Myeloma – Bone Health – Probiotics-

Hi Angelica-

I am sorry to learn of your mom’s MM diagnosis. It’s good to read that your mom is responding to treatment. It is difficult for me to hazard a guess as to what is causing her skin itchiness without knowing what treatments she is undergoing.

Has your mom undergone any diagnostic testing? Blood work may be able to indicate something about red or white blood cells or if any other levels are above or below normal. Levels such as sodium, potassium, glucose, etc.

Regardless of the type of treatment, your mom will benefit from the usual diagnostic testing in order to understand what is happening to her blood, marrow, organs, bones, etc.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Good luck,

David Emerson

Hi Leela-

I am sorry to read of your MM diagnosis. “Overcome” this ailment as you say requires a long reply. How about if I give you tips to enhance
your induction therapy (RVD) and therefore postponing the need for what your oncologist will push for as the next step of treatment- an autologous stem cell transplant.

Before you begin RVD therapy, “PRE- habilitate.” Like getting in shape for the big game or for any big endeavor. Clean up your diet, try to moderately exercise daily (go for a brisk walk), take a supplement called curcumin (I will link below), try to get a good nights sleep regularly, try to stress yourself less, if at all.

Studies show that PRE-habilitation will help your induction be more effective, help you recover from it more quickly and require fewer coursed (your oncologist may push for 5 or 6 monthly courses but if you respond well after, say 2-3, you will not have to undergo as much chemo aka toxicity.)

The big question is the need for an autologous stem cell transplant. If you reach MRD, complete remission or very good partial remission, studied confirm that you will not benefit from an immediate ASCT and will only increase your risk of short, long-term and late stage side effects.

As for your radiation for your back pain- if your oncologist is recommending local radiation, it means the you have a MM lesion in one of your vertebras. A little amount of local radiation can be a good thing to zap your lesion.

Ask your oncologist about kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty (bone cement) to stabilize your spine once you nuke the lesion.

I will email you the MM CC bone health guide to undergo non-toxic therapies to enhance your bone health.

Let me know if you have any questions. Let me know how you do, how you feel going forward. Keep in touch and hang in there,

David Emerson