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377 comments
I was diagnosed in Aug. 2020 with Multiple Myeloma. Hard to not eat meat and sugar.
ReplyJames-
I agree with you. With all that you probably have going on with your health, people are giving you all sorts of rules about diet, therapies, etc. I will be honest and admit that the studies about MM and nutrition are thin, My blogs are what I do and what studies I’ve found. I do eat meat but a lot less than I did before my MM diagnosis. Sugar is in everything. I eat as little as I can without driving myself crazy.
It’s a cliche but one day at a time…
Good luck,
David Emerson
ReplyWould like to have a copy of the diet for MM. Was diagnosed in May 2022. Not doing the stem cell transplant because of my age. I am 64
ReplyHi Sandra-
I emailed you the MM CC nutrition guide this am. If you did not see it in your inbox please check your spam folder.
David Emerson
ReplyHi Julia-
I sent you the nutrition guide via email. Please check your spam folder if my email is not in your inbox.
David Emerson
ReplyI would love to have the diet to help me in my struggle to survive MM many thanks
ReplyI will email the ebook to your email inbox- if you don’t receive it shortly, please check your spam folder-
ReplyHi Cindy-
I sent you guides via your email address. If you do not receive my email, please check your spam folder.
thanks,
David Emerson
ReplyCan you please forward diet for MM. My husband would require this. Thankyou.
ReplyHi Margaret-
I replied to you via email. If you don’t find my email in your inbox please check your spam folder.
David Emerson
ReplyHi Hyacinth-
To be honest, I haven’t studied follicular lymphoma so I can’t say.
David Emerson
ReplyI was diagnosed with MM three years ago. I also have kidney failure at same time so I am on dialysis. Please send me diet information. It seems some good food for MM is not compatible with the renal diet.
ReplyWhat is. A good site for the flexatarian diet. I am in treatment and have reached remission. Want to stay there. Help!
ReplyHI Nadine-
The source I used to learn about the flexitarian diet is-
https://health.usnews.com/best-diet/flexitarian-diet
David Emerson
ReplyHi Willie-
I sent you the MM CC nutrition guide directly to you via your email address. Check your spam folder if you do not receive my reply.
David Emerson
ReplyI am a MM patient fighting for 7 years now..would love the MM diet pkz
ReplyHi Novelette-
I sent the MM CC nutrition guide to you via email. Please check your spam folder if you do not receive it.
David Emerson
ReplyBowel cancer diabetic fattyliver damaged liverwould like to know about diet also oestoprosis gut problems underactive thyroid ta
ReplyHi Marie-
The post that you read is about nutrition for patients with a blood cancer called multiple myeloma. I don’t know much about nutrition for
the health issues that you list. I wish I could help you.
David Emerson
ReplyHi Susan-
I emailed you the MM CC guide. Check your spam folder if you didn’t receive it.
David Emerson
ReplyHi Masha-
I sent you guides directly via email. Check your spam folder if you didn’t receive them.
David Emerson
ReplyHi Jacqueline-
I sent you the guide via email. Check your spam folder if you didn’t get my email.
David Emerson
ReplyI’m 73 and was diagnosed 2019. I take 10mg. Revilmide. Would like diet info to like longer.
ReplyHi Jamesetta-
I sent you the MM CC nutrition guide directly to you via email. If you don’t receive my email please check your spam folder.
David Emerson
ReplyHi Liz-
I sent you the nutrition guide via email. Look in your spam folder if you have not received it.
David Emerson
ReplyHi Marina- I sent you information directly via your email in box. If you don’t receive my email then please check your spam folder.
Thanks,
David Emerson
Replyhello I have had MM for 4 years I am not able to receive a transplant due to cell damage from the chemo therapy I am actively takin blue seed oil tablets what can I do or take to hlp fight against the MM an is takin black seed oil tablets beneficial
ReplyHi Jonathan-
According to research, yes, Black seed oil aka thymoquinone, is cytotoxic to monoclonal proteins aka MM. The challenge is finding a supplement with a decent amount of black seed oil in the capsule.
I recommend both anti-angiogenic nutrition and supplementation.
Hang in there,
David Emerson
ReplyHusband age 49 diagnosed with MM in August- would like nutritional information.
ReplyHi, just diagnosed with MM at 32, please send me your nutritional food plan thank you.
ReplyRecently diagnosed MGUS. But kappa light chains keep going up and kidneys are great. Please send diet info. Going to check out your reading recommendations and video. Thank you
ReplyI was diagnosed with MM in 2021. I am very interested in your nutritional food plan.
ReplyDiagnosed with MM 2021 just had partial kidney removed on revlimid. Please send me your nutritional food plan.
ReplyHi Autumn-
I replied directly to you via email.
David Emerson
ReplyGot multiple Malom2021 got stem cell replaced bone marrow my own September 2022 I was taking 5% Relival only lasted till August 2022 Now back on chemo for 15 weeks. Please help…
ReplyMay I have information on the nutritional benefits and diet/lifestyle? I also have had a kidney transplant (9 years) and some CHF problems but am hanging in there. Would like to get into complete remission and if diet will help then I’m all for it. Thanks.
ReplyHi Wendy-
I replied to you via email. Good luck,
David Emerson
ReplyI was diagnosed with MM in 2017, had SCT and on 10 mg Revlamid. I had a relapse in 2019 but have done great since then. I’m turning 65 soon and I’m very interested in Diet and Nutrition info.
ReplyI am recently dx with plasmacytoma on R hip and starting radiation soon, bone marrow biopsy just done and do not know results, I’m very fatigued and lots of pain, I am very interested in diet with foods and supplements to improve my nutrition to help me improve the quality of my life, I would appreciate any information you can guide me with, I believe proper nutrition can help. Thank you
Reply[…] anti-myeloma nutrition […]
ReplyMy husband was diagnosed with mm in 2017, had a sct and is currently on 10mg of revlimid as maintenance. I am concerned about his eating habits and would like some information on how I can guide him in the right direction. His oncologist doesn’t say much about diets.
ReplyHi Maria-
I sent the MM CC nutrition guide to your email in box.
David Emerson
ReplyI would like to get your info. Thanks. I’m on revlimid and doing well.
ReplyHi Frances-
I sent you the nutrition guide via your email address.
David Emerson
ReplyI had a stem cell transplant in June 2021. I am doing well on Revlemid. Please send me the diet information.
ReplyHello. Just recently diagnosed with MM. Not sure about stages as oncologist didn’t say. Told me that my bone marrow biopsy shows “5 to 10 %” MM. I’m being treated with radiation right now on an area of my rib that the oncologist labeled “ plasmacytoma. Any info you can provide will be very much appreciated. Thank you.
ReplyHi Cheryl-
I replied to your post directly via email.
David emerson
ReplyI was diagnosed in May 2022 w/smoldering myeloma.
Have progressed to MM as of September 2022.
Very interested in your books & diets!
28 years in remission WOW!
Good for you—love to learn from you. (Just turned 67)
Hi Gina-
I will reply to you directly via your email.
David Emerson
ReplyI’m 86 yrs old just diagnosed w MM myeloma just wondering about the pAin I will be experiencing in the future months. If I over due I get pain in my back and neck fatigue yes. Look forward to hearing from you🙏☘️☘️🙏
ReplyHi Catherine-
I will reply to you directly via email and send you the MM CC nutrition guide.
David Emerson
Reply[…] Anti-angiogenic nutrition […]
Reply[…] Multiple Myeloma Diet- Before, During, After Therapy Myeloma Diet in Three Easy Steps Multiple Myeloma Diet Multiple Myeloma Diet- Flaxseeds/Budwig […]
Reply[…] Myeloma Diet, Supplement – A How-To Guide Multiple Myeloma Survivor Diet – Multiple Myeloma Diet- Before, During, After Therapy Myeloma Diet in Three Easy Steps Multiple Myeloma Diet […]
ReplyDiagnosed with stage one in August 2022 after four years with Smoldering MM. Now in treatment. Can you send me the Flex diet? Thank you!!
ReplyHi Rebecca-
I replied to this post directly via your email address. Let me know if you have any questions.
