I did the involuntary fasting program myself during induction therapy four years ago. From when I started Velcade to my SCT, a period of about 7 months I lost 60lbs, and most of that was in just 4 months. I am back in Velcade again and having trouble eating. I would not recommend trying to fast as you may find in time you will be struggling to get any calories down. I know fasting is often put out there as a to treatment methodology for a number of health aliments, I just do not believe cancer is one of them.
Having said all that I do believe focusing eating more healthy is helpful and can affect the outcome of treatment and the ability of the body to deal with side effects. Many of the drugs used to treat myeloma can be hard on the kidneys and liver, this is why it is advised to avoid ibuprofen while on Velcade as both those drugs are hard on the kidneys. I believe eating foods that are kidney and liver friendly and cutting sugar consumption will be helpful.
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Re: High-dose chemo and fasting
Hi all.
By accident I found some articles on fasting and effect on chemo treatment.
This possible effect does not seem to have been scientificly studied related to myeloma, due to obviuos reasons of a very tough treatment, and the need of the patients to have some surplus energy in order to endure the period after the stem cell transplant.
This link have some previous references to studies that points out the positive corrrelation between high weight/obesity and post treatment.
But in my mind this does not rule out the effect of fasting.
Could it in fact be that the "lean portion" of patients, on an average, in order to "save some energy to the period after the transplant" eat more the days before chemo than they are used to, compared to the more heavy portion of the patients, and then in some way induce an "anti fasting" effect?
The effects of fasting usually require that the calori consumption is reduced to around 50%.
Maybe the issue can be summarized like this;
Is it adviseable to ask people to test fasting before receiving the melphalan, due to possible adverse effects of the fasting? If not, we will not get the definite answer.
So, it seems premature to conclude on the effect on the fasting as there is no relevant data to base a conclusion upon.
As I have early multiple myeloma and my doctor is advising on starting treatment (induction +melphalan + ASCT) next year (Now awaiting an MRI that would be part of the decision base).
I would of course make my odds as good as possible, which include that I may consider trying fasting.
Would 4-5 days of reducing calorie intake with 50% be to much of a burden before receiving melphalan?
Comments from you that have been through the treatment would be appreciated.
By accident I found some articles on fasting and effect on chemo treatment.
This possible effect does not seem to have been scientificly studied related to myeloma, due to obviuos reasons of a very tough treatment, and the need of the patients to have some surplus energy in order to endure the period after the stem cell transplant.
This link have some previous references to studies that points out the positive corrrelation between high weight/obesity and post treatment.
But in my mind this does not rule out the effect of fasting.
Could it in fact be that the "lean portion" of patients, on an average, in order to "save some energy to the period after the transplant" eat more the days before chemo than they are used to, compared to the more heavy portion of the patients, and then in some way induce an "anti fasting" effect?
The effects of fasting usually require that the calori consumption is reduced to around 50%.
Maybe the issue can be summarized like this;
Is it adviseable to ask people to test fasting before receiving the melphalan, due to possible adverse effects of the fasting? If not, we will not get the definite answer.
So, it seems premature to conclude on the effect on the fasting as there is no relevant data to base a conclusion upon.
As I have early multiple myeloma and my doctor is advising on starting treatment (induction +melphalan + ASCT) next year (Now awaiting an MRI that would be part of the decision base).
I would of course make my odds as good as possible, which include that I may consider trying fasting.
Would 4-5 days of reducing calorie intake with 50% be to much of a burden before receiving melphalan?
Comments from you that have been through the treatment would be appreciated.
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JohnC - Name: JohnC
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 47
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