Beating Myeloma Blog

Hyperthermia for blood cancer-

demerson — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:28:34 -0600

In this week's Moss Reports, Ralph Moss discusses a study about hyperthermia in the January 2010 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI).

The newsletters, part I and part II are linked below.

http://beating-myeloma.or...

The Burzynski Research Institute, Antineoplaston therapy and my myeloma

demerson — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:36:41 -0600

The article written by reporter Diane Solov for the Plain Dealer in 1993 documents my struggle with myeloma from my original diagnosis in 3/94 through extensive conventional therapy, three relapses, the non-conventional therapy called antineoplaston therapy from 11/97-4/99 to complete remission.

http://beating-myeloma.or...

Myeloma diagnosis? Average annual costs of Thalidomide, Velcade, Revlimid plus organizations to help-

demerson — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:11:15 -0600

I've written before about the financial pressures that a myeloma diagnosis brings. However, the first article below compares novel therapy costs and the second article gives specific links to organizations that give financial assistance to cancer patients.

As the article linked below cites average annual costs for the three novel therapies- thalidomide, velcade and revlimid. Always consult with your insurance company to make sure that any therapy, bone marrow transplant, novel therapy, whatever, is covered. The myeloma world is filled with "experiemental" therapies.

Vitamin D for mmers- bone strength, muscle strength, dosing recommendations, immune enhancement-

demerson — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:36:43 -0600

Few non-conventional therapies have been as well studied as vitamin D supplementation. The challenge for the survivor/caregiver is to synthesize all of the studies to decide how to best utilize vitamin D for you. In an effort to do this, I have tried to highlight the key vitamin D properties for mmers below.

1) The study published yesterday on b-m.org summarizes improvements in muscle strength and balance based on specific doses of vitamin D supplementation-

http://beating-myeloma.or...

Considering either an auto or allo bone marrow transplant? Can you maximize effectiveness while minimizing side effects?

demerson — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:54:02 -0600

The mission of the Galen Foundation, beating-cancer.org and soon to be launched PeopleBeatingCancer.org is to give cancer survivors the information to live better, longer lives.

The first philisophical hurdle for any newly diagnosed mmer is to decide whether he/she wants to go for a cure or to control the myeloma.

http://beating-myeloma.or...

MGUS, SMM, VGPR, CR- unconventional therapies for unsymptomatic myeloma

demerson — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:26:53 -0600

The reason I posted this article yesterday is that Dr. Robert Kyle is the father of multiple myeloma. He has forgotten more about mm that I will ever learn. If you are serious about managing your mm, you need to read up on Dr. Kyle.

Thought Leader Perspective: Dr. Robert Kyle On Treating Multiple Myeloma

http://beating-myeloma.or...

Fibrin, enzymes, myeloma and blood clots (DVT and VTE)

demerson — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:22:37 -0600

The linked article below is important to all mmers considering conventional chemotherapy- novel or otherwise- no matter what your stage.

Papayas, Papain and Multiple Myeloma: A Potential Adjunct Therapy That Requires Further Evaluation

http://beating-myeloma.or...

1) "Research shows that papain, a compound found in papaya fruit trees, may serve as a useful supplementary therapy in the treatment of multiple myeloma.

End of life- conventional vs non-conventional cancer treatment

demerson — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:47:58 -0600

A myeloma diagnosis can be summed up in one simple phrase- fear of death. Multiple myeloma is considered an incurable form of cancer by conventional oncology. This means that conventional oncology believes that anyone with a mm diagnosis will eventually die of myeloma. Therefore, a myeloma diagnosis is more scarry than some other cancers.

Can supplementation during conventional therapy boost your immune system?

demerson — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:32:49 -0600

I cannot read an article like the one linked below without thinking about the many articles and studies that I have read that support supplementation of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, DURING conventional chemotherapy like thalidomide and dexamethasone.

1) "In the process of treating multiple myeloma, patients often experience a weakening in their immune system which makes them more susceptible to infection. Serious infections can lower a patient’s quality of life, require doctors to reduce treatment to a less toxic but less effective level, and even cause death."

SMM, MGUS, VGPR, CR- are we trying to fight a diagnosis, fight progression or prevent relapse?

demerson — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:02:24 -0600

The woman who researches articles and studies for the Galen Foundation and beating-myeloma.org (she is both a research librarian and a breast cancer survivor) asked me yesterday if it is okay to find studies on preventing cancer as well as researching therapies to fight a myeloma diagnosis? In other words, what are myeloma survivors trying to do? Are we trying to prevent a myeloma diagnosis, prevent progression to the next stage or prevent a reoccurance of the cancer that we have been diagnosed with in the first place?

Milk Thistle for mmers before, during and after conventional myeloma chemotherapy

demerson — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:42:53 -0600

If you have just been diagnosed with multiple myeloma or you have undergone chemotherapy for myeloma you should give serious consideration to supplementing with milk thisle (sylimarin).

Milk thistle supplmentation will protect liver function while take during chemotherapy and milk thistle will help heal liver function when taken after chemotherapy according to the documents below.

Revlimid maintenance therapy after autologus stem cell transplant- disease-free vs. overall survival

demerson — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 13:42:18 -0600

A clinical trial sponsored by the NIH to determine the effectiveness of maintenace therapy of revlimid after a single peripheral blood stem cell transplant is linked below.

http://beating-myeloma.or...

Stay away from anthracyclines (adriamycin)- the A in VAD-

demerson — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:18:54 -0600

The article linked below talks about the damage a class of chemo drugs call "anthracyclines." The article refers to breast cancer and implies that the negative effects of anthracyclines are new or not previously know.

"New findings suggest that the risks associated with a class of chemotherapy drugs widely used to treat breast cancer outweighed their benefits in some patients."

http://beating-myeloma.or...

This information is not new. The excerpt below if from December of '07.

vitamin D and myeloma- more compelling information

demerson — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:13:27 -0600

The quality and quantity of information/studies available now pertaining to vitamin D and curcumin (to name two supplements) is now overwhelming. I don't know what reporters are talking about when they write that survivors who take non-conventional therapies do so without proper "evidence."

In a today's post on Margaret's Corner, four studies about vitamin D and myeloma were discussed.

Bone Health, Calcium, vit D, Osteonecrosis of the Jaw, Bisphosphonates and Myeloma

demerson — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:28:59 -0600

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with multiple myeloma, you need to understand bone health. To understand bone health, you should learn about calcium supplementation, bisphosphonate therapy and the side effect called "osteonecrosis of the jaw."

Calcium and bones-

http://beating-myeloma.or...

Bisphonphonate therapy- scroll down...

http://beating-myeloma.or...