually does not cause any symptoms or require any treatment but requires monitoring. In most people MGUS does not affect their general health and will remain stable. In a small number of people MGUS will develop into a more serious condition such as myeloma (a blood cancer).

Find out more about MGUS on the Myeloma UK website.

MGUS patients usually have their blood test monitored every 3-4 months in the first year after diagnosis and then tests can be reduced to every 6-12 months if the results are satisfactory.

Patients will receive a letter from MGUS The Third Space when their review is due.

If you think your review is due but have not received an invitation letter, then please contact us via email thirdspace@wsh.nhs.uk or call us 01284 712738.

This is a two-stage process:

1. Blood tests - when your review is due, we will order the necessary blood tests and you will be asked to arrange to have blood taken wherever you usually go for blood tests.

2. Health questionnaire – you will receive a short health questionnaire to complete and return to us by email or post.

The health questionnaire will ask you whether you have developed any new symptoms since your last review.

We will then share the results of your blood test with you. This will usually be in writing to you and within two weeks of you having your blood sample taken. If any further action is required we will call you to inform you of the next step.

You can arrange your blood test where you usually go for blood tests.

All our blood tests are requested electronically and therefore if you attend West Suffolk Hospital you do not need to take a paper form with you.

If you plan to attend Newmarket Community Hospital, Mildenhall Hub or Sudbury Health Centre then please contact us beforehand as you will require a paper blood test request form.

If you are going to your GP surgery and having additional blood tests requested by your GP at the same time, please remind them that you also need to have blood tests requested by us.

Book an appointment online

If you are unable to book online, please call 01638 590788 (24 hours a day, seven days a week).

Once your MGUS blood test results are received one of the Third Space doctors will review the blood test results and we shall inform you of the result - usually by writing to you and within two weeks of you having your blood sample taken

If your results are unchanged (i.e. stable and good) you will usually receive a letter stating that the results are satisfactory.

If any of your results have changed, or if you have mentioned something concerning on your health questionnaire, one of our doctors will usually contact you by telephone.

If you have any questions or queries and would like to speak to one of The Third Space GPs then you can call us 01284 712738 or email the team thirdspace@wsh.nhs.uk and they will arrange for a telephone appointment.

You have been referred to The Third Space team by your GP in order for us to monitor your Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels. This is because your urology team has advised that you have PSA monitoring following the diagnosis/treatment of prostate cancer.

Please click here for more information Follow-up after prostate cancer treatment: What happens next? | Prostate Cancer UK

The frequency of monitoring will be dependent on what was advised by your urology team when you were discharged from them. You will receive a letter from PSA The Third Space when your blood test is due.

If you think your review is due but have not received an invitation letter, then please contact us via email thirdspace@wsh.nhs.uk or call us on 01284 712738.

When your PSA blood test is due, we will order the test and you will be asked to arrange to have blood taken where you usually go for blood tests.

We will then share the results of your blood test with you. This will usually be in writing and within two weeks of you having your blood sample taken. If any further action such as referral back to the urology team is required we will call you to inform you of the next step.

You can arrange your blood test where you usually go for blood tests.

All our blood tests are requested electronically and therefore if you attend West Suffolk Hospital you do not need to take a paper form with you.

If you plan to attend Newmarket Community Hospital, Mildenhall Hub or Sudbury Health Centre then please contact us beforehand as you will require a paper blood test request form.

If you are going to your GP surgery and having additional blood tests requested by your GP at the same time, please remind them that you also need to have blood tests requested by us.

Book an appointment online

If you are unable to book online, please call 01638 590788 (24 hours a day, seven days a week).

Before you have the test, there are some things that you should avoid, as they can temporarily increase your PSA level and affect the accuracy of the test. These are:

• Ejaculation (sexual activity) for 48 hours before the test.
• Exercising heavily for 48 hours before the test
• An active Urinary tract infection (UTI) or if you have had a UTI in the last 6 weeks
• Prostate biopsy in the last 6 weeks

Once your PSA blood test is result is reviewed by our Third Space GPs, we shall inform you of the result - usually by writing to you and within two weeks of you having your blood sample taken

If your results are within the levels advised by urology you will usually receive a letter with your results

If any of your results have changed, or if you would prefer, one of our doctors will usually contact you by telephone.

If you have any questions or queries and would like to speak to one of The Third Space GPs then you can call us on 01284 712738 or email the team thirdspace@wsh.nhs.uk and they will arrange for a telephone appointment.

Patient feedback is important for us to ensure that we make improvements to services that matter to you. Please take the time to tell us about your experience and fill in the Third Space Remote Service for MGUS and PSA Feedback Survey

If you require the survey in a different format or would prefer to speak to someone in person, please contact PALS@wsh.nhs.uk.