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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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Multiple Myeloma Chemotherapy- Delay Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

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The outstanding efficacy seen with regimens (mm chemotherapy) based on novel agents has led to a questioning of the frontline treatment paradigm with respect to ASCT.

A diagnosis of multiple myeloma (MM) brings few certainties beyond emotional turmoil on the part of the patient and caregivers. However, a peripheral blood stem cell transplant does have one certainty… well, two actually.

First, it is high-dose chemotherapy and therefore extremely toxic. Secondly,  it is not curative. Please don’t take my word for it. Ask your onc if an autologus stem cell transplant will cure your myeloma (remember that conventional oncology considers five years from diagnosis to be a “cure”). Certainly, we all hope for a long remission. But all MMers relapse eventually.

I wrote “Beating Myeloma…” to give a balanced view of autologous stem cell transplantation for MMers. 

Please take a moment to watch a brief video below about the Multiple Myeloma Coaching Program that I researched and designed based on my 25 plus years living with multiple myeloma:

 

The article linked below raises the prospect of undergoing any of the many conventional myeloma chemotherapies and delay a stem cell transplant. Why do this?
  • less toxicity, less collateral damage?
  • possibly longer overall survival?
  • keep your powder dry to see what the future holds?
Consider pre-treating or pre-habilitating your multiple myeloma with evidence-based, non-toxic, anti-MM therapies as well.
Thank you
David Emerson
  • Long-term MM Survivor
  • MM Coach
  • Director PeopleBeatingCancer

Recommended Reading:

Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is an established frontline standard of care for the younger, fitter patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) who are eligible for the procedure, and has contributed to improved overall survival.

In the current era of novel therapies, the treatment landscape and prognosis have changed. The outstanding efficacy seen with regimens based on novel agents has led to a questioning of the frontline treatment paradigm with respect to ASCT.

A key current question is whether to use transplant early or to collect stem cells early but save ASCT for salvage therapy. In this review, we evaluate the clinical data for each approach as well as the arguments in favor of early or delayed ASCT.

We also consider the clinical/clonal heterogeneity of myeloma and review the evidence regarding which patient subgroups may benefit most from each approach. We summarize current treatment guidelines for transplant-eligible patients with NDMM and review the evolving role of minimal residual disease evaluation and its potential effect on the debate over early vs delayed ASCT. We conclude that frontline ASCT remains a standard of care for a substantial proportion of patients; however, delayed/salvage ASCT is increasingly being used in the context of highly active frontline regimens based on novel agents and the ongoing personalization of myeloma treatment.”

Leave a Comment:

6 comments
Linda Foland says 8 years ago

My mom was just diagnosed with MM. She is on Coumadin. The Dr. wants to do a bone marrow biopsy but the hospital can’t get her blood thick enough. She is home from the hospital with no follow-up, main reason is because she can’t walk anymore, unknown neurological problem. Medicare doesn’t pay for EMS so she can’t follow-up with any Dr. because can’t get her to the vehicle. She is so scared of falling. If she receives no treatment how long will she survive. She already has acute renal failure, anemia, vitamin B12 defecency.

Reply
    David Emerson says 8 years ago

    Hi Linda-

    I am sorry to learn of your mom’s situation. I will assume that your mom is on Coumadin due to heart issues (like my folks…). Without more specifics is difficult for me to estimate how she will survive without treatment. Although I have to say that toxicity might not be good for your mom right now. For instance, is sounds like your mom is not a candidate for a stem cell transplant.

    The only thing I can think of regarding your mom’s inability to get to the doctor or hospital is a service like Lotsa Helping Hands.

    I have personal experience with LHH and the computer based caregiver organization (of friends of a cancer patient friend of mine a few years ago) worked extremely well. If your mom has any local family or friends they may be able to help.

    The last issue I can suggest (and I don’t know enough about your mom’s MM to know really) is that velcade is a chemotherapy that often reverses kidney failure. Curcumin and omega 3 fatty acids have been studied to increase the efficacy of velcade while reducing it’s toxicity. Consider a lower dose of velcade perhaps.

    Let me know if you have any questions or comments. Hang in there.

    David Emerson

    Reply
Paul Bokros says 8 years ago

Doctor,

I have been treated for MM for about two years. Presently I am on maintenance chemo Velcade for four weeks and then one off. My blood numbers are very good.

Now that my condition is dormant is there any history of how long the disease will stay like this. I am 67 and feel pretty good.

Reply
    David Emerson says 8 years ago

    Hi Paul-

    Thanks for bestowing a medical degree on me but I have to confess that I am a multiple myeloma survivor just like you. I was first diagnosed in ’94.

    I will assume that you are in complete remission. With “very good blood numbers” your are doing well. If you didn’t mention side effects you are doing really well. Maintenance therapy like velcade would be difficult if you were experiencing peripheral neuropathy or some other side effect caused by toxicity.

    How long you experience complete remission is anyone’s guess. Even your onc. can’t tell you with any certainty. There are, however, evidence-based therapies explaining how MMers in complete remission can reduce their risks of relapse (MM returning).

    I will post and link several articles below for you to read and decide if you would like to pursue antioxidant supplementation to perhaps prolong your remission.

    Omega-3 fatty acids (aka fish oil) kills multiple myeloma and enhances Velcade

    Resveritrol, MM and Velcade-

    Curcumin and Velcade

    I will link posts I have written about Omega 3, Resveritrol and Curcumin, what I take, why I take it, etc.

    Omega 3 fatty acids

    Resveritrol

    Curcumin-

    As I mentioned above Paul, I am not a doctor and cannot prescribe medicine. I have read MM accounts of people who’s remissions last one year or ten years. Mine lasted only 10 months, local radiation, another 10 month remission.

    I will say that conventional oncology still considers MM to be incurable- we have to think outside the box to achieve lasting remissions. I’ve done so with integrative therapies such as those linked above.

    Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks and hang in there.

    David Emerson

    Reply
janet parsons says 8 years ago

Have Myeloma, already had stem cell treatment 2 years ago with the thalidomide treatment. Paraproteins are increasing again. Can you give me more details other than stem cell? Try to eat healthy, stopped biphosphonates 3 months ago due to no quality of life. Started regular walking again and gentle yoga. Feeling reasonably good. Janet

Reply
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