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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Myeloma Symptom- Kidney Damage- Natural Detox Therapies
“In many cases, a kidney cleanse will integrate herbs, vitamins, and minerals into a whole-foods-based diet designed to flush out the kidneys.”
Kidney damage is a common multiple myeloma symptom. Meaning, newly diagnosed MM patients can present with kidney damage. The MM itself can damage a MM patient’s kidney function.
The only conventional therapy that MM patient living with kidney damage from his/her MM can choose is kidney dialysis. While I have no personal experience with kidney dialysis, I have been told that this therapy is difficult at best, a living hell, at worst.
Non-conventional therapies aka kidney cleanses are less than evidence-based. Meaning, few, if any studies have been conducted into natural kidney cleansing.
I’ve said this in many of my blog posts on PeopleBeatingCancer. When we MM patients and survivors are faced with a health problem that is related to our MM, we may not be able to find a suitable or effective therapy provided by conventional oncology.
Remember that conventional oncology considers MM to be incurable. There are a host of multiple myeloma symptoms that conventional oncology just can’t fix. There are several MM symptoms and side effects that conventional oncology creates with chemotherapy and radiation.
Think chemobrain, heart damage, blood clots, cataracts and the list goes on…
If I was a newly diagnosed MM patient experiencing kidney damage and wanted to improve my kidney function/health, I would:
- talk to my conventional MD
- meet with a naturopath with an expertise in kidney health
- and finally, consider the natural kidney cleansing therapies linked below-
The articles linked below are those articles, recipes, videos, etc. that I find to be credible and, though not “evidence-based,” may offer therapies for kidney patients to consider.
To Learn More about Detoxification- click now
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Coach
- Director Galen Foundation
- To Learn More About Hypercalcemia in Multiple Myeloma- click now
- To Learn More About Kidney Failure in Multiple Myeloma click now
- Multiple Myeloma Symptom, Side Effect, Cause of Death- Renal Insufficiency
Before You Try a Kidney Cleanse
“Kidneys also release three important hormones: erythropoietin (which stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells), renin (which regulates blood pressure), and calcitriol (the active form of vitamin D, which helps maintain calcium for bones and for normal chemical balance in the body)…
If you’re interested in taking natural approaches to enhance your kidney health, talk with your doctor and consider consulting a qualified health professional.
- Dandelion tea
- Marshmallow root
- Juniper
- Nettles
- Parsley
- Red clover
- Ginger
- Goldenrod
- Beet juice
- Watermelon
- Lemon juice
- Cranberry juice
- Pumpkin seeds
- Smoothies
- Ginger
- Turmeric
- Vitamin B2
- Vitamin B6
- Magnesium
In many cases, a kidney cleanse will integrate herbs, vitamins, and minerals into a whole-foods-based diet designed to flush out the kidneys.
Possible Concerns- While kidney-cleanse proponents suggest that they enhance the kidneys’ ability to remove waste from the body, their claim/s are not backed by scientific data. Like other supplements, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t require products marketed for kidney cleansing be proven safe and effective. While consumers face such risks when purchasing any dietary supplement, these risks may be of greater magnitude with supplements containing a variety of herbs in high doses.
Doing a Natural Kidney Cleanse at Home
“The kidneys are two small organs located on either side of the spine, below the ribs. They play an important role in getting rid of excess waste, balancing electrolytes, and creating hormones.
In the absence of disease, a well-rounded diet and adequate water intake are usually enough to keep your kidneys healthy.
However, certain foods, herbs, and supplements can help support strong kidneys.
From your morning glass of water to that extra cup of herbal tea, here are four ways to cleanse your kidneys and keep them functioning strong
- Hydration is key
- Choose foods that support kidney health
- Drink kidney-cleansing teas
- Supplement with supportive nutrients
YouTube Video Demonstrating Kidney Cleansing Drink
I found this video to be a bit silly but the cocktail/recipe seemed legit.
Myeloma Diagnosis- Kappa Light Chain, Kidney Damage…
Conventional MM therapies, an ASCT, Ninlaro and Dex. have taken you from your original DX to today- about five years now. Your challenge is to figure out how to extend your remission with little or no toxicity…
Dear MM Coach- I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM) in September 2014. I had an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) Feb 18, 2015. I went 2 years with no chemo or treatment. Then my Kappa light chain started to inch up. Got to 400 and I was put on 4mg of Ninlaro & Dexamethasone on a 1,8,15 and then off regimen. Last two year I have been on Ninlaro every other week. No Dexamethasone for the last year.
Kappa numbers have stayed steady at 35 with a ratio of about 1.3. I just stopped taking the Ninlaro to see if my numbers go up or maintain. My other concern is my kidney function. My kidney capillaries wee plugged up with the MM and I took some stone root for a couple of years to help get them to where they are at right now.
