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Red wine, alcohol, and multiple myeloma
My husband showed me an article recently that seemed to allude to the fact that red wine has a substance that could actually benefit multiple myeloma patients. Has anyone else ever heard of this? If you have multiple myeloma, do you drink at all? My hubby refuses to drink anything out of fear.
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LadyLib - Name: LadyLib
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Spouse
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 42
Re: Red wine, alcohol, and multiple myeloma
It's called resveratrol. One can also buy it in non-alcohol capsule form. It has been discussed in the MB before. Before taking any supplement, obviously mention it to your doctor as some can conlict with various chemotherapies, i.e. Velcade and green tea-related products. I am on maintenance Revlimid and am doing well. My doctor allows me to enjoy life and a couple glasses of wine is part of that.
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terryl1 - Name: Terry
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 10, 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Red wine and multiple myeloma
Terry is correct. The substance in red wine that is believed to have generally beneficial health benefits is called resveratrol. There was a trial conducted to see if a form of resveratrol might be active as an anti-myeloma agent, but it had to be stopped for safety reasons. Here is a list of the Beacon's articles on that topic:
https://myelomabeacon.org/tag/srt501/
As you'll see in the articles and in the accompanying comments, it seems likely that the safety issues that occurred during the trial could very well have been due to the rather high doses of resveratrol tested during the trial.
Our take on the general evidence related to alcohol consumption and myeloma is that it probably doesn't matter one way or another if a myeloma patient consumes light amounts of alcohol. We have seen some myeloma specialists who argue that light amounts of alcohol consumption may even have a slight anti-myeloma effect, due to various ways that alcohol can affect the immune system.
If you want to do more reading on the subject, there is this study,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3105275/
that found no relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of developing myeloma, and this study, which, like the earlier study we pointed out, suggests that alcohol consumption (particularly red wine) may have a somewhat protective effect against getting myeloma:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01635581.2013.761255
(The two studies we just pointed out discuss "lymphoid malignancies"; these are types of blood cancers that include myeloma and lymphoma.)
As Terry mentioned, your husband should discuss the issue with his doctor, and also should check whether alcohol would interfere, or otherwise cause problems, with medications he is taking.
Good luck!
https://myelomabeacon.org/tag/srt501/
As you'll see in the articles and in the accompanying comments, it seems likely that the safety issues that occurred during the trial could very well have been due to the rather high doses of resveratrol tested during the trial.
Our take on the general evidence related to alcohol consumption and myeloma is that it probably doesn't matter one way or another if a myeloma patient consumes light amounts of alcohol. We have seen some myeloma specialists who argue that light amounts of alcohol consumption may even have a slight anti-myeloma effect, due to various ways that alcohol can affect the immune system.
If you want to do more reading on the subject, there is this study,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3105275/
that found no relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of developing myeloma, and this study, which, like the earlier study we pointed out, suggests that alcohol consumption (particularly red wine) may have a somewhat protective effect against getting myeloma:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01635581.2013.761255
(The two studies we just pointed out discuss "lymphoid malignancies"; these are types of blood cancers that include myeloma and lymphoma.)
As Terry mentioned, your husband should discuss the issue with his doctor, and also should check whether alcohol would interfere, or otherwise cause problems, with medications he is taking.
Good luck!
Re: Red wine, alcohol, and multiple myeloma
With all the bullsh** involved with therapy, chemo, hospital, bloodwork, scans. How could anyone say that a couple glasses of beer or wine would hurt your body. I mean in all seriousness we need some way to relax and not jump off the bridge considering this disease affects us on a daily basis. I say the hell with common knowledge and just enjoy life and how you can live as best you can day by day. (not saying that doctors dont know what there talking about but mine has always said go enjoy yourself and if that involves some alcohol god bless because with what you have and the insurmountable feeling it brings on its what we need to get by. )
Mark
Tell your husband that he shouldnt worry down that far. Eventually theyll find a reason not to take an advil. Its all relative.
(i am not a doctor however) hahaha i am just a 27 yr old myeloma patient who has enjoyed liquor / alcohol while on Revlimid, dex, Velcade, and carfilzomib. I need ways to relax and escape for a few.
Mark
Tell your husband that he shouldnt worry down that far. Eventually theyll find a reason not to take an advil. Its all relative.
(i am not a doctor however) hahaha i am just a 27 yr old myeloma patient who has enjoyed liquor / alcohol while on Revlimid, dex, Velcade, and carfilzomib. I need ways to relax and escape for a few.
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Barneasada - Name: Mark
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2007
- Age at diagnosis: 19
Re: Red wine, alcohol, and multiple myeloma
Perhaps folks forgot about this posting that showed up earlier on the Beacon
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2013/08/19/1055-9965.EPI-13-0334.abstract
It's also apparently good to be overweight when you have myeloma:
http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org/content/early/2013/09/18/theoncologist.2013-0015.abstract
So, it looks like there are some good things about having myeloma, especially around the holidays
On the more serious side, I'm personally a bit cautious about using resveratrol based on the earlier trial. But more importantly, I simply don't need yet another antioxidant in my current antioxidant-heavy supplement regiment.
Cheers
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2013/08/19/1055-9965.EPI-13-0334.abstract
It's also apparently good to be overweight when you have myeloma:
http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org/content/early/2013/09/18/theoncologist.2013-0015.abstract
So, it looks like there are some good things about having myeloma, especially around the holidays
On the more serious side, I'm personally a bit cautious about using resveratrol based on the earlier trial. But more importantly, I simply don't need yet another antioxidant in my current antioxidant-heavy supplement regiment.
Cheers
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Red wine, alcohol, and multiple myeloma
Thanks, Multibilly, for mentioning the article we discussed in this Newsflash about alcohol consumption and myeloma. We had wanted to mention it in our original posting above, but it somehow slipped through the cracks as we were finalizing the posting.
And the study that Multibilly mentions about being weight and myeloma treatment outcomes is also one that was mentioned in a Newsflash earlier this fall.
And the study that Multibilly mentions about being weight and myeloma treatment outcomes is also one that was mentioned in a Newsflash earlier this fall.
Re: Red wine, alcohol, and multiple myeloma
Thanks, I'll drink to that!
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terryl1 - Name: Terry
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 10, 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Red wine, alcohol, and multiple myeloma
At a recent patient family conference here in Philadelphia, Dr. Brian Durie mentioned that Malbec wine from Chile appears to have some anti-myeloma properties. I don't know what his reference was, but they served Malbec as the red wine available during the cocktail hour.
I enjoy my occasional glass of wine and an occasional cocktail. The only thing that I've noticed that has changed with consuming alcohol is that I feel the effects with smaller amounts. So, it is either a glass of wine or a mild cocktail when I go out to a nice restaurant.
Enjoy,
Nancy in Phila
I enjoy my occasional glass of wine and an occasional cocktail. The only thing that I've noticed that has changed with consuming alcohol is that I feel the effects with smaller amounts. So, it is either a glass of wine or a mild cocktail when I go out to a nice restaurant.
Enjoy,
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Red wine, alcohol, and multiple myeloma
I believe the polyphenols in Malbec wine are what might make it have anti-myeloma properties.
Other goodies high in polyphenols (dark chocolate rocks):
http://www.genesmart.com/pages/high_polyphenols_foods/161.php
So, lets raise a glass, pork out ... and don't forget a good dark chocolate dessert
Other goodies high in polyphenols (dark chocolate rocks):
http://www.genesmart.com/pages/high_polyphenols_foods/161.php
So, lets raise a glass, pork out ... and don't forget a good dark chocolate dessert
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
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