Dear Cathy,
Thank you so much for posting about your multiple myeloma staying in remission with the ketogenic diet! I was happy to hear that this is working for you.
My husband has been battling multiple myeloma for 5 1/2 years. We had been excited about starting the ketogenic diet but then came across some research from MD Anderson that showed leukemia grows on fat. Since multiple myeloma and leukemia are related, I was concerned that the ketogenic diet could be harmful for my husband.
Do you or anyone else on this site know anything about this study and what it might mean for multiple myeloma?
Thank you!
Mia
Forums
Re: Ketogenic diet and multiple myeloma
Hi Mia.
How is your husband doing?
I have not read studies showing leukemia grows on fat, but there is research showing calorie restriction helps slow cancer, and fat cells in a body (especially around the belly) can reflect a "metabolic syndrome" where a person is sensitive to carbohydrates - and they have wild swings in blood glucose and insulin.
When I get to my other computer, I can send a few of my favorite links to research showing a ketogenic diet slows down all forms of cancer - even metastatic cancer that has spread.
I will write again in a couple of hours.
Cathy
How is your husband doing?
I have not read studies showing leukemia grows on fat, but there is research showing calorie restriction helps slow cancer, and fat cells in a body (especially around the belly) can reflect a "metabolic syndrome" where a person is sensitive to carbohydrates - and they have wild swings in blood glucose and insulin.
When I get to my other computer, I can send a few of my favorite links to research showing a ketogenic diet slows down all forms of cancer - even metastatic cancer that has spread.
I will write again in a couple of hours.
Cathy
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antelope1225 - Name: Cathy1225
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 25 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Ketogenic diet and multiple myeloma
Hi Mia.
These are some of my favorite links to research on ketogenic diets. All are from pubmed - from the National Institute of Health. I have summarized the research below
1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4165433/
This study is COOL! The thing that struck me from the article was that ketones actually cause the cancer cells to have less glucose and glutamine uptake! I knew we were trying to keep glucose levels down and trying not to eat too much meat (glutamine) but ketones actually prevent cancer cells from being able to use them? Wow. Maybe this is related, but the fact that in the presence of ketones, the cancer cells were not able to break down healthy muscle tissue also amazed me
2. .http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21479220
“diet could be effective in reducing malignant brain tumor growth in part by inhibiting inflammation in the primary brain tumor” A ketogenic diet mimics many of the benefits of fasting, without the hunger. In 1995 Dr. Nebeling used a ketogenic diet on 2 young girls with advanced stage malignant Astrocytoma tumors. Ketosis was maintained by consuming a 60% medium chain triglyceride oil-based diet. 20% protein & 10% carbohydrates, 10% other fats. Within 7 days of initiating the ketogenic diet, blood glucose levels declined to low-normal levels and blood ketones were elevated twenty to thirty fold. Results of PET scans indicated a 21.8% decrease in glucose uptake at the tumor site in both subjects.
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7790697
2 children with advanced stage malignant Astrocytoma tumors (mentioned in above study) – on ketogenic diet remained free of disease progression as long as the study
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21179032?dopt=Abstract
During the last decade, epidemiological studies uncovered the tremendous impact of metabolic syndrome/diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM T2) as risk factors of the progression of cancer. Therefore, we studied the impact of diabetogenic glucose and insulin concentrations on the activities of tumour cells,
RESULTS; Proliferation assays revealed that high levels of glucose (11 multiple myeloma) and insulin (100 ng ml(-1)) did promote the proliferation of the tumour cell lines
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3157418/
Another of my favorites - they had 16 patients w advanced cancer. All had completed several therapies and no therapeutic options were left. 5 completed 12 weeks of ketogenic diet and that 5 were stable - no disease progression while on ketogenic diet
6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3367873/
multiple myeloma exhibits novel dependence on GLUT4, GLUT8, and GLUT11 – implications for glucose transporter directed therapy.
inhibition of glucose metabolism may be an ideal strategy to treat Multiple Myeloma.
• What happens during glucose deprivation?
• Normal cells were fine, but the multiple myeloma cells died!
7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4367849/
The glucose ketone index calculator: a simple tool to monitor therapeutic efficacy for metabolic management of brain cancer
Analyzes ketones versus glucose by coming up with one number – the GKI (divide glucose by 18 to get it in mmol) then divide that number by your ketones (taken with blood ketone meter)
The second clinical study evaluated a 65-yr-old woman with glioblastoma multiforme [28]. The patient was placed on a calorie-restricted ketogenic diet (600 kcal/day) concomitant with standard chemotherapy and radiation, without dexamethasone, for eight weeks. The patient’s GKI decreased from 37.5 to 1.4 in the first three weeks of the diet. No discernible brain tumor tissue was detected with MRI in the patient at the end of eight weeks of the calorie restricted ketogenic diet.
