I have been hearing a lot about curcumin and how it may slow the progression of myeloma.
Can anyone recommend reliable information that I should read about curcumin? Are there any published studies?
Anyone have any experience with it? How much should I take? Where should I buy it, and how much does it cost?
Any other supplements that I should consider as someone with smoldering myeloma who hopes to hold off the beast?
Sorry for all of the questions.
Forums
Re: Curcumin
Hi Frank,
Here are a few sources of information about curcumin that you may be interested in reading:
Myeloma Beacon article "Curcumin And Multiple Myeloma: Preclinical And Early Clinical Studies Are Promising; Still Awaiting More Clinical Evidence" - Among other information about curcumin related to myeloma, the article discusses a few small clinical trials involving curcumin.
Other discussions here in the forum specifically about curcumin can be found at this link.
Also, all Beacon news articles related to curcumin, including information on studies that have been done on curcumin's anti-myeloma activity, can be found at this link.
Here are a few sources of information about curcumin that you may be interested in reading:
Myeloma Beacon article "Curcumin And Multiple Myeloma: Preclinical And Early Clinical Studies Are Promising; Still Awaiting More Clinical Evidence" - Among other information about curcumin related to myeloma, the article discusses a few small clinical trials involving curcumin.
Other discussions here in the forum specifically about curcumin can be found at this link.
Also, all Beacon news articles related to curcumin, including information on studies that have been done on curcumin's anti-myeloma activity, can be found at this link.
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Julie Shilane - Name: Julie Shilane, Beacon Staff
Re: Curcumin
HI Frank.
I was diagnosed in August 2009 with multiple myeloma. My m-spike was going up, then in Sep I started taking curcumin and I have stabilized. My m-spike is stable and my WBC and RBC are coming back up too. I am taking 5 grams of curcimin with bioperene each day. I really think it makes a difference. I buy it at Vitacost.
Good luck to you!
I was diagnosed in August 2009 with multiple myeloma. My m-spike was going up, then in Sep I started taking curcumin and I have stabilized. My m-spike is stable and my WBC and RBC are coming back up too. I am taking 5 grams of curcimin with bioperene each day. I really think it makes a difference. I buy it at Vitacost.
Good luck to you!
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Michelle - Name: Michelle
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Curcumin
Does anybody know if curcumin has a negative affect on the kidneys? I was diagnosed with myeloma due to kidney failure and I have to be very careful about everything I take.
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Gino C.
Re: curcumin
Dr. Martha Lacy from the Mayo Clinic said:
"Curcumin is the active ingredient in the traditional herbal remedy and dietary spice turmeric. How curcumin produces its therapeutic effects is not fully understood. It has been suggested that the effects are in part through the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action of curcumin.
There have been a number of intriguing studies in the lab suggesting a role for curcumin in the treatment of multiple myeloma. These include studies that suggest curcumin can prevent or delay progression of MGUS or SMM to active multiple myeloma and studies that suggest curcumin can augment the effect of chemotherapeutic agents.
There is little data regarding whether these laboratory findings translate into clinical benefits in real people. One study reported a potential benefit in patients with MGUS but the study was small and follow-up was very short.
Caution should be used when considering this agent because it has been shown to suppress the immune system, a side effect that could be deleterious in patients with MGUS or multiple myeloma."
"Curcumin is the active ingredient in the traditional herbal remedy and dietary spice turmeric. How curcumin produces its therapeutic effects is not fully understood. It has been suggested that the effects are in part through the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action of curcumin.
There have been a number of intriguing studies in the lab suggesting a role for curcumin in the treatment of multiple myeloma. These include studies that suggest curcumin can prevent or delay progression of MGUS or SMM to active multiple myeloma and studies that suggest curcumin can augment the effect of chemotherapeutic agents.
There is little data regarding whether these laboratory findings translate into clinical benefits in real people. One study reported a potential benefit in patients with MGUS but the study was small and follow-up was very short.
Caution should be used when considering this agent because it has been shown to suppress the immune system, a side effect that could be deleterious in patients with MGUS or multiple myeloma."
Re: Curcumin
Regarding the question earlier in this thread from Gino C.:
Dr. Martha Lacy from the Mayo Clinic said:
"There is little or no information about the safety of curcumin in patients with kidney failure. You are wise to be careful. When in doubt, check with your kidney doctor."
Does anybody know if curcumin has a negative affect on the kidneys?
Dr. Martha Lacy from the Mayo Clinic said:
"There is little or no information about the safety of curcumin in patients with kidney failure. You are wise to be careful. When in doubt, check with your kidney doctor."
