Recently Diagnosed or Relapsed? Stop Looking For a Miracle Cure, and Use Evidence-Based Therapies To Enhance Your Treatment and Prolong Your Remission
Multiple Myeloma an incurable disease, but I have spent the last 25 years in remission using a blend of conventional oncology and evidence-based nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle therapies from peer-reviewed studies that your oncologist probably hasn't told you about.
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Myeloma Therapy Side Effect- DVT, Blood clots
“Some foods and supplements may help reduce your chance of developing future blood clots, but they shouldn’t be used as substitutes for medical treatment.“
I could not disagree more with the above statement! My research and experience has taught me that yes, “some foods and supplements may help reduce my chance of future blood clots” and yes, this therapy can be used as a substitute for conventional blood thinning therapies that have many short and long-term side effects.
While on chemotherapy for my multiple myeloma, I developed a deep vein thrombosis (chemotherapy-induced blood clot) and I developed another blood clot in the other leg, about two years later.
According to research, surviving cancer increases my risk of another blood clot.
As you can imagine, I live in fear of developing another blood clot. However, as you can read in the article linked below that outlines the basics about blood clots, I would rather be proactive aka preventative, when it comes to my risk of future blood clots.
Also, I would like to utilize evidence-based but non-toxic therapies.
First, some basics. I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in early 1994. About a month after I began induction chemotherapy of VAD, I developed a DVT in my right leg. Several days in the hospital on intravenous heparin resolved the clot (mostly…)
The second DVT occurred a in the other leg couple of years later. My oncologist never said anything about my risk of future blood clots.
Suffice to say that my experiences with conventional oncology went poorly. I admit to diagnosing my own health issues and utilizing as many evidence-based, non-toxic therapies as possible.
But I will be direct with you. Conventional oncology has has caused a host of short, long-term and late stage side effects. My PTS and increased risk of DVT is only one of a dozen different long-term and late stage side effects that I must manage daily.
In my mind, I’m on my own for the rest of my life.
Back to evidence-based but non-conventional, non-toxic therapies to reduce my risk of DVTs.
The article linked and excerpted below specifies turmeric (curcumin) as well as other supplements shown to reduce the risk of future blood clots. In addition, I would add:
- nattokinase
- omega-3 fatty acids
- exercise
To my regimen to reduce my risk of future blood clots.
Have you had a blood clot and worry about another clot someday? Scroll down the page, post a question or comment and I will reply to you ASAP.
Thanks and hang in there-
David Emerson
- Myeloma Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Recommended Reading:
- Cardiac Rehabilitation: Blood Pressure, Hypertension Mgmt w/ Neutraceuticals, Lifestyle
- Multiple Myeloma Symptom, Side Effect, COD- Hyperviscosity, Blood Clots
- Multiple Myeloma Side Effects-PostThrombotic Syndrome
Treating Blood Clots in Your Legs
“A blood clot is a semisolid clump of blood that forms inside a blood vessel. ResearchTrusted Source shows that your legs are the most common place for a blood clot to form…
Risk factors reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source include:
- recently having cancer
Without treatment, a blood clot can reach your organs and cause potentially life threatening conditions, including:
It’s important to treat blood clots as soon as they’re diagnosed to prevent serious complications.
Anticoagulant medications
The most common treatments for blood clots are anticoagulant medications, also known as blood thinners. These medications reduce the chances of new clots forming. They also help your body break up any existing clots.
Warfarin
Warfarin is a prescription anticoagulant that works by blocking the formation of substances in your blood called clotting factors. These substances promote blood clotting.
Enoxaparin
Enoxaparin is also sold under the brand name Lovenox. It prevents blood clots by binding to a substance called antithrombin III, which inhibits clotting.
Heparin
Heparin works by weakening the effect of proteins in your blood that promote clotting.
Direct oral anticoagulants
Direct oral anticoagulants are a newer group of anticoagulants. A 2017 research reviewTrusted Sourceshowed that they are at least as safe as warfarin. They’re also less likely to interact with other medications or supplements.