These are some of my favorite links to research on ketogenic diets. All are from pubmed - from the National Institute of Health. I have summarized the research below
1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4165433/
This study is COOL! The thing that struck me from the article was that ketones actually cause the cancer cells to have less glucose and glutamine uptake! I knew we were trying to keep glucose levels down and trying not to eat too much meat (glutamine) but ketones actually prevent cancer cells from being able to use them? Wow. Maybe this is related, but the fact that in the presence of ketones, the cancer cells were not able to break down healthy muscle tissue also amazed me
2. .http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21479220
“diet could be effective in reducing malignant brain tumor growth in part by inhibiting inflammation in the primary brain tumor” A ketogenic diet mimics many of the benefits of fasting, without the hunger. In 1995 Dr. Nebeling used a ketogenic diet on 2 young girls with advanced stage malignant Astrocytoma tumors. Ketosis was maintained by consuming a 60% medium chain triglyceride oil-based diet. 20% protein & 10% carbohydrates, 10% other fats. Within 7 days of initiating the ketogenic diet, blood glucose levels declined to low-normal levels and blood ketones were elevated twenty to thirty fold. Results of PET scans indicated a 21.8% decrease in glucose uptake at the tumor site in both subjects.
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7790697
2 children with advanced stage malignant Astrocytoma tumors (mentioned in above study) – on ketogenic diet remained free of disease progression as long as the study
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21179032?dopt=Abstract
During the last decade, epidemiological studies uncovered the tremendous impact of metabolic syndrome/diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM T2) as risk factors of the progression of cancer. Therefore, we studied the impact of diabetogenic glucose and insulin concentrations on the activities of tumour cells,
RESULTS; Proliferation assays revealed that high levels of glucose (11 multiple myeloma) and insulin (100 ng ml(-1)) did promote the proliferation of the tumour cell lines
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3157418/
Another of my favorites - they had 16 patients w advanced cancer. All had completed several therapies and no therapeutic options were left. 5 completed 12 weeks of ketogenic diet and that 5 were stable - no disease progression while on ketogenic diet
6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3367873/
multiple myeloma exhibits novel dependence on GLUT4, GLUT8, and GLUT11 – implications for glucose transporter directed therapy.
inhibition of glucose metabolism may be an ideal strategy to treat Multiple Myeloma.
• What happens during glucose deprivation?
• Normal cells were fine, but the multiple myeloma cells died!
7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4367849/
The glucose ketone index calculator: a simple tool to monitor therapeutic efficacy for metabolic management of brain cancer
Analyzes ketones versus glucose by coming up with one number – the GKI (divide glucose by 18 to get it in mmol) then divide that number by your ketones (taken with blood ketone meter)
The second clinical study evaluated a 65-yr-old woman with glioblastoma multiforme [28]. The patient was placed on a calorie-restricted ketogenic diet (600 kcal/day) concomitant with standard chemotherapy and radiation, without dexamethasone, for eight weeks. The patient’s GKI decreased from 37.5 to 1.4 in the first three weeks of the diet. No discernible brain tumor tissue was detected with MRI in the patient at the end of eight weeks of the calorie restricted ketogenic diet.
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antelope1225 - Name: Cathy1225
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 25 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Ketogenic diet and multiple myeloma
Hi Cathy!
A friend of mine got diagnosed recently with multiple myeloma. Being myself on a ketogenic diet for more than a year and knowing that it may help, I recommended him trying it as well. At that time, I came across this forum. I was happy to read how well you are doing on the diet. Having checked in again, I realized that there are no new postings and wanted to make sure that you are well!
I really hope that you are still receiving good news from your doctor!
Good luck!
Lana
A friend of mine got diagnosed recently with multiple myeloma. Being myself on a ketogenic diet for more than a year and knowing that it may help, I recommended him trying it as well. At that time, I came across this forum. I was happy to read how well you are doing on the diet. Having checked in again, I realized that there are no new postings and wanted to make sure that you are well!
I really hope that you are still receiving good news from your doctor!
Good luck!
Lana
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Lsark
Re: Ketogenic diet and multiple myeloma
Hi Lana.
Yes, my multiple myeloma is still stable and I am doing well! Thank you for asking. I have been on ketogenic diet about 2 years and it is very healthy for me. After my autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), and the years of chemo before and after the ASCT, many of my blood counts were out of normal. Some of those have improved over the last 2 years. Also, I used to get sick a lot - I had 6-7 times of being on antibiotics over one year period up to last June. But, I am happy to say that I do not get sick as often and have only had to be on antibiotics (for UTI) once since last June.
