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Diagnosis of Asymptomatic Malignant Multiple Myeloma???
“Often, no symptoms (of multiple myeloma) are noticed initially. As it progresses, bone pain, anemia, kidney dysfunction, and infections may occur.”
I have recently been diagnosed with asymptomatic malignant multiple myeloma in September. The doctor said he will wait to do treatment because the numbers are just not there and I have no symptoms. I have lambda light chain.
I am worried about the outcome of waiting…and don’t know what treatment I will receive. I know nothing really about what is going on with me and pretty scared all I have read is I am probably going to die from this.
Any output on what I need to ask my doctor. And he is an oncologist but not a myeloma specialist. Can you help me? Claire
Hi Claire-
Yes, I can help you. I will explain several basic terms and suggest possible therapies. Some of this jargon is kinda boring but may come in handy someday.
It is perfectly normal for you to be scared. I was when I was diagnosed with a SBP. Everyone reads survival statistics and worries about being told that they have cancer. Certainly we all pay attention but the issues require explanation.
Several things for you to consider.
The term “asymptomatic malignant multiple myeloma” is a sort of umbrella term for the specific diagnoses of pre-multiple myeloma:
- Single bone plasmacytoma (SBP)
- Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS)
- Smoldering Multiple Myeloma (SMM)
When I say pre-MM, I mean that conventional oncology does not consider this diagnosis to be cancer. While pre-MM may become MM, you are not there yet. This is considered to be a “blood disorder.”
As such, conventional oncology does not offer any therapies for your blood disorder. I will go out on a limb and say that you are not going to die from your diagnosis of asymptomatic malignant multiple myeloma. At least not at this early stage.
The challenge faced by anyone who is diagnosed with malignant multiple myeloma is that MM is an incurable blood cancer. Though MM is treatable with conventional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation, oncology has not figured out how to cure MM.
If your oncologist has told you that “your numbers aren’t there yet” what he/she is saying is that “your numbers” (the diagnostic testing results) are normal or a bit above normal.
Further, saying that you don’t have symptoms is both a good thing and indicates that full-blown MM eventually exhibits itself in organ damage. Organ damage means the cancer can damage your bones, your kidneys, other organs.
While it is important to have a general understanding of what may lie ahead of you, I think it is important to focus on your next steps.
The fact is that many people with pre-MM never develop full-blown multiple myeloma. I often talk about a woman named Margaret who runs a website called Margaret’s Corner. Margaret has been managing her SMM for years.
There are a number of non-toxic therapies that have been shown to reduce the risk of a MM diagnosis. I credit Margaret with turning me onto a nutritional supplement called curcumin (2006). See the study linked below that talks about curcumin and MM.
There are many nutritional supplements that have been shown to kill MM and there are foods and lifestyle therapies also shown to reduce the risk of MM.
I will link the Pre-MM nutrition guide below to talk about the idea of anti-angiogenesis and MM. I encourage you to watch Dr. Li’s Ted Talk.
I hope I haven’t overwhelmed you. Let me know if you have any questions.
Hang in there,
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Recommended Reading:
- Diagnostic Testing for MGUS
- Detoxification as Multiple Myeloma Therapy
- Multiple Myeloma Diet, Supplementation- A How-To Guide
Multiple myeloma
“Multiple myeloma (MM), also known as plasma cell myeloma and simple myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that normally produces antibodies.[6] Often, no symptoms are noticed initially.[10] As it progresses, bone pain, anemia, kidney dysfunction, and infections may occur.[10] Complications may include amyloidosis.[3]
The cause of multiple myeloma is unknown.[4] Risk factors include obesity, radiation exposure, family history, and certain chemicals.[5][11][12] Multiple myeloma may develop from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance that progresses to smoldering myeloma.[13] …”
Multiple Myeloma Specialists- Why?
“You’ve been diagnosed with incurable cancer. You’re trying to manage your emotions and perhaps the emotions of those closest to you. Going to a hematologist/oncologist seems like the best thing to do, right? Studies show that hematologists/oncologists who specialize in multiple myeloma provide much better overall survival statistics than non-specialists...”
Curcumin vs. Multiple Myeloma: The scientific evidence continues to pile up
“Curcumin is one of the best examples of an evidence-based non-conventional cancer therapy. The applications of this wonder therapy are too many to write about (but scroll down the page to read research citing the anti-MM, pro-kidney, pro-bone health action of curcumin supplementation.
Suffice to say that if you have been diagnosed with cancer, any cancer, you must learn about possible applications of this therapy to help you in the weeks, months and years ahead. In the age of super high tech oncology it is critical to learn about non-toxic therapies such as curcumin…”