Cancer Stem Cell Theory and Multiple Myeloma

3 years ago
/ Multiple Myeloma non-conventional therapies
/ By duodesigndev
/ 10 COMMENTS

“The bone marrow microenvironment provides to Multiple Myeloma CSCs self-renewal, survival and drug resistance thanks to the presence of normal and cancer stem cell niches.”

We get it. Multiple Myeloma is incurable. The real problem of a multiple myeloma diagnosis isn’t achieving remission after we are diagnosed. The challenge is that almost every survivor lives his/her life from remission to relapse, from peak to valley. As soon as we achieve remission, we fear the day when our myeloma returns. Consider the idea of the cancer stem cell.

Therefore, all mm survivors ask ourselves “Why is it practically a medical certainty that our myeloma will return? And what can we do about it???”

Whether you consider your coming cancer experiences to be a battle or a chess match, it is critical that you understand the basics of how your opponent functions.

I am both a multiple myeloma survivor and multiple myeloma cancer coach. I need to understand cancer issues like the cancer stem cell theory.

What does the CSC theory mean for multiple myeloma patients, survivors and caregivers? I can only speak as a MM survivor.

My belief is that while I achieved complete remission from my MM in 4/99, I live my life as if I have MM cancer stem cells running around inside me. There are always going to be microscopic cancer stem cells hiding inside me ready to form lesions in my bone marrow.

Therefore I practice lifestyle therapies that evidence-based research says kills multiple myeloma. I live an evidence-based, anti-myeloma lifestyle through nutrition, supplementation, bone health, lifestyle, mind-body therapies and more. Think of it like low-dose, maintenance therapy. But non-toxic.

To learn more about evidence-based but non-toxic multiple myeloma therapies, scroll down the page, post a question or comment and I will reply to you ASAP.

Thank you,

David Emerson

MM Survivor
MM Cancer Coach
Director of PeopleBeatingCancer

Stem Cells: The Real Culprits in Cancer?

“THE IMPLICATIONS of a stem cell model of cancer for the way we understand as well as treat malignancies are clear and dramatic. Current therapies take aim against all tumor cells, but our studies and others have shown that only a minor fraction of cancer cells have the ability to reconstitute and perpetuate the malignancy. If traditional therapies shrink a tumor but miss these cells, the cancer is likely to return…

Treatments that specifically target the CSCs could destroy the engine driving the disease, leaving any remaining nontumorigenic cells to eventually die off on their own.”

Identify multiple myeloma stem cells: Utopia?

“The bone marrow microenvironment provides to MM CSCs self-renewal, survival and drug resistance thanks to the presence of normal and cancer stem cell niches. The niches and CSCs interact each other through adhesion molecules and the interplay between ligands and receptors activates stemness signaling (Hedgehog, Wnt and Notch pathways). MM CSCs are also supposed to be responsible for drug resistance that happens in three steps from the initial cancer cell homing microenvironment-mediated to development of microenvironment-independent drug resistance.”

Study Supports Stem Cell Origin Of Cancer

“Researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) recently made significant strides toward settling a decades-old debate centering on the role played by stem cells in cancer development. According to the study’s findings, genes that are reversibly repressed in embryonic stem cells are over-represented among genes that are permanently silenced in cancers; this link lends support to the increasingly discussed theory that cancer is rooted in small populations of stem cells.”

Dequilla Steele says 3 years ago

I’ve been having multiple Maloneup for 9 months now I would like to know about your non-toxic multiple myeloma therapist

David Emerson says 3 years ago

Hi Dequilla,

I’m not sure what you mean about a “non-toxic MM therapist.” When I use the phrase “evidence-based non-toxic therapy” or the phrase “evidence-based non-conventional therapies, I am referring to research I have found that cites one or more studies supporting a therapy that is “non-conventional” meaning not approved by the FDA.

Examples of evidence-based non-toxic therapies would be curcumin, resveratrol, intravenous vitamin C, etc. All have been shown to kill MM cells while not harming healthy cells.

Is this what you mean?

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Pino says 3 years ago

Wee hi David, how are you?
I wrote to you in April 2015 after discovering your site, to inform you of my myeloma, you can’t remember, and I told you that after three months of therapy with Velcade, lenalidomide and dexamethasone everything had resolved, I had also used cannabis with curcumin and black pepper, I don’t remember the doses. But I have to tell you that I also refused stem cell transplant, and for good reasons everything is fine except for a small increase in alkaline phosphatase which makes me worry a little, 5 years have passed, the other analyzes all right. In 5 years many discoveries have been made and hopefully good. Now I want to follow you more, I can do what I can do to prevent a possible return. So please tell me I have to do.
A big hug Pino

Hi Pina-

Great to read that you are in complete remission from your MM. I too take curcumin daily. And a number of other supplements and foods. Regarding your question about what else you can do to reduce your risk of MM relapse, I created the MM Cancer Coaching program based on what I do to remain MM free. I will link the MM CC store below. Good luck.

https://peoplebeatingcancer.org/product-category/multiple-myeloma/

Rakiya Garba Kilgori says 3 years ago

Thank you so much for the post about csc. I’ve been having sleepless nights thinking of wether to do stem cell transplant or not
I was diagnosed I August 2017 and started treatment in December 2017.
Since then I’ve undergone three treatments, revlimed, bortomzomib, dexamithason and monthly zometa.
Next I have polinadomide , dexa and cychlophosmide.
I have ERS and diabetes .
Doctors in India advise that I go for SCT and Nigerian doctors are saying I should go for maintenance.
Please advise

Hi Rakiya,
I am sorry to read of your MM. I don’t know enough about your situation. But in general, I believe that ASCT is too much toxicity for the average MM patient. I believe that we should “maintain” our health and manage our MM with a combineation of conventional MM chemo and evidence-based, non-toxic, non-conventional therapies such as nutrition, supplementation, exercise, etc.

Good luck,

Recently Diagnosed or Relapsed? Stop Looking For a Miracle Cure, and Use Evidence-Based Therapies To Enhance Your Treatment and Prolong Your Remission

Cancer Stem Cell Theory and Multiple Myeloma

“The bone marrow microenvironment provides to Multiple Myeloma CSCs self-renewal, survival and drug resistance thanks to the presence of normal and cancer stem cell niches.”

Recommended Reading:

Stem Cells: The Real Culprits in Cancer?

Identify multiple myeloma stem cells: Utopia?

Study Supports Stem Cell Origin Of Cancer

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