David Emerson
Reply[…] To learn more about your Myeloma Diet as a therapy click now- […]
Reply[…] Multiple Myeloma Diet- Before, During, After Therapy Myeloma Diet in Three Easy Steps Multiple Myeloma Diet Multiple Myeloma Diet- Flaxseeds/Budwig […]
Reply[…] To learn more about your Diet as a Multiple Myeloma Therapy click now- […]
ReplyThanks for being willing to share your journey and wisdom! It is inspiring to know there are people who significantly outperform the statistics out there. I’ve been diagnosed with SMM and would like to slow progression to MM for as long as possible. Please send your nutrition guide.
ReplyHello. I am 54 and I have been diagnosed in March 2021, chemo for 1 year and in remission now. Only 5 mg Revlimid per day. Also morphine and gaba for my pain.
Can u email me a nutrition guide please. My oncologist said nothing about how important is the diet. Thank you
Hi Stefania-
I sent you the nutrition and CIPN guides via email.
Good luck,
David Emerson
ReplyI was diagnosed with MM March 2022, been on Revlamid, Velcade, Darzalex and dexamethisone since, and going for SCT end of September. Please send me your diet details. Thank you!
Reply[…] Multiple Myeloma Diet […]
ReplyI’ve switched from store bought milk, to organic goat milk from a neighbor who sells it ( full fat); also, his eggs. I don’t drink alcohol, soda, commercial juices; mostly water. The goat milk is for cooking and cereal
I try to stick to fruits and veggies, but I have a sweet tooth and I bake quite a bit
I am interested in learning more. I have had two stem cell transplants and I still have evidence of disease albeit a smaller amount than prior to the transplants.
Reply[…] For example, I may talk up the basics of my anti-cancer diet and the general benefits of the Mediter… […]
ReplyHi David-
I sent you the MM CC nutrition guide via email.
David Emerson
ReplyPlease send me information on the Flexitarian Diet.
Thank you
Hi Mary-
FYI- I sent the nutrition guide to you via email-
David Emerson
ReplyHi Marlene-
I sent you several PDF files via email. Let me know if you have any questions.
David Emerson
ReplyHi Azucena-
What do you need to know? Are you a patient? Caregiver? Are you about to undergo chemotherapy? Induction? ASCT? Have you concluded therapy and looking to detoxify? I don’t mean to complicate things. The more info I know about your situation, the more info I can provide.
Let me know.
David Emerson
ReplyI have been in remission for 71/2 years after a stem cell transplant. Would you send me the nutrition diet.
ReplyI have MM. had stem cell transplant In Sept. 2021 and am now in complete remission. Please send nutritional guide. Stomach doesn’t tolerate many foods except carbs. Thank you.
ReplyHi Sue-
I sent the MM CC nutrition guide via your email address. Let me know if you have any questions.
David Emerson
ReplyHi, have been diagnosed with MM in June 2021 and on derma infusion since June 21 . Progress is good . Would like to know more from you about diet , etc on how to beat this disease. Am 72 with no other prior diseases.
ReplyI would like to know more about The flexitarian diet. I would also like to know more about the coaching program.
Thanks so much
Hi Marla-
I will send you the MM CC nutrition guide as well as the Introduction to the program via email. Let me know if you have
any questions.
thanks,
David Emerson
ReplyI would like to sign up. Please send me whatever forms you need. And who to write the check to.
ReplyHi Peter-
According to our records you have recently registered for the MM CC Program Course. I will send you the welcome email and invite you to an invitation to Beating Myeloma now.
Thank you,
David Emerson
ReplyI live on Ritz crackers and chocolate milk and ensure Suplement for the last 9 months. Any other food makes me nauseous, just the smell of food cooking makes me vomit. I’m very weak and tired all the time.
ReplyHi Robert-
I too love to eat Ritz crackers and I love the taste of chocolate milk. Unfortunately for us, there is little nutrition in these foods and as MM survivors we need nutrition. Consider trying a smoothie with chocolate flavored Ensure as well as fruit, powders, etc.
Maybe even add some ice cream in the smoothie- anything to combine flavor with nutrition.
Good luck,
David Emerson
ReplyHi there!
My husband was diagnosed 5/2021 with MM. He is status post SCT. Not quite 30 days yet. In his medical notes I saw deep vgPR1 after 7 months of VRD. What diet should I start him on to keep him in remission. He is igG lambda. Im still reading and trying to understand this cancer. I appreciate any advice.
Please send guide and if you have book provide info on how to get. I want to read it all!😊 Thank you
ReplyHello. A friend has MM and CKD. Please send nutrition guide. Thank you!
ReplyHi Angie-
I sent you both the nutrition guide and the kidney guide to your email inbox.
Let me know if you have any questions.
David Emerson
ReplyI was diagnosed with MGUS in April 2021 – I’m interested in learning how to better take care of myself
ReplyJust found out husband has stage 3 MM, please send any information, thank you
ReplyI am retired nurse ,have researched & found pts with MM require increased amts of vitamin B12 .Eating only small amts of red meat will cause iron & vit b12 deficiency which is essential for DNA.heart ,nerve & blood maintenance.Vegans & vegetarians are at high risk of vit B12 def which not diagnosed early & treted results in Pernicious Anaemia.I have a friend MM diabetic,under-treated for b12 def ,treated with chemo now 12 mths when told originally 6 wks .She is has had 2 iron infusions in last 6 mths..I would be interested to hear your views & if you have every been tested for genetic mutation MTHFR .
ReplyHi Marilyn-
You are correct. Blood testing does identify some newly diagnosed MM patients as being B12 deficient.
I do not know if any MM patients who have been tested for the MTHFR mutation.
David Emerson
ReplyHi, I was diagnosed in June 2021 with MM and am currently receiving RVD. SCT when my numbers are where my doctors would like them.
Would you please send me your nutrition guide.
No one ever emphasizes how important diet is.
Thank you!
Very informative and realistic. Please send nutrition, cannabis and intro guides.
ReplyHi Pat-
I sent your email the nutrition, cannabis and intro guides.
David Emerson
ReplyRecently diagnosed mm, started RVD, possibly SCT. I would love your nutrition guide.
ReplyHi David,
Please email me the nutrition guide. Thank you and God bless.
Hi David-
I sent the nutrition, cannabis and intro guides via your email address.
David
ReplyI had stem cell transplant January 2020. Currently in remission. Please send me the MM nutrition guide.
ReplyHi David. I was diagnosed with MM on June 2020. Had a bone marrow transplant in December 2020. On remission at this moment. Can you send me a copy of MM nutrition guide? Thanks.
ReplyHi Maria-
I just sent you the guide via your email.
Good luck,
David Emerson
ReplyThank you. Was never told that nutrition was important as a myeloma patient. Can you send me your nutrition information.
ReplyHi Jennifer-
Nutrition, supplementation, etc. are not studied by the FDA and therefore not discussed, positively or negatively by conventional oncology. I will email you the MM CC nutrition guide via your email.
Hang in there,
David Emerson
ReplyThank you. Was never told that nutrition was important t as a myeloma patient. Can you send me nutrition information.
ReplyHi Norman-
If you are asking about “aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine” I have no experience with this supplement.
David Emerson
ReplyThanks for this great information David. Can you please send me the MM CC nutrition guide.
ReplyVery good contribution to better lifestyle..copy of your information wold be welcomed. Thank you.
ReplyHi David,
By “copy of your info” not sure what you are asking for. I can send you the MM CC nutrition guide is this is what you mean.
David Emerson
ReplyGood afternoon and thank you for the informative information. May I have copy of your diet and CBD related recommendations. Thank you.
ReplyHi Mary-
I sent several guides directly to you via email.
David Emerson
ReplyHi Pat-
If you are wondering about joining the Pre-Myeloma Program, yes there is a registration fee. The pre-MM course is separate from the consultation. If you purchase both at the same time you will receive a discount.
The page below will explain the Pre-MM Program.
https://peoplebeatingcancer.org/the-pre-myeloma-program-for-mgus-smm-sbp/
David Emerson
ReplyHi, I would appreciate a copy of your dietary recommendations. I was diagnosed SMM 2years ago but some weird things happening to my body..
thank you.