I still test my blood ketones and glucose every night before bed and jot that down on the calendar. Then at the end of the month, I put my ketones and glucose into an Excel spreadsheet that gives me a GKI (glucose ketone index). I still read a lot of studies about this, too.
I focus more on making sure I have "nutrient dense" high fat food. So, for breakfast I have a smoothie with 1/4 can of full fat organic coconut milk, 3 c (kale, spinach, bok choy, chard, rhubarb, shitake mushrooms, avocado etc), 1/2 tsp of each of following: psyllium husks, green tea powder, chia seeds, black cumin seeds, cinnamon. I have dried stevia leaves to sweeten and put in a bit of frozen acai, and 1 T MCT oil. After I blend that, I add a few sunflower seeds, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds or almonds for crunch.
On weekends I have bacon and eggs.
I also have coconut oil in my coffee, make a homemade lemonade with MCT oil in the afternoon and have 1T coconut oil after dinner.
My next blood test is March 8 and I will have the results on March 15 and I will post them.
Let me know if you have any tips or tricks that help you!
Cathy
Yes, my multiple myeloma is still stable and I am doing well! Thank you for asking. I have been on ketogenic diet about 2 years and it is very healthy for me. After my autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), and the years of chemo before and after the ASCT, many of my blood counts were out of normal. Some of those have improved over the last 2 years. Also, I used to get sick a lot - I had 6-7 times of being on antibiotics over one year period up to last June. But, I am happy to say that I do not get sick as often and have only had to be on antibiotics (for UTI) once since last June.
I still test my blood ketones and glucose every night before bed and jot that down on the calendar. Then at the end of the month, I put my ketones and glucose into an Excel spreadsheet that gives me a GKI (glucose ketone index). I still read a lot of studies about this, too.
I focus more on making sure I have "nutrient dense" high fat food. So, for breakfast I have a smoothie with 1/4 can of full fat organic coconut milk, 3 c (kale, spinach, bok choy, chard, rhubarb, shitake mushrooms, avocado etc), 1/2 tsp of each of following: psyllium husks, green tea powder, chia seeds, black cumin seeds, cinnamon. I have dried stevia leaves to sweeten and put in a bit of frozen acai, and 1 T MCT oil. After I blend that, I add a few sunflower seeds, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds or almonds for crunch.
On weekends I have bacon and eggs. I also have coconut oil in my coffee, make a homemade lemonade with MCT oil in the afternoon and have 1T coconut oil after dinner.
My next blood test is March 8 and I will have the results on March 15 and I will post them.
Let me know if you have any tips or tricks that help you!
Cathy
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antelope1225 - Name: Cathy1225
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 25 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Ketogenic diet and multiple myeloma
Wow, this is really freaky, Cathy. I was just thinking this morning that you hadn't posted any updates in a while, and I was wondering how you were doing and if everything was okay. I guess there was no reason to be concerned (yay!), and maybe your free light chain testing is just being done less frequently these days.
In any case, glad you're doing well, and thanks for the update!
In any case, glad you're doing well, and thanks for the update!
-
Jonah
Re: Ketogenic diet and multiple myeloma
Cathy, I am glad to see you posting the results of your journey on this multiple myeloma path. I am sure I am NOT the only person on the Beacon who feels that following blindly behind the "pied piper of allopathic medicine" is the NOT the only game in town. Consequently, your insight and experiences are encouraging to those of us who are looking to solutions other than the normal "cut, burn and poison" that is so cavalierly doled out by most oncologists.
I am hoping to learn that with the use of quality supplements and something like the ketogenic diet that my husband is NOT "going to be on cancer drugs the rest of his life" – the words of his oncologist! There has to be a better answer than being "poisoned" for the rest of your life.
Hopefully we are going to learn more later this month when we have an appointment to see an MD (not an oncologist) who has been using the ketogenic diet in his practice for the past 15 years. I am going to be looking to him for guidance on exactly how to implement the ketogenic diet.
Keep us posted as you journey along the multiple myeloma path. You are giving some of the rest of us hope that there is a better way to wellness.
Jo Anne
I am hoping to learn that with the use of quality supplements and something like the ketogenic diet that my husband is NOT "going to be on cancer drugs the rest of his life" – the words of his oncologist! There has to be a better answer than being "poisoned" for the rest of your life.
