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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 Therapy- Melatonin

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“Melatonin (MEL), the main hormone produced by the pineal gland, seems to exert antineoplastic activity both in vitro and in vivo.

A restless night’s sleep is an all-to-common side effect of living with multiple myeloma (MM). Especially if you are undergoing therapy. Melatonin can fix that.

Not only did I have trouble sleeping during my therapy but I continue to have trouble sleeping due to long-term side effects like my hemorrhagic  cystitis (caused by cytoxan chemotherapy). Mel is an ideal multiple myeloma therapy.

My point is that living with MM, before, during or after active MM therapy can make sleep difficult. The first study linked below does not recommend melatonin for the MM survivor. The study gives a “on the other hand…”

What are my options? I read that Melatonin supplementation is good for cancer patients and I turned to PubMed to research Melatonin and multiple myeloma. What I found is the second link below.

Finally, my own experience over the past 25 or so years is that I take melatonin (MEL) a couple of times a week. 300 micrograms.  I find MEL helps me fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

I’ve tried taking MEL for several nights in a row and I’ve found that the benefits seem to dissipate. If I take MEL only, say, once every few days, the effects work better for me.

After years of MEL supplementation, my conclusion is that melatonin helps me sleep and may even help keep me in complete remission from my multiple myeloma.

For more information about nutritional supplementation for cancer as well as cancer side effects, scroll down the page, post a question or comment and I will reply ASAP.

thank you,

David Emerson

  • MM Survivor,
  • MM Cancer Coach,
  • Director PeopleBeatingCancer

Recommended Reading:

Mel: does it have utility in the treatment of haematological neoplasms?

“Linked Articles- This article is part of a themed section on Recent Developments in Research of Mel and its Potential Therapeutic Applications. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v175.16/issuetoc…

Concluding remarks- As summarized inthis review, mel appears to have beneficial actions against haematological neoplasms, overall. The normal circadian pattern of secretion of melatonin from the pineal gland may determine its protective actions against haematological cancers.

The positive effects of mel are pro-apoptotic, pro-oxidative, anti-proliferative and immunomodulatory. Thus, the timing of exogenous melatonin administration may be critical in determining its efficacy as an oncostatic agent.

Importantly, mel also ameliorates the toxicity of many drugs used to treat haematological malignancies, including myelotoxicity and toxicity on non-haematological tissues.

Finally, clarification of the intracellular signalling network of mel’s anti-neoplastic actions will help to facilitate further basic research and clinical application of melatonin in the treatment of haematological neoplasms.

Mel and cancer- click here

Mel and Cancer Hallmarks.Talib WH et al. Molecules. (2018)

“Mel is a natural indoleamine produced by the pineal gland that has many functions, including regulation of the circadian rhythm. Many studies have reported the anticancer effect of melatonin against a myriad of cancer types. Cancer hallmarks include sustained proliferation, evading growth suppressors, metastasis, replicative immortality, angiogenesis, resisting cell death, altered cellular energetics, and immune evasion. Melatonin anticancer activity is mediated by interfering with various cancer hallmarks. This review summarizes the anticancer role of melatonin in each cancer hallmark. The studies discussed in this review should serve as a solid foundation for researchers and physicians to support basic and clinical studies on melatonin as a promising anticancer agent.”

Melatonin for the prevention and treatment of cancer.Li Y et al. Oncotarget. (2017)

“The epidemiological studies have indicated a possible oncostatic property of melatonin on different types of tumors. Besides, experimental studies have documented that melatonin could exert growth inhibition on some human tumor cells in vitro and in animal models.

The underlying mechanisms include antioxidant activity, modulation of melatonin receptors MT1 and MT2, stimulation of apoptosis, regulation of pro-survival signaling and tumor metabolism, inhibition on angiogenesis, metastasis, and induction of epigenetic alteration.