Hi Barbara-
Have you been diagnosed with MM? If so, what stage, symptoms? I will email the guide to your email inbox.
thanks
David Emerson
ReplyI am a caregiver for my 86 year old mother diagnosed with MM, she is on dialysis now because of it, please tell me what foods are best for her. Thank you for this article…..God bless., Karen
ReplyHi Tim-
I will reply to your questions about CBD as well as the nutrition guide directly via email.
Thanks,
David Emerson
ReplyHi Laurie- The nutrition guide is in the MM CC Course that you purchased. One of the lessons.
David Emerson
ReplyPlease send the MM CC nutrition guide. I am fairly recently diagnosed, and have received absolutely no support from the doctors regarding nutrition or diet. I would appreciate anything you could share at this point. Thanks. Have a beautiful week. Dave
ReplyHi Dave-
I am sorry to learn of your MM diagnosis. I will send you the MM CC nutrition guide to you via your email address. Please understand that conventional oncology prescribes only FDA approved therapies. Since nutrition is not a strict FDA approved therapy, your onc. will not discuss it.
Hang in there,
David Emerson
ReplyI am very happy to learn about your diet. I am almost done with my treatments of mm. 3 mores weeks. And I know that diet is very important but we have to know what to eat and not eat. So thank you again . I will do my best to read about it . My cancer came back to normal after 7 months but the doctor want to do the treatments for a year for controlling it better.i hope you can understand my English because I am from Quebec Canada. But I leave here for many years but I do speak French still a lot with my family. I am 74 years old. My cancer was in my spine only whe we begin the treatments. I am on revlimid.
ReplyHi Ginette-
Your English is great. Good luck with your MM, anti-MM nutrition, anti-MM nutritional supplementation and anti-MM lifestyle.
Hang in there,
David Emerson
ReplyI’m newly diagnosed and am learning as much as I can. Can you please share the diet you’ve developed with me? Thank you for your encouragement.
ReplyHello, I have just been diagnosed with MGUS and very much appreciate your mention of Dr. Li’s work. I would be grateful for any information you might share about your own nutritional wisdom. Thanks
ReplyHi David. I am a 9 year survivor having been diagnosed with SMM. I had a AST five years ago and relapsed 3 years later. I am currently in CR. I am fit and eat a pretty good diet but would appreciate a copy of your flexarian diet. Thanks so much.
ReplyHi Yolanda-
Below is a link to the explanation of the Flexitarian Diet. I have to say though that the diet is a sort of starting point for me as a MM survivor. It is adding anti-mm supplementation and anti-angiogenic nutrition
that I believe is important to us MM survivors. Congrats on a long mm survival BTW.
David Emerson
https://health.usnews.com/best-diet/flexitarian-diet
ReplyDavid is my coach and has shared his experiences and suggestions for me and many others. He does his best to support MM patients. He is a Living example of successful fighting
ReplyHi David. I’m 52 and was diagnosed with SMM a year ago. I’m IgA Kappa and have an m-spike of 0.9 and 0.2. (Total of 1.1). I was working with a nutritionist who had me on the “Mitchell Page Diet and a daily routine of over 70 pills/supplements. My numbers have remained stable but did not go down as the nutritionist said they would with the regime he had me on. I am now seeing a new nutritionist. I’ve only had my initial consult, but the gist is that I’ll do the AIP diet for a month along with food sensitivity testing and a select and more targeted supplement intake. After a month, I will be able to add back certain foods I was able to eliminate so long as I don’t show an inflammatory response. I would love to learn more about your program to make tweaks. Thanks in advance for sharing your potentially life saving protocol.
ReplyHi Rob-
Several things. Depending on your other diagnostic info, stable numbers are a positive. Remember that the prognosis for an early stage MM patient (if you every progress) is excellent.
As for non-toxic pre-MM therapies, I will email the nutrition guide to your email address. In general, I focus on anti-angiogenic foods and nutritional supplements such as curcumin, resveratrol, etc.
Let me know if you have any questions. Hang in there.
David Emerson
Reply[…] Multiple Myeloma Diet […]
ReplyWow! I have MM. I was diagnosed in August 2015.
I am very interested in your
information, diet & exercise
program. How do I learn more?
My husband Don had a solitary plasmacytoma on his C5 disc and had surgery in December 2020 followed up with radiation. He has now been diagnosed with MGUS and we would like information, please. Thank you!
ReplyHi Diana-
My introduction to MM was identical to Don’s. I will send you the MM CC nutrition guide via your email address.
Hang in there
David Emerson
ReplyPlease send me information for my husband, Bob, who was diagnosed last July and is now three months after autologous stem cell transplant. He is doing very well.
ReplyHi Janet-
I replied to your request directly via email. I sent you the MM CC nutrition guide. Good luck.
David Emerson
ReplyDo I have to become a mm coach in order to get the book and materials on the nutrition? I was diagnosed with MM this past February and will be having a SCT in July.. wanting to know more in the nutrition and foods to eat that will help this.
ReplyHi Josie-
I replied to your question directly via your email address. I included the MM CC Nutrition guide. Please understand that depending on your symptoms, age, general health, goals, etc. an ASCT may or may not be your best choice.
Good luck,
David Emerson
ReplyThanks Diane- nutrition is much debated so I stick to what I do and what the studies say.
ReplyI was recently diagnosed with mm. I am starting a RVD treatment then the stem cell transplant. Any advice or help with my diet? Thank you!
ReplyHi Angela-
I replied to you directly via email. I attached the MM CC nutrition guide with several questions.
Thanks,
David Emerson
ReplyWhere do you get your supplements resveratrol and curcumin Brand name How do you take them!
ReplyHi Sheila-
Re curcumin and resveratrol. Most of my nutritional supplements are produced by a company named Life Extension Foundation. I researched many of the supplements on consumerlab.com. These supplements consistently are approved for purity, amount, price is middle (not cheap, not expensive). I buy either directly from them or from Amazon.com.
Resveratrol- the supplement is called “Optimized Resveratrol”
Curcumin- the supplement is called “Curcumin Elite”
David Emerson
Reply[…] Multiple Myeloma Diet […]
ReplyHi David,
I have recently been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma Stage 3 and I am leaning toward not doing the autologous Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplant.
I would like your thoughts on this and I would like to know at what Stage you were diagnosed.
Thank you,
Tricia
ReplyHi Tricia-
My thinking about ASCT is based on both my experience as well as research. I myself think ASCT is a lot of toxicity for the patient. However, there are situations where aggressive treatments may be right for you. A lot depends on your age, symptoms, side effects, genetic abnormalities, etc.
In early 1994 I was diagnosed with a single bone plasmacytoma. The lesion was removed and I was told that nothing more could be done for treatment. I was diagnosed with full MM about a year later. I then underwent induction chemo ( five courses of VAD) and an ASCT three months after that.
It will be difficult to compare my situation with yours Tricia. All of the chemotherapies at the time were all different, and ASCT is now different than it was then. There was no genetic typing, no FISH test. Determining a newly diagnosed patient’s risk was much different then.
Your stage is 3. What symptoms are you experiencing? Kidney involvement? Bone damage? How old are you? Have you undergone any induction therapies such as RVD aka revlimid, velcade, dexamethasone? If so, what has your response been?
I don’t mean to sound nosey. Just thinking through your risks.
Let me know. Hang in there.
David Emerson
ReplyI have had MM fir 6 years. Had a stem cell transplant 5 1/2 years ago. I am interested in learning about your flexatarian diet.
ReplyHi Regina-
I have linked info about the Flexitarian Diet below- let me know if you have any specific questions. Thanks. David Emerson
The Flexitarian Diet explained
ReplyHello David, thank you for posting this web on your own journey with dealing with MM, i think it was divine intervention that brought me here. My questions are actually for a loved one. Firstly, thank you for bringing up the MM specialist since the person i am speaking for does not have a specialist only an oncologists, who has been seeing him for over 1 year now, he will actually be getting a 2nd opinion because it seems that his body is not responding well now to Revlimid, his liver enzymes has been trending up and so he had to stop Revlimid 25mg for 1 session and was started on Vemlidy 25mg, it brought down the enzymes but once he started regimen again with Revlimid his enzymes now went up again, do you think the felxitarian diet will help him with this and help his liver? His doctor diagnoses him with smoldering MM so ue is not in late stage yet but now his current tx is affecting his liver. Secondly, do you have any tips to help with insomnia? He has been taken off dexa bit still has hard trouble sleeping and uses ambian everyday to be able to get at least 4hrs sleep. Thank you.