Hopefully we are going to learn more later this month when we have an appointment to see an MD (not an oncologist) who has been using the ketogenic diet in his practice for the past 15 years. I am going to be looking to him for guidance on exactly how to implement the ketogenic diet.
Keep us posted as you journey along the multiple myeloma path. You are giving some of the rest of us hope that there is a better way to wellness.
Jo Anne
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Jo Anne - Name: Jo Anne
- Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/2015
- Age at diagnosis: 71
Re: Ketogenic diet and multiple myeloma
Hi Jo Anne and anyone else watching my experience with a ketogenic diet.
I just got my labs and my kappas went up.
. My ratio is 1.86. It has been 3 years and 4 months since my ASCT, and I am bummed that the ketogenic diet did not keep me stable indefinitely. I have not yet discussed my results with my oncologist (I will see him March 15), but I saw my nephrologist yesterday and he said that with my kidneys, I cannot ignore this. Of course I won't ignore this. Different people have different presentations of multiple myeloma, but when my ratio was 82, it destroyed 75% of my kidneys. So, I am thinking of what options I will discuss with my oncologist next Tuesday.
Cathy.
I just got my labs and my kappas went up.
. My ratio is 1.86. It has been 3 years and 4 months since my ASCT, and I am bummed that the ketogenic diet did not keep me stable indefinitely. I have not yet discussed my results with my oncologist (I will see him March 15), but I saw my nephrologist yesterday and he said that with my kidneys, I cannot ignore this. Of course I won't ignore this. Different people have different presentations of multiple myeloma, but when my ratio was 82, it destroyed 75% of my kidneys. So, I am thinking of what options I will discuss with my oncologist next Tuesday.Cathy.
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antelope1225 - Name: Cathy1225
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 25 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Ketogenic diet and multiple myeloma
Hi Cathy,
Sorry to hear about your news. However, a FLC ratio of 1.86 is just ever so slightly out of range from the norm. Obviously, you want to keep an eye on things given your history, but I would think that you could potentially also just write this off to a one-time blip due to lab error or a transient imbalance of your FLCs. Don't you think that your onc is going to simply suggest getting re-tested in the next few weeks and to then take it from there?
Sorry to hear about your news. However, a FLC ratio of 1.86 is just ever so slightly out of range from the norm. Obviously, you want to keep an eye on things given your history, but I would think that you could potentially also just write this off to a one-time blip due to lab error or a transient imbalance of your FLCs. Don't you think that your onc is going to simply suggest getting re-tested in the next few weeks and to then take it from there?
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Ketogenic diet and multiple myeloma
Hi Multibilly.
There are a couple of things I have noticed. For one thing I will not go so long between blood tests. It was my choice to wait 3 months, but I started feeling anxious without some feedback. So, I will get blood tests every 4-8 weeks so I can see trends and catch them quickly. It has been 3 months, so I really don't know if this is a trend or a "blip", but I think of cancer like termites - you don't ignore them.
Another thing is that I have noticed every protocol I try works for a while and then the efficacy diminishes. So, at first I just cut carbs and my kappa ratio was very responsive, then after a few months that wasn't enough and my numbers started up slightly, so I cut back on how much protein I ate, then I added coconut oil. Last summer I added 6 g Curcumin, then I cut out MSG. I was able to stay pretty stable for about 2 years, but I had to get more and more strict with my diet to keep my numbers down.
When I start each of those, it seems to kill off the vulnerable multiple myeloma cells, but the hardy ones survive and they start growing. Anyway, a friend with multiple myeloma has been taking sea cucumber, so I just added that to my protocol and will have a blood test in April.
How is your MGUS?
There are a couple of things I have noticed. For one thing I will not go so long between blood tests. It was my choice to wait 3 months, but I started feeling anxious without some feedback. So, I will get blood tests every 4-8 weeks so I can see trends and catch them quickly. It has been 3 months, so I really don't know if this is a trend or a "blip", but I think of cancer like termites - you don't ignore them.
Another thing is that I have noticed every protocol I try works for a while and then the efficacy diminishes. So, at first I just cut carbs and my kappa ratio was very responsive, then after a few months that wasn't enough and my numbers started up slightly, so I cut back on how much protein I ate, then I added coconut oil. Last summer I added 6 g Curcumin, then I cut out MSG. I was able to stay pretty stable for about 2 years, but I had to get more and more strict with my diet to keep my numbers down.
When I start each of those, it seems to kill off the vulnerable multiple myeloma cells, but the hardy ones survive and they start growing. Anyway, a friend with multiple myeloma has been taking sea cucumber, so I just added that to my protocol and will have a blood test in April.
How is your MGUS?
-
antelope1225 - Name: Cathy1225
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 25 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
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