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 and Kidney Dialysis
Myeloma and kidney dialysis are a challenging combination. According to research, approximately 50% of newly diagnosed MM patients present with kidney involvement. Approximately 10% of MM patients need dialysis.
The study linked and excerpted below explains that the most severe kidney involvement required kidney dialysis and that dialysis dependence leads to poor outcomes for MM patients.
It’s clear that it’s important to reduce the MM that’s reducing kidney function in the first place. The challenge is that there are MM therapies that may damage kidney function as well as the MM itself.
How does dialysis impact treatment?
What non-conventional therapies enhance kidney function?
Non-Conventional Approaches Reported to Support Kidney Function
(These are adjunctive measures, not replacements for medical care in chronic kidney disease or acute injury.)
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Dietary Interventions
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Plant-forward, low-sodium, anti-inflammatory diets may reduce kidney stress.
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Reduced animal protein load and higher intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can improve acid–base balance.
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Omega-3 fatty acids (from fish or flax) have shown modest benefit in lowering proteinuria.
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Nutritional Supplements
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Coenzyme Q10: Small studies suggest improvements in serum creatinine and oxidative stress markers.
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Curcumin (turmeric extract): Anti-inflammatory effects with some evidence of reduced proteinuria in diabetic kidney disease.
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Astragalus (herbal extract): Studied in China, reported improvements in eGFR and reductions in proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy, though evidence is variable.
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Probiotics / Prebiotics: May reduce gut-derived uremic toxins that impair kidney function.
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Lifestyle Practices
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Regular physical activity: Improves blood pressure control, insulin sensitivity, and cardiovascular health, all protective for kidneys.
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Mind–body practices (e.g., Tai Chi, yoga): Some studies suggest improved blood pressure and reduced systemic inflammation.
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Adequate hydration (without overhydration): Helps maintain kidney perfusion and reduces risk of kidney stones.
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Traditional Medical Systems
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Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): Use formulations such as Salvia miltiorrhiza, Cordyceps sinensis, and Tripterygium wilfordii. Some clinical studies suggest renal protective effects, but quality and safety vary.
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Compact Example
Supplement with supportive evidence: Coenzyme Q10 (100–200 mg daily) has shown improvements in kidney biomarkers in small trials of chronic kidney disease patients.
Rationale: The strongest data outside standard medicine involve dietary modifications, antioxidants, and inflammation-modulating herbs/supplements, though evidence quality is mixed and not all therapies are widely endorsed.
Recommendation: Discuss use of any non-conventional therapy with a nephrologist to avoid harmful interactions.
Next step: Identify whether the focus is general kidney health, early chronic kidney disease, or kidney protection during cancer therapy.
I am a long-term MM survivor. I’ve learned that oncology focuses only on FDA-approved therapies. I think it’s possible that non-conventional kidney therapies, such as diet and nutritional supplementation, may enhance kidney function.
Please email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.come to learn more about managing MM with both conventional and non-conventional therapies.
Good luck,
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Dialysis dependence is associated with poor prognosis in multiple myeloma: a multicenter retrospective cohort study
Background:
Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and renal impairment (RI), particularly those requiring dialysis, have historically experienced poor outcomes. Despite advancements in targeted therapies, the prognosis of dialysis-dependent MM and factors influencing dialysis independence remain unclear.
Objectives:
This study aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the clinical manifestations and treatment outcomes of dialysis-dependent MM patients in China, and to explore the factors associated with dialysis independence and long-term survival…
Methods:
This multicenter, retrospective study included 122 MM patients requiring chronic hemodialysis (⩾28 days of treatment) at 4 comprehensive hospitals in China from January 2012 to November 2023. Hemodialysis resulting from causes other than MM was excluded. Logistic regression was employed for multivariate analysis of factors associated with dialysis independence, and Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazard models were utilized for survival analysis.
Results:
Among the 122 patients, 74 patients (60.7%) were male, with a median age of 65 (39–87) years. Of these, 71.3% (n = 87) had newly diagnosed MM (NDMM), and 28.7% (n = 35) had relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM).
Dialysis independence was achieved in 27 patients (22 with NDMM and 5 with RRMM).
- Proteasome inhibitors were used in 80.3% of patients (n = 98),
- while 13.9% (n = 17) received daratumumab-based regimens.
After a median follow-up of 43.7 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 14.4 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.6–25.2), and the median overall survival (OS) was 27.4 months (95% CI: 6.9–47.9).
Dialysis-independent patients had significantly longer PFS (36.7 vs 9.4 months, p = 0.006) and OS (62.6 vs 17.7 months, p < 0.001). Factors associated with dialysis independence included achieving a very good partial response (VGPR), receiving daratumumab-based regimens, reduction in serum-free light chain ⩾80% after the first chemotherapy cycle, and age <65 years.
Conclusion:
In the era of new drugs, dialysis-dependent MM still has a poor prognosis, although dialysis independence improves survival…
Despite significant advancements in survival outcomes for patients with MM in the era of new therapeutics, the prognosis of patients with dialysis dependence remains notably poor.
Haynes et al.24 reported a median OS of only 10.2 months in 107 patients, 88 of whom required dialysis. Similarly, a nationwide study in the Netherlands observed a median OS of only 1.74 years among 278 dialysis-dependent patients treated with bortezomib-based regimens.10 In this study, the median OS for all hemodialysis-dependent patients was 27.4 months, with the worst median OS of 4.2 months observed in patients who experienced relapse while still undergoing dialysis.
The extended survival observed in this cohort may be attributed to the widespread use of bortezomib-based triplet induction therapy. Bortezomib-based combination therapy is the cornerstone of the first-line treatment for MM.
Numerous studies have shown that bortezomib-based regimens induce rapid and profound hematologic and renal responses, potentially reversing renal dysfunction and reducing the need for dialysis.15,25
Myeloma and kidney dialysis Myeloma and kidney dialysis Myeloma and kidney dialysis