ReplyHi Hanna-
I replied directly to you via your email address. Thanks.
David Emerson
ReplyHi, I would like to know more about multiple myeloma. I was diagnosed last year with mm.
ReplyHi Francine-
Like most other cancers, early stage MM is very different from late stage MM. The young MM patient reacts much differently than the elderly MM patient.
I can provide more information about MM if you can tell me a bit about your situation.
What was your MM stage at diagnosis?
Did/do you have any symptoms such as bone pain, kidney damage, blood clots, fatigue?
How is your health otherwise?
I don’t mean to be nosey, just trying to provide you with information.
Let me know, thanks.
David Emerson
ReplyHello there,
You have an incredible story and it is EXTREMELY rare to hear of anyone discuss links between food and mm. In fact I have actually been told to eat fast food because it might make me feel better mentally! Additionally, while getting chemo I’ve been (almost) forced to eat cake and drink lemonade by the staff. Currently, I’m the ONLY patient in my clinic who has disagreed with these food/beverage offerings. I was diagnosed with stage 1 mm on 23rd march 2020. Currently I am on day +30 post sct. For most of my time since diagnosis I have followed a similar diet to what you have outlined (mostly plant based). My diet is like a cross between fruitarian and Mediterranean foods. Occasionally I eat small quantities of meat. Usually when I eat meat it is after a session with my personal trainer. Interestingly, since swapping over to plant based foods I have noticed massive improvements to my health despite going through chemo. I lost 14kg, gained 8% muscle mass, no flem, no inflammation, better digestion, no dandruff, no bloating/ gas, and feel quite energetic. Last year I typed up a weekly meal plan with some common dishes I eat regularly. Would you be willing to read through my documented meals and offer some advice on where I could improve/ what I could change etc?
Cheers, Dan
Hi Dan-
The importance of nutrition to the MM survivor is not routinely discussed by conventional oncology. I’m glad that you didn’t listen to whomever told you to eat fast food:-).
I would be happy to read through your documented meals and offer advice. Please email info to david.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com.
Thanks,
David Emerson
ReplyHalloIs thwrw a fb group.I will learn everything about alternativ treatmen for MM so curious.Thwrw is hope.Ilivemyself with MM
ReplyHi Tova-
Membership in the closed, private MM group Beating Myeloma is a component of the MM Cancer Coaching Program. In other words, if you’d like to join Beating Myeloma you must register in the Multiple Myeloma Cancer Coaching Program.
https://peoplebeatingcancer.org/better-than-a-miracle-myeloma-cure/
I hope to work with you.
Thanks
David Emerson
ReplyI want to learn more and join your group. I am an MM patient and want to learn more about your success,
ReplyHi Phyllis,
I am sorry to learn of your MM diagnosis though I think wanting to learn more is the right approach. An invitation to join Beating Myeloma is included with your registration for either/or the Multiple Myeloma Cancer Coaching Program- Course and Consultation. I will link below.
Let me know if you have any questions.
https://peoplebeatingcancer.org/better-than-a-miracle-myeloma-cure/
David Emerson
ReplyHi, because I had a lot of side effects from vevlimid,valtrex,and Dex the steroid and I am 79 years old I can’t have sct. I also have diebetes,hypertension, severe Arthritis. constants dirreaha problem any suggestions?
ReplyHi, because I had a lot of side effects from vevlimid,valtrex,and Dex the steroid and I am 79 years old I can’t have sct. I also have diebetes,hypertension, severe Arthritis. Cordless is a constant problem any suggestions?
ReplyHi Livonia-
I am sorry to read of your health challenges. Because of your co-morbidities (diabetes, hypertension, etc.) I encourage you to undergo low-dose chemo only as needed to manage your MM as lightly as possible. I believe you shouldn’t have a SCT anyway. That’s fine.
Good luck,
David Emerson
ReplyHi, I am in desperate neeed and help and guidance my Mom was diagnosed in april2018 , we have not done any chemo or treatment. We want to heal this naturaly . She is having back pain in the vertebrae. Kidneys are still fine. Please help
ReplyHi Leslie-
I replied to you via your email address.
David Emerson
ReplyHi Jose-
I believe we all should “diet” by simply striving for “progress not perfection.” I say that to mean that we all can reduce the amount of processed sugar we each daily, we can reduce the amount of animal fat daily, we can add fruits and veggies to each meal each day.
And we don’t beat ourselves up if we splurge or eat something that’s not so nutritious.
Go for it.
David Emerson
ReplyHi I have MM Igg lambda , I am a vegetarian , my protein level was at 140 and after a week of chemo dropped to 80, plasma cells were at 16%, mspike at 68 something , what diet changes or lifestyle changes can I do?
ReplyHi Rahul,
I am sorry to learn of your MM. When you say “after a week of chemo” your protein dropped but did your m-spike and plasma cells drop as well? Did you list the pre-chemo levels or the post chemo levels?
Regardless, your diet and lifestyle, before, during and after chemo, should be anti-angiogenic foods, supplements as well as anti-MM lifestyle therapies such as whole body hyperthermia, exercise, etc.
Good luck,
David Emerson
ReplyI want to become an MM survivor and need to start eating correctly. I have completed my radiation treatments and am moving on to Cycle5 chemo. Even though I am having difficulty eating anything right now it is still a good time to start.
ReplyHi Ruben-
I am sorry to read of your MM diagnosis but great to read that you have the right attitude. When I had difficulty with my appetite during my radiation/chemotherapy I had smoothies- different recipes depending on what flavors I could enjoy. Nuts, green, fruit, dark chocolate.
Nutrition hack- pour ensure into the smoothie for added vitamins and minerals.
Let me also suggest both clean eating (less animal fat, more protein, lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains) and specifically antiangiogenic foods and supplements. These have been shown to kill MM cells.
Good luck.
David Emerson
ReplyHi Sybil-
If you have been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, my guess is that you have a lesion in your spine. This is common. A MM lesion in my spine and associated pain is why I went to the doctor before my diagnosis of MM.
You should have an imaging study of some kind- either an MRI (no contrast), a PET scan, etc. I am assuming several things but I recommend that you have your oncologist prescribe an imaging study. Your health insurance will want this.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Hang in there, good luck.
David Emerson
ReplyHello!
I am recently diagnosed MM with plasmacytoma at T5. I haven’t been given a Stage yet. I’m trying to learn all that I can, and starting with diet. I was hoping you could tell me the recommended dosage for resveratol?
Thank you!
ReplyHi Sharanjit-
The guides linked below, nutrition and bone health, will explain foods, supplementation and lifestyle therapies shown to cause apoptosis and increase bone mineral density aka bone health.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Hang in there,
David Emerson
/Users/david/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Mail Downloads/4BFB3774-97BF-4ED2-8F68-614735AF00FC/NutrtionV1.pdf
/Users/david/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Mail Downloads/27FC01D4-1771-456C-8814-D941A1F98FD4/BoneHealthV1.pdf
Reply[…] I eat as nutritious a diet as I can each and every day. The most popular blog post on PeopleBeatingCancer.org is simply titled Multiple Myeloma Diet. […]
ReplyHi Lisa-
Are you a newly diagnosed MM patient? If so, what stage? Are you experiencing any symptoms such as bone or kidney damage?
I will send the MM CC program nutrition guide to your email address.
Let me know if you have any questions.
David Emerson
ReplyMy husband was diagnosed with mm two years ago. He had a stem cell transplant I. May 2019. He has nonsecretial mm. It is only in his bone marrow and can only be checked through bone marrow biopsies. It is very aggressive. Please send me information. Thank you.
ReplyHello again Lisa-
I just sent you the MM CC nutrition guide. I too am non-secretory. Yes, your husband will undergo both BMB’s as well as imaging studies to check on the status of his MM. Please consider the MM CC program as well as a consultation with me.
https://peoplebeatingcancer.org/better-than-a-miracle-myeloma-cure/
David Emerson
ReplyHi Jennifer-
Before we discuss the MM CC Program, do you know your specific diagnosis? Multiple myeloma but do you know your stage? Do you have any bone involvement or kidney health issues?
