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.
Click the orange button to the right to learn more about what you can start doing today.
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Teclistamab for RR Myeloma
The real benefit of teclistamab for RR myeloma is one more FDA approved therapy that can put the myeloma patient who has undergone numerous therapies at least one more remission.
Now that I have set the therapy bar low, adjusting patients expectations, I can propose possible therapies to support the MM patient’s immune function in hopes of helping the patient achieve fewer, less sever side effects as well as a longer remission. Meaning longer quantity of life with higher quality of life.
Watch this video for an introduction to the side effects that can be experienced by MM patients undergoing taclistamab therapy
What are the most effective evidence-based non-conventional therapies to boost the immune system for cancer patients?
Here are some evidence-based non-conventional therapies that may help boost the immune system in cancer patients:
1. Nutritional Support
- Medicinal Mushrooms: Species like reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), shiitake (Lentinula edodes), and turkey tail(Trametes versicolor) have immunomodulating properties. Studies show these mushrooms may enhance the activity of immune cells, particularly natural killer (NK) cells, which are important in fighting cancer cells.
- Probiotics: A healthy gut microbiome is linked to better immune function. Probiotics, particularly Lactobacillusand Bifidobacterium strains, can support gut health and may enhance immune responses.
- Antioxidant-rich Diet: Foods rich in antioxidants, such as berries, leafy greens, and cruciferous vegetables(e.g., broccoli, cauliflower), can help reduce oxidative stress and support immune function.
- Vitamin D: Research suggests that adequate vitamin D levels are important for immune regulation. Low levels are associated with poorer cancer outcomes, and supplementation may help boost immune health in cancer patients.
2. Herbal Remedies
- Astragalus Root: Traditionally used in Chinese medicine, astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) is known for its immune-boosting properties. It may stimulate the production of white blood cells and improve immune response in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
- Curcumin: The active compound in turmeric, curcumin has strong anti-inflammatory and immune-enhancing properties. It may help reduce inflammation and support the body’s ability to fight infections and cancer cells.
3. Mind-Body Practices
- Meditation and Mindfulness: Practices like mindfulness meditation and yoga have been shown to lower stress, which can positively impact immune function. Stress reduces immune function by increasing inflammation and suppressing immune cell activity, so managing stress through these practices can help bolster immunity.
- Tai Chi and Qigong: These ancient Chinese practices involve slow, deliberate movements, controlled breathing, and meditation. Research shows that they can improve immune function, increase NK cell activity, and enhance overall well-being in cancer patients.
4. Acupuncture
- Acupuncture has been studied for its ability to enhance immune function in cancer patients, particularly by reducing treatment-related side effects like fatigue, pain, and nausea. Some studies suggest it may help modulate immune responses, although more research is needed.
5. Physical Activity
- Moderate exercise, such as walking, swimming, or gentle yoga, has been shown to enhance immune function by stimulating circulation and promoting the activity of immune cells. Even light physical activity can improve quality of life and support immune resilience in cancer patients.
6. Integrative Oncology Approaches
- Mistletoe Therapy: Used in integrative oncology, particularly in Europe, mistletoe extract (Viscum album) may support the immune system by stimulating the production of immune cells, such as T-cells and macrophages. Some studies have found mistletoe therapy to improve quality of life and immune function in cancer patients.
- High-dose Vitamin C: Intravenous high-dose vitamin C has been researched for its potential to act as a pro-oxidant in cancer cells while also supporting the immune system. Some studies show it can improve cancer treatment outcomes, though more research is needed to establish its role.
7. Supportive Supplements
- Beta-glucans: These are naturally occurring polysaccharides found in yeast, fungi, and oats. Beta-glucans can help activate immune cells like macrophages, neutrophils, and NK cells, enhancing the body’s immune response.
- Glutathione: This antioxidant is crucial for detoxification and maintaining a healthy immune response. Some research suggests that supporting glutathione levels can help reduce oxidative stress and support immune function in cancer patients.
I will be direct. Teclistamab for RR myeloma may be your last hope. Unfortunately the immune system of the MM patient who has undergone 3,4,5 rounds of chemotherapy may be weakened at best, non-existent at worst. Undergoing Teclistamab may result in serious side effects or worse.
As a long-term MM survivor who struggles with long-term and late stage side effects, I think about bolstering the patient’s immune system as much as I do about the patient’s incurable blood cancer.
None of the therapies above are approved by the FDA and may not be on the radar of your oncologist. As a result, these therapies may not be brought to your attention.
If you have questions about any of the evidence-based non-conventional therapies listed above email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com
Hang in there-
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Teclistamab-cqyv: The First Bispecific T-Cell Engager Antibody for the Treatment of Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma
“Teclistamab-cqyv is a first-in-class, bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) antibody for the treatment of MM. Teclistamab-cqyv activates the immune system by binding to the cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3) receptor expressed on the surface of T cells and to the B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) expressed on the surface of MM cells and some healthy B-lineage cells.
Teclistamab-cqyv has been shown to be effective in a pivotal trial that demonstrated an overall response rate of more than 60% in heavily pretreated patients.
Compared with other BCMA-targeted agents, the side effect profile of teclistamab-cqyv suggests a more tolerable option for elderly patients. Teclistamab-cqyv is now approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory MM…
ADVERSE EFFECTS
In the pivotal MajesTEC-1 trial, common adverse effects were hematologic, including
- 70.9% of patients with neutropenia,
- 52.1% with anemia,
- and 40% with thrombocytopenia (Moreau et al., 2022).
Additionally, a notable side effect of BiTE therapy that occurred in this trial was cytokine release syndrome (CRS), a form of systemic inflammatory response (Lee et al., 2019).
Cytokine release syndrome is characterized by fever, tachypnea, headache, tachycardia, hypotension, rash, and/or hypoxia (Brown et al., 2021).
There were 72.1% of patients who experienced CRS, with only 0.6% experiencing grade 3 severity and no grade 4 CRS observed in MajesTEC-1. Most CRS events occurred after the step-up doses and cycle 1 dose. Most notably, 3.6% experienced CRS in cycle 2 or later of grade 1 or 2 severity. The median time until the onset of CRS was 2 days (range: 1–6 days) after the most recent dose, while the median duration was 2 days (range: 1–9 days; Moreau et al., 2022)…
As MM patients can incur significant toxicities across multiple lines of treatment, evaluating their potential tolerance of additional therapy remains crucial for practitioners. Teclistamab-cqyv is being studied in combination with other therapies in both the newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory settings. For example, the MajesTEC-2 trial is characterizing the safety and tolerability of teclistamab-cqyv with daratumumab, pomalidomide, bortezomib, and nirogacestat (ClinicalTrials.gov, 2023a)…