My creatinine was 6.9 when diagnosed. It has been down around 3.0 since the stem cell transplant but not much lower. I hae been taking CBD full spectrum 30MG capsules for about a month twice a day. I will continue twice a day until my next lab tests are done at the end of October.
Do you think I am on the right track or not? Any information would be appreciated.
My spouse is not against CBD but not really for it yet.
Sincerely, Mike
Dear Mike,
I will list the issues below that I consider to be important to your situation. I will also make some suggestions below.
1. “ I had an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) Feb 18, 2015. I went 2 years with no chemo or treatment.”
I’m going to assume that your ASCT went well and that you achieved at least a complete remission which is why you chose to stop all chemo after you finished your ASCT.
2. “Then my Kappa light chain started to inch up.”
My interpretation of a slowly increasing KLC is that you were slowly relapsing.
3. “Got to 400 and I was put on 4mg of Ninlaro & Dexamethasone on a 1,8,15 and then off regimen. Last two year I have been on Ninlaro every other week. No Dexamethasone for the last year.”
By itself a Kappa light chain of 400 doesn’t mean that you have to begin therapy again but that was your decision so no problem. 4 mg of Ninlaro is a low-dose maintenance therapy. Assuming you are not experiencing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, you should be fine.
4. “Kappa numbers have stayed steady at 35 with a ratio of about 1.3. I just stopped taking the Ninlaro to see if my numbers go up or maintain.”
It seems to me that your low-dose maintenance of Ninlaro has worked well (“numbers have stayed steady”) again, assuming that you are not experiencing any side effects. As for discontinuing your low-dose ninlaro to see how your MM reacts (up/down/steady), I will discuss evidence-based non-conventional, non-toxic therapies below.
5. “My other concern is my kidney function. My kidney capillaries wee plugged up with the MM and i took some stone root for a couple of years to help get them to where they are at right now. My creatinine was 6.9 when diagnosed. It has been down around 3.0 since the stem cell transplant but not much lower.”
Kidney damage is a common symptom of MM. I have linked general info about Stone Root below. Your creatinine should be between .6 and 1.2 milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dL) A reading of 3.0 mg/dl is high. I will link an article about non-toxic therapies to further improve your kidney function below.
My answer to your question “Do you think I am on the right track or not?” is that you’ve done fine for the past five years. My experience and research tells me that before long you will:
- experience more severe side effects as your body weakens from taking chemo long-term
- experience “multi-drug resistance (MDR)” a situation faced by all MM survivors eventually as your disease will stop responding to all chemo regimens.
My belief is that you should combine conventional with evidence-based non-conventional, integrative therapies to enhance the cytotoxicity of the therapies plus reduce the toxicity of the chemo regimens. The article below that cites curcumin as an integrative therapy for lenalidomide (revlimid) is an example of what I’m talking about.
Recommended Reading:
- Multiple Myeloma-Chemobrain Underreported in Autologous Stem Cell Transplant
- Dr. James Berenson-Myeloma Specialist w/ Cancer Coaching Support
- Secondary Cancer Post Autologous Stem Cell Transplant for Myeloma
STONE ROOT
“Stone root is an herb. It has a strong, unpleasant smell that some people consider overwhelming. The root and rhizome (underground stem) are used to make medicine.
Stone root is used to treat urinary tract problems including bladder pain and swelling (inflammation), stones in the kidney and elsewhere in the urinary tract, and excess uric acid in the urine. It is also used to increase urine flow to relieve water retention (edema)…”
Before You Try a Kidney Cleanse
“If you’re interested in taking natural approaches to enhance your kidney health, talk with your doctor and consider consulting a qualified health professional.
Kidney cleanses vary in approach. Here’s a look at some of the most common types of kidney cleanses…
Caring for Your Kidneys
Here are several science-supported methods for caring for your kidneys and reducing your risk of kidney disease:1
- Avoid smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine
- Maintain normal blood pressure and blood sugar levels
- Keep your cholesterol in check
- Drink enough water and other fluids
- Stay at a healthy weight
Although there’s no evidence that a kidney flush can help prevent kidney stones, you may reduce your risk by getting enough fluids and cutting back on sodium.2 People with a history of kidney stones may also want to avoid foods rich in oxalates, such as chocolate, okra, sweet potatoes, sesame seeds, greens, nuts, and spinach. There is some evidence suggesting that the herb Phyllanthus may help prevent the formation of kidney stones…”
Curcumin enhances the cytotoxic and chemo-sensitising effects of lenalidomide in human multiple myeloma cells
“Conclusion: Curcumin exerts a cytotoxic effect additive to that of lenalidomide on H929 myeloma cells, and it also enhances the chemo-sensitizing effects of this agent.”