Have you undergone any therapy of any kind?
Let me know, thanks.
David Emerson
ReplyI was diagnostic with M.M. About 2 or 3 yr. ago & had the stem cell transplant & I m under Dr. Care but I feel I m losing & need all the help I can get. Can U help me?
ReplyI was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in nov 2015.
I had a tumor on skull spine and hip.
The one on the hip broke my female.
I had to have radiation therapy and chemo, then in may 2016 I had a bone marrow transplant.
After that I refused all treatment and was good until may 2019when my numbers were up again, took no treatment, but in dec 2019.
I underwent emergency surgery to remove a mass which was on my vertebrae pressing on my spinal column causing me some awful symptoms, was struggling to walk had no balance, right eye couldn’t see out of it and was struggling with bladder issues.
The operation was only able to remove part of the mass, so I also had to undergo ten rounds of radiation, also had a mass on chest bone which was inoperable.
After all of that we tried five different types of chemo to which I had horrible side affects.
At the moment trying to go down a natural route, so any advise would be awesome and appreciated.
I was an international swimmer so I try to swim a few miles every week.
Thanks for any help you can give.
At the moment iam in remission
Jane pendrich
Hi Jane,
I will reply to your question via your email address.
Thanks,
David Emerson
ReplyI have had MM since 2013. I am very healthy otherwise. I am currently in remission and on a chemo drug as preventive therapy. Would like to stay on your site and find it very interesting to hear other peoples ideas and situations.
ReplyI’ll be having a SCT soon waiting on another bone marrow biopsy first then if everything is o.k. then the transplant. I havent went by no kind of diets. ..guess I need to be doing that….I also got to STOP smoking ASAP smh…so hows it going since your transplant
ReplyHi Tania-
I will reply to you directly via your email address.
David Emerson
ReplyI have been diagnosed with smoldering mylenoma. Would it help to do this ,so maybe it wouldn’t progress
ReplyHi Charlie-
I will reply to you directly via email. Thanks.
David Emerson
ReplyI had MM can give me more information on it. I have had a relapse and worry now
ReplyHi Pam,
I replied to you directly via your email address. Let me know if you have any questions.
David Emerson
ReplyHi David, diagnosed 2 years ago low risk but 70% plasma cells. Have tried almost everything I have read short of conventional treatment. Still progressing but slowly. Slightly anemic but no other symptoms, Started RVD induction and scheduled for Transplant for now. I’m interested in anything I can do that does not interfere with treatment since I have committed to go this route. I would like to learn about the diet as well as supplement interactions
ReplyHi David,
Thanks for this information as it seems to be the only one of its kind. I was diagnosed with MGUS after a blood workup by my rheumatologist for suspected RA. Went that was negative this protein IgA was found in my blood and I have been tested for 3 years in a row now by a hem/onc. This year my M-Spike went from 0.3 to 0.6. The dr didn’t even point this out but just said all is stable. I don’t show any other abnormalities on my labs. I brought to his attention the increase in the M-spike and he said that’s ok it’s stable. So frustrating! I need to take this into my hands. I need to lose about 40 lbs and I have started the circumin and reversatrol and cbd. Should I be so obsessed this being scared of MM? My aunt died of this and the Dr. said it isn’t inherited but when I research I see otherwise.
Hello! Thank you all of this wonderful information and I am so happy to hear that you are doing well after so many years! My dad is being tested for myeloma and the initial blood work is showing a few things off. M-spike at 0.3, kappa light chains at 63 and the kappa/lambda ratio at 6.7 so we aren’t sure what those mean until we meet with the doctor this week. He is certainly experiencing joint pain, but we aren’t sure if that is related or if it’s due to repeated overuse throughout the years. He’s a 61 yr old carpenter.
My question surrounds long term benzene exposure. Do you have experience with successfully removing benzene/toluene/etc from the body and repairing the damage done from the those harsh toxic chemicals? He uses the sauna, sweats a lot at work during the summer, drinks filtered water, eats organic and incredibly well (mostly vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, healthy fats and occasionally meat from a local organic farmer, no sugar, gluten, corn, dairy, soy). He has also started drinking green, dandelion and essiac tea, juicing, taking 3 grams of vitamin c (spread out), vitamin D3+K2, and now starting curcumin. While I think this is a great start, I think the best thing is to go after root cause which we believe is the benzene exposure. I’d love to hear if you have or know anyone that has successfully detoxed the body in a healthy way to get rid of the benzene and company. Sorry for the novel here! Thank you again for all that you do!
ReplyHi Kelsey-
I emailed your reply directly to your email in box-
David
ReplyI would love to hear more about your diet…some encouragement on.living with end stage aggressive MM and specifically what to ask my dr about re alternative therapies and supplements. I already (flexibly) go by the eat right for your blood type presently. So encouraged to hear the year 25! Dr said I should have been dead by last March after 29months but I am still here!! Suffering on chemo weeks but still here!! Thankyou!
ReplyDavid,
What is the best way to take curcumin in your opinion? (I am not sure I want to mess with making my digestive track more porous with black pepper..)
And what is the best daily quantity? My hematologist told me today that too much can be dangerous.
I should say that after 27 years of having MM without treatment, following a tandem bone marrow transplant in 1993, and then watching the kappa/lambda ratio creep up through the years, it finally became very active and forced me to undergo radiation and then DARA, ledalidomide, and dexamethasone, of which I have completed two months so far.
David E.
Hi David-
I replied to your post via email. Thanks.
David
ReplyHi, found what you have to say interesting. I was diagnosed Jan 2019 with Stage 1 -2 MM. High Risk translocation 14:16. 60% myeloma cells present. Picked up by my PCP with an elevated Protein, she ran with it. and recommended the oncologist I see. I was 68.PET scan neg. I have achieved complete remission since 10/19. I was started on Revlimid 25, Velcade and Dex. Turns out I was allergic to the Velcade. Intermittent use of 2 other drugs and now on decreasing dose of only Revlimid 20 to now 15 mg. Bone marrow and cytogenic study negative 2 weeks ago. I am careful with my diet lots of fruits/veg, almonds and use many supplements including IP-6 and tumeric, B12, B complex Vit C, D3, Krill Oil. I do not drink and never smoked. I have not had a stem cell transplant and have felt well throughout treatment. I also practice Reiki and have many prayerful friends. I do not own this disease ( God is my physician) but follow Dr’s orders and have armed myself with as much as I can to bring about God’s miracle. I am a retired RN. I belong to no support group but gather info here and there. Thought I would share my story…..feeling very blessed. Glad you are there to help people from your experience.
ReplyHi Linda-
I replied to you directly via email.
Thanks,
David
ReplyHi David… my name is Jamie. I was diagnosed with MM at 40 yrs of age.
I went to the hospital with back pain and they found some lesions on a couple of my disc and fewer. I went through 5 rounds of chemo followed by a stem cell transplant. Since then, I was put on 10 mg of Revlimed and there are no traces of m protein in my system. At this moment, I am feeling terrific, besides some pain that I get around the laces where the lesions were found, but overall back doing all the active stuff that I always did ( ie hockey, weight training). I always kept myself in good shape, but since being diagnosed I wanted to make sure that I was putting food back into my body that, I thought would help ward off the Myeloma from coming back. I guess, something I can do than just asking the revlimed to do all the work. I’m very much into nutrition, and I have read some articles about foods that aid in fighting this disease. If you have any info on nutrition that can help the fight against MM, I would very much like to see it. I’m not a fan of popping pills just to make things go away and I do believe Better nutrition Does help getting rid of diseases.
I enjoyed reading about your journey and applaud you on your 25 yrs beating this deserve. You are an inspiration and I after reading this, your story made me feel that nothing is impossible.
