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Myeloma and Opportunistic Infections
The article linked below may well be about cancer in general but myeloma patients and survivors would do well to learn about opportunistic infections. Newly diagnosed myeloma patients (NDMM) must always remember that as many MM patients die of infection as die from MM.
The definition of an opportunistic infection is one that a healthy person wouldn’t get. Meaning people with normal immune systems don’t get opportunistic infections. A person may have the herpes virus inside them but it takes a reduced immune system caused by an ASCT to cause an outbreak (yes, this happened to me about a month after my ASCT).
So what is a NDMM patient to do? Yes, focus on managing your plasma cells/m-spike/monoclonal proteins, etc. but also focus on your immune system. Remember that evidence-based non-conventional therapies shown to enhance immune function such as:
- Sleep
- Nutrition
- Exercise
- Acupuncture
- Vitamin D
- Astaxanthin
are just a sampling of therapies that may help prevent an opportunistic infection.
5 best supplements to boost Immune system
What are some non-conventional immune boosting therapies?
Nutritional Interventions
- Functional Foods and Superfoods:
- Mushrooms: Varieties like reishi, shiitake, and maitake have immunomodulating properties.
- Fermented Foods: Kombucha, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kefir enhance gut health, which is linked to immune function.
- Spirulina and Chlorella: Algae that contain antioxidants and nutrients supportive of immunity.
- Herbal Remedies:
- Elderberry: Traditionally used to support respiratory health.
- Astragalus: A root used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for immune support.
- Echinacea: Commonly taken to reduce the duration of colds.
- Micronutrient Supplementation:
- Vitamin D: Essential for immune modulation; sunlight exposure can also help.
- Zinc: Supports cellular immune responses.
- Selenium: An antioxidant that enhances immunity.
Mind-Body Practices
- Meditation and Mindfulness: Regular practice can reduce stress-related immune suppression.
- Yoga and Tai Chi: Improve circulation and reduce inflammation, potentially enhancing immune function.
- Breathwork Techniques: Methods like Wim Hof breathing can influence autonomic nervous system responses, potentially impacting immunity.
Energy and Alternative Therapies
- Acupuncture: Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to balance energy (Qi) and support the immune system.
- Reiki or Energy Healing: Some people believe energy work can promote overall well-being, including immune health.
Lifestyle-Based Approaches
- Cold Exposure Therapy:
- Ice baths or cold showers are thought to stimulate the immune system.
- Intermittent Fasting:
- May enhance autophagy (cellular cleanup) and support immune resilience.
- Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku):
- Spending time in nature has been shown to lower stress and boost immune-boosting natural killer (NK) cell activity.
Probiotic and Prebiotic Use
- Probiotics: Strains like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium enhance gut health and immunity.
- Prebiotics: Foods like garlic, onions, and bananas support beneficial gut bacteria.
Innovative Therapies
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT):
- Used to improve oxygenation and potentially support immune response.
- Photobiomodulation (Low-Level Laser Therapy):
- Light therapy that may have anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects.
Traditional and Indigenous Practices
- Ayurvedic Herbs:
- Ashwagandha and Tulsi (Holy Basil) are commonly used for immune support.
- African or Indigenous Herbs:
- Sutherlandia frutescens and Pelargonium sidoides are known for their immune-enhancing properties.
I had an “aha” moment when I read studies documenting how many MM patients die from various infections. Yes, figuring out how to kill your MM is important. But chemotherapy and MM BOTH can do a number on our immune system. It’s no wonder then why so many MM patients die from infections.
Email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com with questions about managing your immune system.
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Opportunistic infections: What cancer patients need to know
“An opportunistic infection is one that a person with a healthy immune system is unlikely to get. It happens when bacteria or some other pathogen gains a foothold in someone whose immune system is abnormal or compromised in some way.
But do certain opportunistic infections occur more frequently in cancer patients? Can they ever be prevented? How are they treated? And, is there anything you can do to lower your risk of getting one…?
What are the most common opportunistic infections among cancer patients?
Thrush
Thrush, or oral candidiasis, is probably the most common opportunistic infection among cancer patients. But you can get it if you’re not immunocompromised, too. Even babies get thrush sometimes.
People taking antibiotics often get thrush, just like women can get yeast infections. The reason is the antibiotics kill off the “good” bacteria that the yeast (Candida) usually has to compete with, allowing it to grow more freely.
Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (“PJP”)
In most cases, pneumonia is not considered an opportunistic infection, because people with normal immune systems can develop it, too. But pneumonia caused by the pathogen Pneumocystis jirovecii is.
Today, we see PJP in a lot of different patient populations, especially those taking steroids at doses of 10 mg a day or higher for longer than three weeks…
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Cytomegalovirus is a little more specialized. So, we tend to see problems with this infection most among patients with the weakest immune systems, such as those who recently had a stem cell transplant.
Cytomegalovirus is really common, though. More than half of all Americans have been exposed to it by age 40. It causes colds in young children and something similar to mononucleosis in adolescents and adults. And, since it’s a herpes virus (human herpesvirus-5, or HHV-5), it stays with you for the rest of your life, once you’ve been exposed to it…
Shingles
Many types of herpes viruses can become problematic if the immune system is not working well. Another one is the varicella-zoster virus, which causes both chicken pox and shingles. Radiation therapy in particular can wake it up; so can some chemotherapy drugs…
Herpes
Herpes infections caused by human herpesvirus-1 (usually associated with cold sores) and human herpesvirus-2 (usually associated with genital herpes) that develop in immunocompromised people can be much worse than those in healthy people. That’s because these infections can take longer to resolve, spread to other places and cause more extensive disease…
Mold infections
Mold infections are most common among stem cell transplant recipients who develop graft vs. host disease (GVHD), as well as patients with acute myeloid leukemia, uncontrolled diabetesand/or who are taking steroids…
Parasitic infections
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. In the United States, we see it mostly in patients who have cats, especially those whose pets spend time outdoors. You come into contact with it when you clean out their litter boxes. In Europe, doctors also see it in people who eat undercooked meat…
Can any of these opportunistic infections be prevented?
Some opportunistic infections can be prevented. If we know you’re going to be on high-dose steroids for a long time, for instance, we may prescribe a broad-spectrum antibiotic such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) to protect you from PJP.
We also give a lot of our patients antiviral medications to prevent herpes outbreaks. And, we give antifungal medications to some of our highest-risk patients because those infections can be so difficult to treat.
But we use many of the same tools to treat fungal infections as we do to prevent them. That can make treating them much harder. So, we normally don’t try to prevent something like thrush. Not everyone develops it, and it’s usually easy to treat. So, we typically just treat that as it happens…”
Myeloma and Opportunistic Infections Myeloma and Opportunistic Infections Myeloma and Opportunistic Infections