Beating Myeloma Blog

Longevity, Myeloma and Our Genetic makeup-

demerson — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:00:53 -0500

I am skeptical whenever I read anything about the study of longevity. I think the reason for my skepticism stems from my belief that the science of longevity is easily corrupted by people's desire for immortality. The desire for immortality, like the desire for the cure for cancer is, at the very least, a long way off. At the very most, it is a fiction.

Myeloma, MGUS, Human Papilloma Virus all managed with Curcumin?

demerson — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:27:27 -0500

There is a relationship between HPV (genital warts), myeloma and cervical cancers. Science does not know what this relationship is, or what it mean for myeloma survivors like me. I have genital warts. I have multiple myeloma. I found the article about curcumin and it's ability to "aid you in pushing it (myeloma) out of your body." This article does not support any of its statements with studies or any citations. No support whatsoever. However I have read many articles talking about curcumin's anti-myeloma, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-a

Kappa and Lambda Free Serum blood levels as of 6/23/10

demerson — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:00:17 -0500

Dear fellow myeloma survivors and caregivers-

Just a short blog post to list my recent blood work. Listed is the date, my name, a short comment from my hematologist/oncologist and then the blood work results. I continue to remain cancer free. I have been completely normal since 4/99.

6/23/2010

Component Results

David Emerson

Your results below. Looks good.

Best

Chemo for life?

demerson — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:10:31 -0500

Ralph Moss, in the May 30, 2010 newsletter Cancer Decisions, talks about a study indicating a longer "event-free survival" after a pbsct with myeloma patients who take low dose revlimid after sct therapy.

Can myeloma patients remain in remission forever?

demerson — Fri, 28 May 2010 17:41:11 -0500

The practice of extending remission after a peripheral blood stem cell transplant through "maintenance therapy" is still relatively new. The article linked below documents a clinical trial that extended remissions by 54% after pbsct.

"Maintenance therapy with lenalidomide (Revlimid) after autologous stem-cell transplant reduced the risk of recurrence by 54% after three years, compared with placebo, according to Michel Attal, MD, of Purpan Hospital in Toulouse, France."

Anti-angiogenisis supplementation-found in nature, more powerful than thalidomide?

demerson — Sat, 22 May 2010 12:09:59 -0500

In the 18 minute video linked below, Dr. William Li, student of Dr. Judah Folkman, father of anti-angiogenesis in cancer therapy, talks about the existance of natural forms of anti-angiogenesis therapy.

Myeloma patients are familier with this concept because of conventional chemotherapies such as thalidomide and revlimid. What is interesting is that Dr. Li identifies natural sources of anti-genesis- some that are more potent than conventional therapies.

Please take 18 minutes to watch this important video.

William Li: Can we eat to starve cancer?

Not discussing the cost of treatments and drugs may be harmful to your health-

demerson — Wed, 12 May 2010 13:55:53 -0500

There may be many reasons why patients don't discuss the cost of treatments and drugs with their oncologists. When I was undergoing my induction chemotherapy it never occured to me to ask my onc about any of the costs. I assumed my insurance would pay for anything my onc prescribed.

Boy was I wrong.

The cost of drugs like thalidomide, velcade and revlimid are high and going higher. Some drug therapies may not be covered by your insurance. The fact is, managing your cancer means also managing your financial health.

Increasing the bioavailability of curcumin

demerson — Tue, 04 May 2010 08:06:03 -0500

The supplement curcumin has been shown time and again to benefit cancer survivors. Myeloma survivors, in particular, will benefit from supplementing with curcumin- whether taking curcumin by itself or to enhance the effect of velcade.

The b-m.org archives are filled with articles, studies and posts about the benefit of curcumin.

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

vitamin K, myeloma, non-hodgkins lymphoma, bone and blood health

demerson — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 08:37:27 -0500

I wrote a blog last week about the benefit of vitamin k supplementation for blood and bone health and for vitamin k's anti-cancer properties.

"Because of vitamin K 1,2,3's broad array of health benefits, all that I focus on for my own health including heart health, bone health, blood health and anti-myeloma and anti-cancer properties, I will begin supplementing with broad spectrum vitamin K in the comming weeks."

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

National Academy of Sciences maintain NCI cancer clinic trials approaching "state of crisis"

demerson — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:04:18 -0500

There are two basic kinds of clinical trials. The first is the kind sponsored by the government and the second is the kind paid for by the manufacturer. The editorial linked below is is talking about the kind of clinical trial sponsored by the government.

"The government-sponsored trials can be invaluable in comparing one therapy against another (manufacturers rarely want to put their products up against a competitor’s), combinations of therapies, or therapies for rare diseases with little commercial potential."

Vitamin K and myeloma

demerson — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 08:13:31 -0500

Readers of this myeloma blog know that I rely heavily on supplementation as a componant of my anti-cancer lifestyle. I take lots of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The main reason for my extensive supplementation habit is because I have several long-term side effects and health concerns in addition to my goal of remaining cancer free. So the question today is, do I add yet another supplement to my daily regimen?

Myeloma patients and caregivers must understand what clinical trials mean for them

demerson — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 07:30:21 -0500

A cancer diagnosis thrusts a patient/caregiver into a world of medical jargon. From your diagnosis to your staging, your therapies, even achieving a (pr) partial remission, (vgpr) very good partial remission, or (cr) complete remission- all roads lead to confusing lingo and anacronyms.

The key to surviving cancer is to understand conventional, complimentary, integrative and CAM therapies as fully as possible.

The difference between kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty

demerson — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:44:10 -0500

As a myeloma survivor, I am lucky in that I have never had problems with my spine. There is frequent discussion, questions, etc from mmers who have spine problems asking about kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty. I came across an article this morning that explains the basic differences.

Both myeloma and mgus diagnosis mean Increased risk of blood clots

demerson — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:11:39 -0500

There have been many articles and studies pointing out that multiple myeloma increases the risk of a blood clot or deep vein thrombosis.

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

What is different about the article linked below is that it talks about a study that clearly indicates that MGUS, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, also can lead to blood clots-

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...