All the best
Hi David… my name is Jamie. I was diagnosed with MM at 40 yrs old. I went to the hospital with back pain and they found some lesions on a couple of my disc and fewer. I went through 5 rounds of chemo followed by a stem cell transplant. Since then, I was put on 10 mg of Revlimed and there are no traces of m protein in my system. At this moment, I am feeling terrific, besides some pain that I get around the laces where the lesions were found, but overall back doing all the active stuff that I always did ( ie hockey, weight training). I always kept myself in good shape, but since being diagnosed I wanted to make sure that I was putting food back into my body that, I thought would help ward off the Myeloma from coming back. I guess, something I can do than just asking the revlimed to do all the work. I’m very much into nutrition, and I have read some articles about foods that aid in fighting this disease. If you have any info on nutrition that can help the fight against MM, I would very much like to see it. I’m not a fan of popping pills just to make things go away and I do believe Better nutrition Does help getting rid of diseases.
I enjoyed reading about your journey and applaud you on your 25 yrs beating this deserve. You are an inspiration and I after reading this, your story made me feel that nothing is impossible.
All the best
Hi Jamie-
Thanks for reaching out. Great to read that you are in complete remission. Especially great to read that your life is pretty-much back to normal if you can play ice hockey again as well as lift weights. I have a couple of hockey-playing pals from college. Both are still playing old-man hockey and loving it. I’m not saying that you are an old man…:-)
Your experience-
MM diagnosis
induction chemo (RVD?)
Autologous stem cell transplant (where did you have yours?)
low-dose maintenance Revlimid
is an excellent example of the “standard-of-care” for newly diagnosed MM patients. How old are you now?
I have always believed that conventional oncology has gotten good at stabilizing newly diagnosed MM. Standard-of-care induction therapy of RVD, achieves almost a 100% response rate, with 80% of NDMM patients (I think) achieving at least a partial remission. Many more VGPR and CR. Some even MRD negative…
And that’s great, as far as it goes.
The challenge for the 40 year old, as I see it, is the long-term picture. At this point in my response, I have to list my assumptions. Correct any that you don’t agree with Jamie.
If I were a 40 year old NDMM-
My OS (overall survival aka length of life) goal would be to die of old age in my sleep
My quality of life goal (QOL) goal would be… minimal pain and suffering.
The standard-of-care for relapsed, refractory MM patients is to cycle through chemo singlets, doublets and triplet regimens based on the drug classes below:
Immunomodulatory drugs-Thalidomide, Lenalidomide (Revlimid), and pomalidomide (Pomalyst)
Proteasome inhibitors-Bortezomib (Velcade), Carfilzomib (Kyprolis), and Ixazomib (Ninlaro)
Monoclonal antibodies- Elotuzumab (Empliciti) and daratumumab (Darzalex)
Immunotherapy- Isatuximab (Sarclisa)
Nuclear export inhibitors. Selinexor (Xpovio)
Glucocorticoid- Dexamethason, Prednisone
all in and effort to reach remission again and again, hoping to avoid multi-drug resistance (MDR) and end-stage MM.
The challenge faced by MM survivors relapsing after their first remission is that remissions get shorter and shorter, MM develops resistance to chemotherapy and finally, because of shorter remission and chemo resistance, MM survivors undergo more and more chemo meaning they undergo more and more toxicity, more and more frequently.
The five most common side effects are also the five most common causes of death for mm survivors. See the post below.
The answer, again in my opinion, is for NDMM patients to minimize toxic therapies as much as possible while including non-toxic MM therapies. I consider integrative therapies in this as well- integrative therapies shown to enhance the efficacy of conventional chemotherapy.
I will attach the MM CC nutrition guide. I consider anti-angiogenic foods and supplements to be an important non-toxic yet anti-MM therapy.
Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck,
David Emerson
What is Multiple Myeloma? Oncology has it backwards…
What is multiple myeloma? In my experience the standard-of-care approach for multiple myeloma patients is misleading. Considering only FDA approved MM therapies represents short-term thinking. Newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients are put at a huge disadvantage if they think short-term.
In my experience, MM is a blood cancer that combines potentially life-threatening symptomsand a series of life-threatening side effects. All at the same time. Let me explain.
Reply[…] Multiple Myeloma Diet […]
ReplyHi, I just got diagnosed with MM a month ago going for my biopsy on 9/11/2020
ReplyDear David,
My grandmother and mother both lost their lives to MM. My mom passed on 2/2019 just 3 months after her diagnosis. She never had any pain at all. Its a long and complicated explanation. To make a long story short. She started her MM treatment and a week later was hospitalized with heart failure. She was gone a month later. Five months later I started having shortness of breath, rib pain, fatigue. I just had kidney stones and my kidney function is normal. I am pretty anemic as well. Also I need to drop about 60lbs. I haven’t seen a doctor yet. Im terrified. What do you recommend? Thank you!
ReplyHi Laura-
My reply to your post will be a bit long so I will reply to you via your email address.
David Emerson
ReplyHi Jayne-
If you are asking if the site PeopleBeatingCancer is still active, yes, PeopleBeatingCancer is active.
Thanks,
David Emerson
ReplyIs the USD199 payment for the coaching program a onetime payment/life time subscription?
Can the lessons be printed in a easy to read format in order to enhance studying?
Hi December,
The $199.00 for the MM CC Program is a one-time payment. The 16 cancer coaching guides can be printed. The 24 video lessons however cannot be printed. Keep in mind that there are url links to studies interspersed throughout the MM CC guides. You can print them out, I simply saying that the links won’t work…
One of the videos in the MM CC program is me encouraging people to print the guides for easy future reference.
Let me know if you have any questions.
David Emerson
ReplyHi, my name is Angela and my husband was diagnosed at the age of 51 with an aggressive stage of MM 2 years ago, he had lesions on almost all his bones, compression fractures in his vertebrae and a lower back fracture and his creatin was 3.6 for his kidney function when he was diagnosed. He under went the normal cytoxin, revlimid, dexy therapy which got it under control, his kappa lambda light chains went from 9000 to 140 after a few cycles. And his creatin level is 1.3 We did a CAR-T clinical trial for newly diagnosed patients which put him in remission for about 3 months, but it came back at which time he had the stem cell transplant in the fall of 2019. He is on 15mg of revlimid and gets a Velcade shot every other week, which wipes him out for a few days. He changed to a completely whole foods plant based Vegan diet 6 weeks ago in an attempt to have more energy and to lose weight, which has not given him any relief from either. He walks about 3 or 4 miles everyday, except after the velcade days. The new diet has taken most of the back pain away and he is off all his pain medications. I guess my question is are there foods/supplements that help to off-set the energy draining side effects of the velcade and revlimid to some degree?
Thank you,
Angela
Hi Angela,
I replied to you directly via email.
David Emerson
Reply[…] Fruits and vegetables- both for MM and CKD- […]
Reply[…] Multiple Myeloma Diet […]
ReplyMy 60 yr old sister was diagnosed with MM about 3 years ago. She has had constant chemo throughout and a stem cell transplant about 1 year ago. She has been taking many supplements/vitamins all along. Doctors say she has refractory MM and in most cases the life span (with treatments) is only 5 years. Could supplements/vitamins be interacting with the chemo treatments preventing her from going into remission?
ReplyHi Linda-
I am sorry to learn of your sister’s refractory MM. I interpret your oncologists using this term to mean that your sister’s MM is resistant to chemotherapy. While it is not often discussed in the MM literature, 20-25% of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients are resistant to chemotherapy aka refractory.
For the record, my MM was refractory as well. Meaning, I never achieved satisfactory remission after my induction chemotherapy nor did I achieve satisfactory after my autologous stem cell transplant.
As for your question “Could supplements/vitamins be interacting with the chemo treatments preventing her from going into remission?” It is impossible for me to answer this question fully without knowing which nutritional supplements your sister is taking.
However, I can say that certain supplements have been shown in studies to enhance the efficacy of specific MM chemotherapy regimens. For example, curcumin has been shown to enhance the efficacy of revlimid (lenalidomide). See the study linked below.
In addition, omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to kill MM as well as enhance the efficacy of velcade (bortezomib). Please see the study below.
On the other hand, green tea (EGCG) has been shown to inhibit the efficacy of velcade (bortezomib).
Conventional FDA approved oncology doesn’t study, doesn’t research most nutrition supplements. That’s just not what they or the FDA does. Therefore, the challenge for all MM patients is to figure out what therapies give us the best chances for survival.
If you would like, send me a list of those supplements that your sister takes and I will be happy to research possible interactions with MM and MM chemotherapy regimens.
