Multiple myeloma – Signs, causes, treatments, and nutrition tips

Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer that affects plasma cells—a type of white blood cells that help fight infections by producing antibodies that identify and kill bacteria and viruses. However, in people with multiple myeloma, the plasma cells become cancerous and crowd out healthy blood cells, producing abnormal proteins that can lead to several complications. Read on to learn more about the signs and symptoms, causes, treatment, and dietary tips for multiple myeloma.

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma can vary from one individual to another, according to the stage of the disease. An individual may not notice any signs in the early stages, but one or more of the following symptoms may occur as the disease progresses:

• Bone pain or damage
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Excessive thirst
• Constipation
• Mental fogginess or confusion
• Fatigue
• Repeated infections
• Vision problems or vision loss
• Weakness or numbness in the legs

The cancerous plasma cells often interfere with the production of various types of blood cells, including red blood cells that carry oxygen to the organs and tissues throughout the body. The deficiency of red blood cells is also referred to as anemia, which often causes fatigue, dizziness, and irritability.

Causes and risk factors

Researchers do not know the exact cause of multiple myeloma, but it starts with one abnormal plasma cell in the bone marrow. This cell rapidly multiplies to outnumber the healthy blood cells, and the abnormal cells do not die like normal blood cells. Researchers have discovered that certain factors can increase an individual’s likelihood of developing the disease:

• Age: Most people diagnosed with the disease are over 65.
• Gender: Men face a slightly higher risk than women.
• Race or ethnicity: Data suggests that African-Americans are more at risk of developing it.
• Obesity: Being overweight can increase susceptibility to this disease.

A history of Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS), a condition that causes plasma cells to produce M proteins, also elevates one’s chances of developing multiple myeloma.

Treatments
Multiple myeloma cannot be cured, but treatment can help soothe the pain, reduce complications, and slow down disease progression. Some common treatment options include:

• Corticosteroids
  These medications encourage the immune system to stop generating new cancerous cells and relieve inflammation in the body.
• Targeted therapy
  This therapy works by identifying and attacking cells or functions that promote the growth of cancer cells.
• Immunotherapy
  This therapy assists the immune system in identifying and destroying cancerous cells in the body.
• Chemotherapy
  This treatment method uses medication to kill rapidly-growing cancer cells. Chemotherapy medications can be given intravenously or taken in pill form.
• Bone marrow transplant
  Also known as stem cell transplant, this procedure involves the replacement of the diseased bone marrow with a healthy one.

Natural remedies and dietary tips for multiple myeloma

There is no specific diet that can treat the condition, but following certain dietary guidelines can help treat common symptoms, like kidney damage, anemia, and reduced immunity. Here are a few beneficial diet tips that act as natural remedies for the disease:

• Anemia can also be caused by a lack of iron, folate, and vitamin B12, so patients should include foods that are packed with at least one of these nutrients in their diet. These include clams, liver, red meat, beans, chickpeas, nuts, broccoli, spinach, kale, raisins, and dairy products.
• Studies have shown that over 50 percent of people diagnosed with multiple myeloma are vitamin-D deficient. This vitamin is present in fortified orange juice, fortified yogurt and milk, sockeye salmon, tuna, and sardines, egg yolks, and, of course, sunlight.
• Foods high in potassium and phosphorus are best avoided to reduce kidney damage due to multiple myeloma. These include avocados, bananas, oats, and citrus fruits.