I too do not want to be a "debbie downer", but I have to agree totally with Bob Kirkpatrick. As a pharmacist that just recently received my diagnosis of multiple myeloma, I have been reading and studying everything in sight concerning this disease. I believe education of what we are all facing is paramount. But many of these supplements actually interfere with current medications used in myeloma treatments and could actually reduce their effectiveness. If I ever get into remission and find myself off from all other chemo or targeted myeloma medications, I will have a frank discussion of the benefits versus risks of taking any of these supplements.
For instance, my oncologist did think taking a multivitamin with no iron would be safe. After research we discovered that vitamin C and other antioxidants contained in the MTV should not be taken 12 hours before and after Velcade because it interferes with its action. Thus I was not doing the appropriate thing and actually causing myself potential harm. So now I skip it for a day or two.
There are also studies that fenofibrate may kill myeloma cells, so since I take a statin drug for elevated cholesterol/triglycerides it would seem logical that I should be trying this also. There are no hard and fast rules with this disease. And as we have seen, it seems to attack each of us in similar but also different ways. Therefore, I can't say that what has worked for some people is a bad thing. All I can tell you is that for ME there will have to be a whole lot more research and double blind clinical trials with a lot more evidence before I take the risks to doing the wrong thing. I will proceed with caution and facts.
Forums
Re: Curcumin
Dosage: at least 4 g daily of pure curcuminoids on an empty stomach with any or all of the following:
a spoon of olive oil
black pepper
papaya
pineapple
yogurt
All these help absorb curcumin better.
Alschuler, Lise, and Karolyn A Gazella. The Definitive Guide to Cancer an Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing. New York: Celestial Arts, 2010.:
"Another form of cancer, multiple myeloma, may be deterred with curcumin. A 2012 trial (Golombick et al.) studied thirty-six patients with two precancerous conditions that can progress to multiple myeloma. The trial found that both 4 gram and 8 gram daily doses of curcumin reduced progression to multiple myeloma, whereas a placebo had no effect."
Also, curcumin is very beneficial for aiding chemo; see the study "Multiple Myeloma, chemotherapy and curcumin": http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3373483/
Here's the Natural & Alternative Treatments page for turmeric (whose coloring is curcumin): http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-5fe33da65dd4&chunkiid=21874
From this book by Dr. Murray, N.D. (naturopathic doctor): http://books.google.com/books?id=UmkOD1YIqXYC&pg=PA173 :
"The body does not absorb curcumin all that well. To enhance absorption we recommend taking curcumin along with proteolytic enzymes* (discussed above). This combination is best taken on an empty stomach 15 to 20 minutes before meals or between meals.
"Is curcumin safe?
"Curcumin has an excellent safety profile. In fact, no lethal dose has been reached in animal studies.²⁰ Curcumin at a dosage of 2.5 g/kg fet to mice, rats, guinea pigs, and monkeys produced no mortality or genetic mutations in offspring."
*= proteases. Proteolytic means they're able to break down proteins.
"Papaya and pineapple are two of the richest plant sources" of proteolytic enzymes (source: http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-5fe33da65dd4&chunkiid=21671 ).
a spoon of olive oil
black pepper
papaya
pineapple
yogurt
All these help absorb curcumin better.
Alschuler, Lise, and Karolyn A Gazella. The Definitive Guide to Cancer an Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing. New York: Celestial Arts, 2010.:
"Another form of cancer, multiple myeloma, may be deterred with curcumin. A 2012 trial (Golombick et al.) studied thirty-six patients with two precancerous conditions that can progress to multiple myeloma. The trial found that both 4 gram and 8 gram daily doses of curcumin reduced progression to multiple myeloma, whereas a placebo had no effect."