Let me know, hang in there,
David Emerson
Reply[…] Multiple Myeloma Diet […]
Reply[…] Multiple Myeloma Diet […]
ReplyHello David: Great work you are doing to get us informed! I was diagnosed with MGUS in 2016. I’m a 66 yr. old female, 5’3″, 115-119 lbs. My diet for the last 20 yrs. or so has been fairly clean ( at times I slip off the wagon with either gluten, sugar, dairy or non organic). Otherwise, I juice greens, carrots, beets, ginger root, turmeric root, and purchase as much local organic farm vegetables as possible and eat wild edibles (when available), I’m on a few supplements ( vit D3, Chaga tincture and sometimes chaga tea, Vit B12, sublingual, Curumin on occasion, vit C on occasion tablet form, every week or so I’ll make white cedar tea, or white pine needle tea and broccoli sprouts on occasion. I drink grass fed protein powder a few times/week. Very little to no toxic skin care products. Walking 30 min. 3-5 times/week. Hydrotherapy in the shower. I use an infrared Dome at home daily for a few hrs/day. I drink filtered water (Big Berkey). I take CBD oil and THC oil and 1-2 puffs of dried THC at night only for sleep. One registered massage therapy session/month. I have blood work once/yr and so far all is stable. I worry most of the time about this MGUS progressing. It’s on my mind most days which I know is not the best way to live. I stress easily. Are you able to calm my minds thinking in any way with your knowledge. I am really against conventional cancer treatments. Also, I’m not on any medical prescriptions except for the cannabis. Your thoughts would be much appreciated.
ReplyHi Patricia,
The best way for me to calm your mind relative to an MGUS diagnosis is to cite statistics as well as my experience. Your risk of progressing from MGUS to full-blown MM is 1% per year. Your diet, supplementation and lifestyle therapies all reduce this annual risk. Therefore, my belief is that your annual risk of your MGUS progressing to MM is LESS than 1% a year.
If you do progress to MM, by “PRE-habilitating” (diet, supplements, lifestyle), you will respond to chemotherapy very well, according to studies. Therefore your prognosis as a person diagnosed with early stage MM is excellent.
For the record, I too fall of the wagon occasionally where my anti-MM diet is concerned. I too think about a possible MM relapse, treatment related secondary cancer, etc. frequently (daily…).
My point is that we both are doing well.
Hang in there,
David Emerson
ReplyHi David
I have MM & have recently undergone Induction Therapy & I am in the process of deciding whether to proceed with HDT-ASCT.I am 67yrs young & in reasonable shape although the induction therapy had given me peripheral neuropathy mainly in my legs & feet.
I have already changed my diet to a more vegan outlook although it wont be 100% . I am thinking along the anti-angiogenesis line with inclusive foods.
The question I am grappling with is do I call it quits on the conventional route & back my own gut feeling or complete the stem cell transplant with the treatment likely to worsen my neuropathy & maybe introduce other unwelcome side effects ?
Hi Bert,
I will reply to your questions via your email address.
David Emerson
ReplyHi there, I have just been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Still going through tests before treatment but wanting to arm myself with everything I can get my hands on. I know that diet plays a huge part. I NEED to know what foods to avoid and you did give a brief outline. I was also wondering if baking soda does any good?? Any advise would be great! Thank you for putting your info out there…gives us hope!
ReplyHi Gaye-
I am sorry to read of your MM diagnosis. However I think you are on the right track to consider both conventional and non-conventional therapies.
Several things. Timing- First and foremost, consider pre-habilitation. Meaning, include that diet, supplementation and lifestyle therapies BEFORE you begin your induction therapy.
MM nutrition- it is less about what not to eat as a MM patient. Yes, follow general nutritional guidelines but include anti-angiogenic fruits, veggies, supplements. General guidelines are little refined sugar, little animal fat, lean animal protein, lots of fiber, lots of fruits and veggies.
The MM Cancer Coaching program lists specific anti-MM nutrition and supplementation as well as conventional, complementary, integrative MM therapies.
Baking soda. I assume you are referring to Dr. Simoncini protocol. There are no studies, no research to indicate if baking soda is cytotoxic to cancer/MM. I can’t say…
What stage is your diagnosis? What symptoms? Bone damage? Kidney damage? Diet is different if your kidney function is reduced.
David Emerson
ReplyI was diagnose with MM four weeks ago, and currently receiving infusion once a week with other medications. Can you consume alcohol? If yes what kind? What kind of nutrition /food and supplements to take. What is non toxic MM therapies? Please I need your e book you have on MM …Thanks
ReplyHi Ade-
I am sorry to read of your MM diagnosis. In order to answer your question properly I need to know what other medications you are receiving weekly.
When MM patients are undergoing standard of care chemotherapy regimens, I caution them not to consume alcohol. Toxic chemo is hard on the person’s liver. MM patients may have kidney damage upon diagnosis.
So you can see how alcohol is rough on our organs. The light at the end of the tunnel is AFTER chemo ends. While your oncologist may caution you away from alcohol, I will admit to you that I have one or two glasses of wine each week. I stick to red wine. Resveratrol in red wine is cytotoxic to MM cells.
As for foods, I don’t diet. I eat whole grains, little animal fat, as little refined sugar as possible, and as many angiogenic foods and supplements as I can find. Fruits and veggies are seasonal here in my home town of Cleveland, Ohio.
The non-toxic therapies that you refer to are too many to list in an email. The MM cancer coaching program lists non-FDA approved therapies, foods, supplements, etc.
I will send an e-copy of Beating Myeloma to your email address.
Hang in there,
David Emerson
ReplyDavid, I have had full blown MM since 2016 had stem cell transplant in 2017….I need assistance maintaining or fighting the growth of MM….In essence, I need coaching with diet, exercise, supplements, etc.
I look forward to hearing back from you.
Ken Rubin
Hi Ken,
Several things. First, I am sorry for your MM diagnosis though I agree with your approach to puruse both conventional and non-conventional therapies like diet. Further, my experience is that MM patients usually need both traditional therapies as well as non-FDA approved therapies like diet and supplementation.
If it’s okay with you I need some basic info about your current situation.
1) what is your current situation- m-spike, side effects, symptoms (bone involvelement, etc.)?
2) What was the outcome of your ASCT in ’17? How did you respond to treatment? Remission, Parial remission, Complete Remission, etc? Did you undergo induction therapy before your stem cell transplant? Which one?
3) How old are you? What is your health like otherwise? The term is “co-morbidities.” Do you have any other chronic diseases?
I will forward this reply to your email address as well. I is easier for me to communicate via email, send PDF files, etc.
Let me know, thanks.
David Emerson
Reply[…] Multiple Myeloma Diet […]
ReplyMy granny(66) has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma for 3 years and our present medication is thalidomide and aspirin. Her legs are swollen often but the creatinine tests are fine. Please adivce me about the precautions for renal impairment🙏.
ReplyHi Satya,
I am sorry to read of our grandmother’s MM diagnosis. I have linked a website below that explains the symptoms and blood tests for kidney/renal failure. Please consider a chemotherapy regimen called Velcade. Velcade often clears the disfunctional kidney.
David Emerson
Reply[…] Multiple Myeloma Diet […]
ReplyI was wondering if you could tell me what to feed my husband he was diagnosis 8 week ago and in on treatment he was a strong man but now can not walk without a walker , lots of pain right now his blood count is 44 which is not the best , I need to get the count up so what would be good for him , I love my husband of 36 years and I want so bad to make his life better.
ReplyHi Dee-
I will reply to your post via your email address.
David Emerson
ReplyHi Nora-
Two things. I don’t have a set amount of fruit I eat each day. I live in Cleveland, Ohio and fruit and veggies differ depending on the season. It’s more about making sure I include fruits and veggies in each meal. Also, I have learned to add fruit to much of what I eat. For example, I add berries, red/black/blue to granola, oatmeal, etc. Second, I try to include those fruits and supplements listed by Dr. Bill Li in his TED Talk about anti-angiogenesis. What Dr. Li’s video- good stuff. My supplementation is nutritional for me, so I see it as an extension of my anti-angiogenic diet.
Let me know if you have other questions.