Can you naturally dissolve blood clots in your legs?
A blood clot should be assessed and treated by a medical professional. There’s no proven way to treat a blood clot at home with natural remedies.
If you try to dissolve a blood clot at home, it may take longer for you to get proper medical treatment. This can increase your risk of developing a potentially life threatening condition.
Some foods and supplements may help reduce your chance of developing future blood clots, but they shouldn’t be used as substitutes for medical treatment. Talk with a doctor before making any dietary changes, since some foods and supplements may interact with anticoagulant medications.
- Turmeric. A 2017 research reviewTrusted Source found that the active ingredient in turmeric called curcumin has anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic effects. Its use as a complementary therapy for treating blood clots is still being investigated.
- Ginger. The ginger plant contains the chemical salicylate, which is the chemical from which aspirin is made. Researchers are still investigating its potential benefit for preventing blood clots.
- Cinnamon. Cinnamon contains a chemical called coumarin that has anticoagulant properties.
- Cayenne pepper. Like ginger, cayenne pepper contains salicylates that act as anticoagulants. In theory, they may help reduce blood clotting, but more research is needed.
- Vitamin E. This vitamin is a mild anticoagulant. Some studiesTrusted Source have found that vitamin D and vitamin E lower blood clot risk, but other studies have found they have no effect.
“Known collectively as post-thrombotic syndrome or post-phlebitic syndrome, symptoms can be painful and debilitating…”
Correction- post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is really a side effect of a multiple myeloma side effect called a deep-vein thrombosis aka a blood clot.
I’ve lived with post-thrombotic syndrome since 1999. I think my story is pretty similar to many people reading this post. A multiple myeloma diagnosis led to induction chemotherapy. Chemotherapy led to two different deep-vein thromboses. The first DVT resolved completely but the second resolved only mostly.
And it is the “mostly” part that can lead to post-thrombotic syndrome. It did for me. As explained in the articles linked below, my PTS symptoms have come and gone over the years since my DVT first occured in 1998.
The reason for this blog post is to explain the evidence-based but non-conventional therapies that I have learned to manage my PTS. I haven’t cured it, the PTS has not resolved completely, I manage it…
Further, my oncologist, Nathan Berger, M.D. and I talked about treating my blood clot but Dr. Berger never talked to me about post-thrombotic syndrome, much less about therapies to manage it.
My point is that aggressive conventional cancer therapies have led to a number of long-term and late stage adverse events that Dr. Berger never said anything about. I believe that conventional oncology just doesn’t study or understand much about the long-term and late stage side effects caused by high-dose chemotherapy and radiation.
And now I am trying my best to manage these long-term and late stage side effects.
My go-to therapy to manage my post-thrombotic syndrome over the years has been frequent, moderate exercise- from swimming to 30-45 minutes on an elliptical at LifeTime Fitness in Beachwood, Ohio.
When I was living with active blood clots the only therapy that would actually reduce swelling in my calves and ankles was lying in bed for several hours or swimming. I can’t swim anymore so I have taken up exercising on an elliptical every morning. Nothing too strenuous if I want to workout every day. But I do something every day.
Supplementation- from
- nattokinase to
- omega-3 fatty acids to
- curcumin.
There are a number of nutritional supplements that thin a person’s blood. Taking one or more of these blood thinning supplements can be challenging especially if you are also taking a blood thinner such as plavix. I don’t recommend doubling up on blood thinners. Talk to your doctor.
The last article linked and excerpted below talks about both supplements and foods that can thin the blood and/or dissolve blood clots.
Recommended Reading:
- Deep Vein Thrombosis, Venous Thromboembolism aka Blood Clot in cancer patients and survivors
- Thromboprophylaxis / Blood Clot Prevention w/ Advanced Cancer
- Resolve Blood Clots in Multiple Myeloma (MM)-
- Understanding Blood Clots/VTE and Multiple Myeloma
When Deep Vein Thrombosis Causes Long-Term Damage
“Blood clots can wreak havoc on your veins, leading to symptoms that can last for years.
Pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in your lungs, isn’t the only serious complication that can result from a blood clot deep in your veins. Although many people with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) recover completely, up to 40 percent continue to experience symptoms in their arms or legs for years after their initial diagnosis.
Known collectively as post-thrombotic syndrome or post-phlebitic syndrome, symptoms can be painful and debilitating, according to the National Blood Clot Alliance…
Complicating matters, clots that do not heal completely can block blood flow from the veins back to the heart, says Jae Sung Cho, MD, division director of vascular surgery and endovascular therapy at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill. “The residual blood clot impedes blood flow, and the valve function may be impaired…
Post-thrombotic syndrome symptoms include:
- Pain or aching
- Leg or arm swelling
- Heaviness
- Cramping
- Redness
- Skin discoloration or dark pigmentation
- Bluish fingers or toes
- Dry skin or eczema
- Varicose veins
Severe post-thrombotic syndrome can lead to sores or ulcers, which can be chronic and tough to treat. These sores affect 5 to 10 percent of people with the condition.
Post-thrombotic syndrome is a lifelong condition. Symptoms may come and go over time. They also might not develop right away.
Though it’s generally believed that the condition develops 5 to 10 years after DVT, a clinical review of post-thrombotic syndrome, published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis in 2013, suggests that symptoms may plateau one to two years later. The researchers note that a third of those who develop severe post-thrombotic syndrome have symptoms that continue to worsen six years after their initial DVT diagnosis….”
POST-THROMBOTIC SYNDROME
Venous Stress Disorder
“An In-Depth Guide for Patients and Health Care Providers
Medical terms used:
- Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS)
- Postphlebitic syndrome (PPS)
- Venous stasis syndrome (VSS)
- Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)
Patient terms used:
- Venous stress disorder
- Chronic venous limb disorder
SYMPTOMS AND FINDINGS OF POST-THROMBOTIC SYNDROME
While some people who have had a DVT recover completely, others may be left with some symptoms in legs or arms: leg or arm swelling, pain, aching, heaviness, and cramping are some of the symptoms.
SYMPTOMS
-
- chronic extremity swelling
- chronic (or waxing and waning) pain
- unspecific discomfort of the extremity
- diffuse aching
- heaviness, tiredness and cramping of extremity
- dark skin pigmentation (=post-thrombotic pigmentation)
- bluish discoloration of toes/fingers, foot/hand or diffusely of leg/arm
- skin dryness
- eczema
- hardening of the skin
- formation of varicose veins
- skin ulcer (stasis ulcer)
-
- “atrophie blanche” or “white atrophy (description in text)
- “dermatoliposclerosis” (description in text)
FINDINGS IN PATIENTS WITH POST-THROMBOTIC SYNDROME – WHO DEVELOPS IT?
An estimated 330,000 people in the United States have the post-thrombotic syndrome.”
The Treatment of Post-Thrombotic Syndrome
“Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) arises in 20–50% of patients who have sustained a deep vein thrombosis and markedly impairs their quality of life…
Conclusion- All conservative options should be exhausted as the first line of treatment. If PTS symptoms persist and markedly impair the patient’s quality of life, the possible indication for surgery should be considered. As PTS hardly ever leads to death or limb loss, its treatment should be as uninvasive as possible. Endovascular recanalization is an attractive option in this respect. A conclusive evaluation of the role of endovascular procedures in PTS must await randomized trials of this form of treatment and of the optimal stent configuration.
Blood-thinning foods, drinks, and supplements
“Natural blood thinners are substances that reduce the blood’s ability to form clots. Blood clotting is a necessary process, but sometimes the blood can clot too much, leading to complications that can be potentially dangerous.
People who have certain medical conditions, such as congenital heart defects, may require blood-thinning medications to reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke.
It is essential to speak with a doctor before trying these remedies, as they may not work as well as medication and may interfere with some prescription drugs.
Some foods and other substances that may act as natural blood thinners and help reduce the risk of clots include the following list:”