Also, curcumin is very beneficial for aiding chemo; see the study "Multiple Myeloma, chemotherapy and curcumin": http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3373483/
Here's the Natural & Alternative Treatments page for turmeric (whose coloring is curcumin): http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-5fe33da65dd4&chunkiid=21874
From this book by Dr. Murray, N.D. (naturopathic doctor): http://books.google.com/books?id=UmkOD1YIqXYC&pg=PA173 :
"The body does not absorb curcumin all that well. To enhance absorption we recommend taking curcumin along with proteolytic enzymes* (discussed above). This combination is best taken on an empty stomach 15 to 20 minutes before meals or between meals.
"Is curcumin safe?
"Curcumin has an excellent safety profile. In fact, no lethal dose has been reached in animal studies.²⁰ Curcumin at a dosage of 2.5 g/kg fet to mice, rats, guinea pigs, and monkeys produced no mortality or genetic mutations in offspring."
*= proteases. Proteolytic means they're able to break down proteins.
"Papaya and pineapple are two of the richest plant sources" of proteolytic enzymes (source: http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-5fe33da65dd4&chunkiid=21671 ).
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Geremia - Who do you know with myeloma?: mother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/30/2014
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Curcumin
Have any of you read about salvestrols? I am very enthused by what I read.
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David brayshaw
Re: Curcumin
Be careful. No scientific studies have been conducted on the use of salvestrols with multiple myeloma patients.
Resveratrol is a salvestrol. A multiple myeloma treatment trial using resveratrol was halted due to safety concerns and complications with patients.
"GlaxoSmithKline Halts All Further Development Of Resveratrol Drug SRT501," Myeloma Beacon, November 30, 2010.
"Resveratrol Trial In Multiple Myeloma Suspended Due To Safety Concerns," Myeloma Beacon, May 3, 2010.
Resveratrol is a salvestrol. A multiple myeloma treatment trial using resveratrol was halted due to safety concerns and complications with patients.
"GlaxoSmithKline Halts All Further Development Of Resveratrol Drug SRT501," Myeloma Beacon, November 30, 2010.
"Resveratrol Trial In Multiple Myeloma Suspended Due To Safety Concerns," Myeloma Beacon, May 3, 2010.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Curcumin
I went to MD Anderson during their trials with curcumin. At the time, the doctor in charge didn't think it was worth me trying it. He said people couldn't absorb as much as they needed to really help.
I then found a doctor in Austin, Texas who had a PhD in nutrition and specialized in cancer research. He said a company in Germany had come up with a better way to have curcumin absorbed in the body. They had a new formula. So I started taking that. So I take 100 mg 3 times a day.
I believe it does help, but the proof would be if I stopped taking it, which I won't do. Any port in a storm. I am taking Velcade, which took me down to almost zero and then started back up again. It is now going up very slowly. I think the curcumin is making it go slower than usual. So we are all waiting to see what it does.
I then found a doctor in Austin, Texas who had a PhD in nutrition and specialized in cancer research. He said a company in Germany had come up with a better way to have curcumin absorbed in the body. They had a new formula. So I started taking that. So I take 100 mg 3 times a day.
I believe it does help, but the proof would be if I stopped taking it, which I won't do. Any port in a storm. I am taking Velcade, which took me down to almost zero and then started back up again. It is now going up very slowly. I think the curcumin is making it go slower than usual. So we are all waiting to see what it does.
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ripper69
Re: Curcumin
About 2 weeks ago I started taking one 500 mg capsule of curcumin a day. In the past year my blood glucose level has varied from about 100 to 110 (5 tests). Two days ago I had a doctors appointment and my blood glucose level was 83, about a 20% drop. I'm curious as to whether this drop is because of taking curcumin or just a one time coincidence. I have another doctor's appointment next month so I guess I'll find out if the lower blood glucose level sticks.
My question is: Has anyone else taking curcumin noticed a lower blood glucose level while taking it? Note: I googled curcumin and blood glucose level and found that there have been studies showing it can be helpful to people with type 2 diabetes.
My question is: Has anyone else taking curcumin noticed a lower blood glucose level while taking it? Note: I googled curcumin and blood glucose level and found that there have been studies showing it can be helpful to people with type 2 diabetes.
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DallasGG - Name: Kent
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 6/20/2013
- Age at diagnosis: 56
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