David Emerson
ReplyThe BEST place in the WORLD for treatment and ultimate success is the UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS MEDICAL SCIENCES CENTER — UAMS Iin Little Rock, Arkansas. They are world renound and have probably the best success record of ANY institution anywhere!
ReplyHi Jim Farmer-
My understanding is the Dr. James Berenson has the longest average five year survival rates for any MM institution. I agree, however, that UAMS has a good five year survival track record as well assuming that a MMer fits their treatment criteria.
David Emerson
Reply[…] Multiple Myeloma Diet […]
ReplyPlease do not post.
How much is your program. What if a person can not afford it?
Hello! My mother in law just found out she has MM and two masses. One in the back of her neck and an other one below her kidney. We are devastated. Need to go see a Hematologist and oncologist. Waiting for an appointment. I need to know what kind of diet she she do and which supplements would help her cope with the treatments. If there’s anything you can share it would Ben greatly appreciated. Where did you do your treatments?
ReplyHi Gisela-
I replied to your previous post about MM oncs at Princess Margaret and Dana-Farber and Sloan-Kettering being top MM centers. I underwent treatment here in Cleveland, Ohio at University Hospital. But much has improved in MM therapy since I was diagnosed. MM nutrition, supplementation, lifestyle therapies, conventional issues, non-conventional therapies and more are components of the Multiple Myeloma Cancer Coaching program.
Let me know if you have other questions. Hang in there,
David Emerson
ReplyDo you have this translated in Spanish? I’m asking because my mother will be starting her 3rd treatment in 3 years for MM. She was in remission from breast cancer, 1st diagnosed in 2006. then was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015. She is my heart and soul, and I’m looking to educate her on more non conventional treatments. Thank you.
ReplyHi Sharon,
I am sorry to read of your mom’s cancer challenges. If I understand your post, your mom has been in and out of remission for her MM 3 times in three years. In other words, your mom has not achieved hoped for longer remissions. Are you asking me if the Multiple Myeloma Cancer Coaching Guides are in Spanish? Or are you asking only about the blog post about diet?
Either or, no, neither are translated into Spanish. If you are interested the MM CC program I would work with you to translate each guide (13 of them) into Spanish. Meaning I will get each guide translated. Does your mom speak any English? I would like to speak with her about the guides to walk her through the various issues. You can be on the phone as well.
Let me know.
David Emerson
ReplyHello
My brother in law just got diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma and he has had MS for about 15 years also. They gave him maybe 3 years to live. He started chemo just recently and is in the hospital still Because his MS is so bad they have to move him to a rehabilitation center. He lives in a different state than my husband and I. I want to help him and I just don’t know where to start.
Thanks
Jody
Hi Jody,
I am sorry to read about your BILs health challenges. A diagnosis of MM coupled with induction chemotherapy is tough for healthy people and really
tough on someone with MS. Long-term caregiving your BIL will be difficult, meaning your options are limited. I normally work directly with MM survivors and caregivers. How is your BIL making MM decisions such as what chemo to take, what nutritional plan he should follow, supplements, etc. stuff like that?
Or maybe due to his MS, your BIL is undergoing only a minimum of toxic therapy? Which may be a good thing…
David Emerson
ReplyI discovered I had MM on April 13, 2016 when I broke my arm when playing golf. I started treatment of RVD after a rod was put in my arm to repair the fracture. I also am considered high risk with 17p chromosome deletion. The RVD lowered my Light Chains for the first 5 months, then relapsed. The Velcade was then replaced with Kyprolis. I have continued this drug combination with my Light Chains continuing to decrease for the last 9 months.
ReplyHi Ron-
I am sorry to read of your MM diagnosis. But keep in mind that there is a long and growing list of both conventional (FDA approved like RVd) and evidence-based non-conventional therapies that research as shown are cytotoxic to MM.
RVd is an excellent induction therapy to put the average MMer into remission. As you know however, you are not the average MMer. As your oncologist has probably told you, 17p chromosome deletion makes your MM more difficult to treat. It looks like you and your oncologist are successfully treating your MM.
As you have seen in the free MM CC webinar, I have researched a series of non-toxic therapies that have kept me in complete remission since early ’99. I firmly believe that all MMers must supplement their conventional MM therapies with this program however this is up to you.
Let me know if you have any questions. Hang in there,
David Emerson
ReplyHi David
My name is Miles. I’m 59 and about to receive autologous SCT here at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. My condition began Oct 2016 with a diagnosis of ESRD kidney failure when creatinin was shown at 17 during a kidney stone removal whereupon I was placed on dialysis for 3mos.
Thankfully the chemo (rev-dex-Velcade) relieved the kidney condition and I feel very well, praise God!
Tomorrow I will begin receiving human growth injections. I stumbled upon your site whilst searching for info re the mitigation of libido side effects caused by chemo and SCT. I had noticed a decrease in that area during the previous months when I was on chemo drugs. Interestingly since the doctor discontinued the chemo last week as a precursor to the transplant, libido has returned to near normal.
I signed up for webinar so my wife and I can check it out tomorrow night. Thanks for a great looking website!
Hi David, My name is Sharon and I was diagnosed with high risk smoldering myeloma last October. I am 59 years old. I have a blood test every 5 weeks and follow up with the oncologist the 6th week. I have had a specialist, oncologist and nurse practitioner tell me I will “probably” have myeloma within 12 months and need a stem cell transplant. I am interested in any and all information you can offer, particularly the diet. Thank you so much!!
ReplyHi Sharon-
I am sorry to learn of your high risk SMM diagnosis. While I understand why the oncologist, nurse, etc. think you may progress to frank MM in 12 months research and experience has taught me that SMM can be maintained for years. Also, at this stage you are pre-MM. If you ever progress to full blown mm you will be early stage MM. Studies indicate that autologous stem cell transplant early or later makes no difference in overall survival. The sooner you begin chemotherapy (ASCT) the sooner you will reach MDR (multi drug resistance) I am assuming that at the age of 59 you are interested in the 30-40 year picture not the 5-10 year picture…
I will go into that in the email that I will send to your gmail account now.
Please look in your email in-box. Let me know if you have any questions.
thanks
David Emerson
ReplyI have stage II relapsed multiple myeloma and need your advice and help.
ReplyHi Cindy-
I am sorry to read of your MM relapse. Keep in mind that there are a host of both conventional (FDA approved) and evidence-based non-conventional therapies (nutrition, supplementation, lifestyle, bone health, etc.) at your disposal. Let me try to get a clearer idea of your situation.
1) When you say “stage II relapse” do you mean that your original MM diagnosis was stage II, you achieved remission and you have now relapsed?
2) What was your previous therapy? Induction chemo cocktail? Autologous stem cell transplant?
3) How old are you? Do you have any health issues that may complicate your situation?
I don’t mean to minimize the seriousness of your situation when I say you have several therapy options. Let’s take things one step at a
time.
Let me know. Hang in there,
David Emerson
ReplyDavid,
I have reached out to Dr. James Berenson and am waiting for his response – Thanks!
I plan on joining your program, I haven’t decided which program I will choose yet
ReplyDavid,
I was diagnosed with Stage III High Risk MM with translocation t(11:14), Mutation of p53 and Deletion of 17p in July 2016 at the age of 68.
I have worked out with weights and heavy cardio for 40 years this month. I first got into nutrition 36 years ago just before our first of two sons was born.
I know I have a very unusual diagnosis, as I have been informed I am in the worst possible status. After diagnosis I continued my 4 miles on my elliptical and as well doing upper weights one day and lower weights the following day for 6-7 days a week. I also tightened up my diet even though I was a healthy vegan and started juicing 32 to 56 oz. a day with added ginger, flax seed oil, ground black pepper and a lot of turmeric.
I had four rounds of RVD and an “auto” stem cell transplant in December of 2016. I also had kyphoplasty surgery in September 2016, as T-11, T-12, & L-4 collapsed in my spine and I lost 3.5 inches of height. Even at my worst stage of being completely crippled and not being able to move in any direction once I was in bed, I continued my 4 miles on the elliptical and my pulley weight workouts of my upper and lower body. I was also diagnosed with osteoporosis.
I went to one of the top Osteoporosis Research Centers in the nation and my doctor was startled when I informed him of how heavy of weights I was using in my workouts and recommended I stop it immediately.
I