Melatonin could also be utilized as adjuvant of cancer therapies, through reinforcing the therapeutic effects and reducing the side effects of chemotherapies or radiation. Melatonin could be an excellent candidate for the prevention and treatment of several cancers, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, gastric cancer and colorectal cancer…”

Melatonin, a Full Service Anti-Cancer Agent: Inhibition of Initiation, Progression and Metastasis.Reiter RJ et al. Int J Mol Sci. (2017)

“There is highly credible evidence that melatonin mitigates cancer at the initiation, progression and metastasis phases. In many cases, the molecular mechanisms underpinning these inhibitory actions have been proposed. What is rather perplexing, however, is the large number of processes by which melatonin reportedly restrains cancer development and growth…”

The experimental findings, however, suggest that the advantages of using melatonin as a co-treatment with conventional cancer therapies would far exceed improvements in the wellbeing of the patients.

“MEL, the main hormone produced by the pineal gland, seems to exert antineoplastic activity both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, several studies reported increased melatonin blood levels in cancer patients.

Plasma mel concentrations were determined in 46 patients with multiple myeloma and in 31 age matched healthy subjects. Venous blood was drawn between 7.30 and 9.30 a.m. and melatonin was assayed using a commercially available radioimmunoassay.

The data were analysed by Student’s t test and results reported as mean values +/- standard deviation. The patients with multiple myeloma showed significantly higher mean melatonin serum levels than healthy subjects .

This behaviour could actually represent a phenomenon secondary to an altered endocrine-metabolic balance caused by an increased demand of the developing tumor. On the other hand, the increased melatonin secretion might be considered as a compensatory mechanism due to its antimitotic action and therefore as an effort to secrete substances capable of regulating neoplastic growth.”

Partial sleep deprivation linked to biological aging in older adults

“”Our data support the hypothesis that one night of not getting enough sleep in older adults activates important biological pathways that promote biological aging,” said lead author Judith Carroll, PhD…”

The study group comprised 29 community-dwelling older adults. They were age 61-86 years and 48 percent were male. Participants underwent an experimental partial sleep deprivation protocol over four nights, including adaptation, an uninterrupted night of sleep, partial sleep deprivation (restricted 3 a.m. – 7 a.m.) and another uninterrupted night of sleep (recovery). Blood samples were obtained each morning to assess PBMC gene expression using Illumina HT-12 arrays.”

Melatonin improves bone mineral density at the femoral neck in postmenopausal women with osteopenia: a randomized controlled trial

“Melatonin is known for its regulation of circadian rhythm. Recently, studies have shown that melatonin may have a positive effect on the skeleton. By increasing age, the melatonin levels decrease, which may lead to a further imbalanced bone remodeling…

In conclusion, 1-yr treatment with melatonin increased BMD at femoral neck in a dose-dependent manner, while high-dose melatonin increased vBMD in the spine…”

Leave a Comment:

14 comments
Mary says last month

I have Smoldering myeloma fgoing on 3
years now. I use low dose of melatonin and I have a hard time believing it stimulates cancer cells in myeloma..your thoughts?
Thanks

Reply
    David Emerson says last month

    Hi Mary-

    I too take low dose Melatonin (300 mcg). Sometimes we patients/survivors are on our own when it comes to conventional vs. non-conventional therapies. Sounds like you are doing well.

    Good luck,

    David Emerson

    Reply
Multiple Myeloma - Sleep, Insomnia - PeopleBeatingCancer says last year

[…] Multiple Myeloma – Melatonin […]

Reply
John T. Iacometta says 3 years ago

Hi David.
My functional medicine doctor is very flabbergasted by my melatonin result of 1707 ng/mg from a DUTCH test I recently took. I have a stable MGUS since detection in 2013 at 54 years old and wonder if my body is producing the melatonin to fight my plasma Cell IGg proliferation orbit is a result of the phenomenon mentioned above which is “secondary to an altered endocrine – metabolic balance caused by an increased demand by the developing tumor.”

Reply
    David Emerson says 3 years ago

    Hi John,

    Great to read your MGUS has remained stable since 2013 detection. Do you have a question?