Re: Curcumin
I hate to be the one to be negative, but the use of supplements strikes me as too great a risk in many/most cases. While there is a lot of information out there about alternative medicines along with stories of success, most of them are tainted by a lack of real research. While even some physicians will recommend certain supplements to patients, I have yet to see any recognized studies which provides definitive information specific to myeloma victims. However, there is a lot of information from empirical studies which demonstrate that many of the supplements interfere with the action of chemotherapy or they enhance the immune system. Considering that it is our immune system which has run amok, giving more fire to the furnace seems like a bad idea when the emotionality of hopefulness is stripped away in favor of pragmatism. We walk a road of considerable risk as myeloma patients and my personal opinion is that adding to our current risk is a mistake.
We have to remember that mulitple myeloma is not a single disease, but a collection of them. This is what causes the dramatic differences between those of us afflicted. What works for one person cannot in any way be used as a gauge of what will work for others. In my particular case, all chemo failed to produce any positive effect, while giving me permanent disability and according to my oncologists, accelerating the progression of my disease. Doxil nearly killed me; in me it produces both toxic and anaphylactic shock. Yet it was given to me again with the same effect by a former oncologist on the basis that "some people suffer ill effects on the first dosing." Even using the accepted treatments which have the greatest opportunity for success can fail and make ones situation worse. These are treatments which have run a gamut of research, trials, and history of success. Not many, if any, of the supplements have stood this rigorous testing. Ergo, the recommending of the broad scale use of supplements strikes me as unwise.
I admit that it is difficult in the face of our desperate hope for longer life to ignore the seeming promise of supplements. I do not argue with those who favor them. If they had success, good for them --and I mean that. Any relief from any cancer is a wonderful thing. But for me specifically, my pragmatism prevents me from experimentation. I already have a multi-ingredient soup in my blood from the many medications I take. I really don't want to add more spices to the mix in fear they'll spoil the dish.
Regards
We have to remember that mulitple myeloma is not a single disease, but a collection of them. This is what causes the dramatic differences between those of us afflicted. What works for one person cannot in any way be used as a gauge of what will work for others. In my particular case, all chemo failed to produce any positive effect, while giving me permanent disability and according to my oncologists, accelerating the progression of my disease. Doxil nearly killed me; in me it produces both toxic and anaphylactic shock. Yet it was given to me again with the same effect by a former oncologist on the basis that "some people suffer ill effects on the first dosing." Even using the accepted treatments which have the greatest opportunity for success can fail and make ones situation worse. These are treatments which have run a gamut of research, trials, and history of success. Not many, if any, of the supplements have stood this rigorous testing. Ergo, the recommending of the broad scale use of supplements strikes me as unwise.
I admit that it is difficult in the face of our desperate hope for longer life to ignore the seeming promise of supplements. I do not argue with those who favor them. If they had success, good for them --and I mean that. Any relief from any cancer is a wonderful thing. But for me specifically, my pragmatism prevents me from experimentation. I already have a multi-ingredient soup in my blood from the many medications I take. I really don't want to add more spices to the mix in fear they'll spoil the dish.
Regards
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Bob - Name: Bob Kirkpatrick
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 08, 2008
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Curcumin
Bob,
Can I ask what treatments did not work for you? And how are you treating your multiple myeloma now? So far Revlimid/decadron and Velcade/decadron became ineffective on my husband's multiple myeloma. He is currently on doxil/vincristine/decadron. He is tired most of the time and his severe bone pain is not getting any better. He is scheduled to have his 2nd treatment tomorrow.
Barb
Can I ask what treatments did not work for you? And how are you treating your multiple myeloma now? So far Revlimid/decadron and Velcade/decadron became ineffective on my husband's multiple myeloma. He is currently on doxil/vincristine/decadron. He is tired most of the time and his severe bone pain is not getting any better. He is scheduled to have his 2nd treatment tomorrow.
Barb
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BarbTonn - Name: BarbT
- Who do you know with myeloma?: husband, Tom
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Curcumin
I've been trying curcumin with BioPerine, increasing the dose to 4 grams. Now I have yellow nails that subside if I skip a dose. Anyone else have this? Has anyone noticed any leg cramps with curcumin? Thanks
Re: Curcumin
Hi, first post on this forum. Interesting comment on leg cramps, I hadn't connected these to curcumin. I take four 1000 mg tablets daily - I tried 8000 mg total daily, but found it upset my "toileting" quite badly, the 4 tablets do affect me, but not to any great extent. I stopped taking all supliments for a month due to a really bad flu attact over Christmas, and my readings worsened.
Be interestred to see what happens next visit know I've resummend the dosage. My nails seem to have thickened and are brittle, but not yellow. Jeff
Be interestred to see what happens next visit know I've resummend the dosage. My nails seem to have thickened and are brittle, but not yellow. Jeff
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