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- Quantity or Quality of Life?
Myeloma- Quantity or Quality of Life? Most newly diagnosed myeloma patients (NDMM) will say that living longer is their priority. That’s what I said when I was first diagnosed.
The challenge is that many of us change our thinking once we live with months or years of short-term, long-term, and late-stage side effects. Meaning, NDMM patients don’t fully understand what life is like when living with serious, debilitating side effects.
Having lived with MM since my diagnosis in early 1994, having developed many serious side effects, I have first-hand knowledge of both sides of this issue-
- As MM patients benefit from the expanding array of therapies, they will live longer and longer lives-
- As MM patients live longer, they will develop more serious, life-altering side effects-
- Many of the side effects can be minimized or even eliminated with evidence-based non-conventional therapies such as prehabilitation, immune enhancement, and complementary therapies.
That third bullet point is largely a result of oncology’s strict adherence to FDA protocols. For example, rather than pursuing an aggressive, one-size-fits-all approach to MM treatment, oncology could deviate from the FDA-approved standard-of-care therapy plans and utilize a low-dose approach to managing multiple myeloma.
In my experience, FDA-approved treatments to improve symptoms and side effects such as:
- immune health-IVIG
- bone health-bisphosphonates or denosumab
- blood thinners-
- pain management-
bring side effects themselves.
Consider evidence-based, non-conventional therapies to enhance your immune health, enhance your bone health, and even reduce inflammation, thereby reducing pain.
Please email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com to learn more about managing your MM with both conventional and non-conventional therapies.
Good luck,
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Patient-Reported Outcomes and Assessment of Quality of Life: A Focus on Multiple Myeloma
Abstract
Patients with multiple myeloma are living longer, yet the chronicity of newer treatment modalities has led to increased symptom burden and a notable effect on quality of life (QOL). The assessment of QOL and evaluation of patient-reported outcomes is an essential element to the care of this population.
Patients with MM may experience unwanted side effects or disease-related symptoms that create a burden in everyday living. Subjective patient-reported information has become an important dimension to the overall care and treatment of these patients.
Symptoms that negatively affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and their impact on future treatments should be assessed using patient-reported tools. Many patients’ treatment decisions are guided by their perception of their HRQoL.
It is important for advanced practitioners to explore which factors are most impactful to the patient. Improved understanding of this can further enhance the management of symptoms and adjustments in treatment to avoid further reduction in HRQoL…
Multiple myeloma is a common hematologic malignancy. Both overall and disease-free survival in patients with MM have been significantly prolonged due to newer and more targeted treatments, and adequate supportive care (Gerecke et al., 2016).
Toxicities associated with different treatments have an impact on HRQoL.
- Neurologic,
- hematopoietic,
- and cardiac side effects
are the most common toxicities in patients undergoing prolonged treatment. Because these patients have an extended overall survival, they will frequently discuss HRQoL issues with their providers during follow-up and routine care (Gerecke et al., 2016)…
DISEASE-SPECIFIC SIDE EFFECTS
Patients with MM may suffer an array of side effects, all potentially impacting HRQoL. Some side effects can include
- anemia,
- fatigue,
- mouth sores,
- peripheral neuropathy,
- bone pain,
- increased risk of infection,
- fractures,
- diarrhea,
- steroid-associated side effects,
- and deep vein thrombosis.
Advanced practitioners must have the ability to assess and manage these potential side effects as patients continue undergoing treatments. Recognizing and treating complications, as well as following regimen protocols and administering preventative medication, are major roles of advanced practitioners…
Infections are the principal cause of mortality among patients with MM. Patients who present with prolonged neutropenia or recurring bacterial infections can be prescribed granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSF) and/or intravenous immunoglobulins (Brigle et al., 2017).
Patients with MM are also at an increased risk of venous thromboembolism. The risk is comparative to patient-specific factors, including immobility, hyperviscosity, and history of previous venous thrombosis.
These risks can increase with the use of immunomodulatory drugs, carfilzomib, or high-dose steroids (Noonan, Rome, Faiman, & Verina, 2017). Prophylactic administration of aspirin or low-molecular heparin depending on the number of risk factors is essential with concurrent treatment (Gerecke et al., 2016)…
Supporting patients through side effects to reduce further decline in their HRQoL is important. Encouraging adequate sleep, proper nutrition, increased fluid intake, and moderate activity is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Medications such as pain medication, antiemetics, or sleep aids, if appropriate, should be utilized…
As advanced practitioners, there is a need to increase our focus on QOL. Although prolonging survival is typically the main focus and goal of cancer treatment, advanced practitioners need to acknowledge that patients suffer from many disease-related side effects that can further lead to functional impairments (Leppert et al., 2015)…”
Myeloma- Quantity or Quality of Life Myeloma- Quantity or Quality of Life