    David Emerson

    Reply
Multiple Myeloma Therapy- Ginsenosides, Ginseng - PeopleBeatingCancer says 4 years ago

[…] Multiple Myeloma Therapy- Melatonin […]

Reply
Darlene Melllein says 6 years ago

Hi David, I am a 6 year survivor of MM and in remission, though lately my light chains have gone up a tad. I am very interested in joining People Beating Cancer, but both Firefox and Microsoft Edge, the two I have on my computer, said that the site is not secure so they won’t connect. Do you know what I can do about that?

By the way, congratulations on your 23 years. I think I read about you much earlier in my journey and am glad to find you here.

Reply
    David Emerson says 6 years ago

    Hi Darlene-

    While I am sorry to read of your MM diagnosis I have to say that a six year remission is excellent.

    It is interesting that you mention the PBC is not secure according to both Firefox and Microsoft Edge. The AD and I understood that the issue
    you refer to was only with Chrome. As I understand it, whenever I add an image, photo, etc. directly from the Internet and not from the image library on the PBC site, the “this site is not secure” pops into the url.

    We learned of this last week and we are in the process of swapping out wrong images with the right images but it will take a while to update over 1300 blog posts. We will focus on the 200 or so MM themed blog posts first.

    In any case, the link to the MM CC program is below. The coupon code is the work “webinar.” Let me know if you have any questions.

    Both the Basic and Premium Packages are listed here.

    Thanks

    David Emerson

    Also, thanks for your congrats about living with MM since ’94. It took me awhile but I like my life now (I know that sounds odd)

    Reply
      Darlene Mellein says 6 years ago

      Thanks for the info. Doesn’t sound odd to me at all that you like your life now. We accomodate and then we radiate!

      Reply
        David Emerson says 6 years ago

        That’s a good way of putting it. Thanks.

        Reply
David L. says 8 years ago

I need a list of good and bad supplements. My hospital pharmacist said Melatonin is bad for MM. There are a few places online which warn about it as well. I also have an overactive bladder due to Cytoxan. Which supplements, amino acids or vitamins are safe?

Reply
    David Emerson says 8 years ago

    Hi David-

    A google search for information about melatonin and MM results in a mixed bag of studies and personal comments. I have linked a Pubmed study below that says that melatonin is cytotoxic to breast cancer but may or may not be good for MM.

    I take low doses of melatonin (1 or 2 mg.) every few days for a good night’s sleep. Though I am a MM survivor I am also in complete remission. I also take low dose vitamin C which is also supposed to be “bad” for MMers.

    I too have an overactive bladder from cytoxan therapy in ’95. I take a supplement that is a mix of cruciferous veggies. I still wake up to pee once or twice each night…

    If you have multiple myeloma please consider becoming a member of PeopleBeatingCancerCoaching.org. If you are interested in managing your MM long term I work with MMers by sharing those evidence-based therapies that I use based on years of research.

    Including:

    Anti- cancer supplementation and also those specific supplements that I take with brands and daily doses

    Those supplements that are “integrative” with FDA approved chemotherapy. This list overlaps with the above but this form of therapy is key for cancer patients and suvivors.

    Anti-cancer anti-angiogenic nutrition- I don’t believe in diets. I am talking about those foods that we can incorporate into our diets that are anti-angiogenic aka cancer killing-

    Bone health supplementation– bone health is important for all cancer patients. Bisphosphonate therapy is fine but there are other therapies for you to consider

    Lifestyle therapies that are evidence based to kill cancer-

    Melatonin and MM

    Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks

    David Emerson

    Reply
      Pamela McCarthy says 7 years ago

      Hi David,

      I looked at your website and tried to sign up for your free consultation, but the link provided did not work. I was recently diagnosed with MM in Otober – a present for my 58th birthday. AS you well know, this whole thing blind-sided me. I’m am very interested in finding out more. Please contact me at 484-95-2105 or via email at pfmccarthy1@gmail.com. I live in Pennsylvania, so I’m on East coast time.
      Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
      Pam McCarthy

      Reply
        David Emerson says 7 years ago

        Hi Pam-

        I replied to your email through my gmail.

        David Emerson

        Reply
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