My comments on the long term use of curcumin in two smoldering multiple myeloma patients. Part I.

Finally. Here goes. Are you ready? These are my first ramblings on the smoldering myeloma case report. šŸ˜‰

At the end of the abstract, the authors state the following: These results suggest that patients with smoldering myeloma may benefit from daily ingestion of curcumin and long term use does not result in toxicity.ā€

Concerning possible long-term toxicity, let me say this: Iā€™ve been on a higher daily dose than six grams for the past eight years (plus)…most of the time, an eight gram daily dose (note: I’ve been testing a lower dose lately, in the 7-gram range).

True, I donā€™t know whatā€™s going on inside my cells, molecules, atoms and genes, but I can tell you this, for what it’s worth:

  1. I feel fine.
  2. I’m very active.
  3. I have no pain anywhere (the back pain I recently had, and wrote about on the blog, has totally disappearedā€¦oh, and by the way, in case you remember that post and youā€™re still interested!, my urine is still clear! šŸ˜‰ )ā€¦
  4. I haven’t taken an antibiotic in a year and a half. But I’ll have more to say about this in Part 2 of this post.Ā 

Before we go on, I would like to say that this study gave me a lot of food for thought, which means I have lots to say, so Iā€™m bound to rant and rave and repeat (sorry about that!)ā€¦ šŸ˜‰

In the full study, we can read these two sentences: ā€œGiven the uncertainty of disease progression with SMM, early intervention aimed at reducing the abnormal protein load, the abnormal serum-free light chain ratio and the % plasma cell load would be of benefit to the patient. It would be essential that this preventative approach does not itself increase the risk of progression or result in toxicity.ā€

Long term readers of my blog know how I feel about early intervention. Or rather, I should add, about early conventional intervention. Simply put, Iā€™m against it.

Very.

Strongly.

So.Ā 

Of course, this is MY OWN PERSONAL opinion, which is not based only on a gut feeling but on all the research I’ve done and all the scientific studies Iā€™ve read in the past eight years (plus)…and also on the guidelines of the International Myeloma Working Group…

Anyway, that said, hereā€™s what I believe: no CRAB symptoms = no intervention, no treatment.Ā 

Iā€™ve lived a mainly healthy life thus far (more than eight years since my SMM diagnosis and fourteen years since my MGUS diagnosis). Yet the percentage of evil plasma cells in my bone marrow is (probably still) quite high, to the point where, in 2007, my hematologist, based on what she knew (protocols protocols protocols), suggested that I take some Revlimid to bring down that number. I said no, to her surprise…but it was my decision, right or wrong (for the record: I think I made the right choice). Ā 

But getting back to what Terry Golombick and his colleagues write…No, we certainly do NOT want to increase our risk of progression and/or make our lives miserable because of the toxic side effects of conventional treatments. I’m referring, of course, to MGUS and SMM situations, with no CRABs…

But that doesnā€™t mean that we should sit back and do nothing. I can still hear the words that a world-famous myeloma specialist told me over the phone in 2005: ā€œNo, there is nothing you can do to stop it from progressing.ā€

Nothing is unacceptable. Simply unacceptable.

And all those expressions that give absolutely no hope to the patient should be DELETED from the myeloma vocabulary. Words such as “watch and wait.” The only thing I “watch and wait” for are birds when Stefano and I go bird watching…

Sure, perhaps there isnā€™t anything I can do. Perhaps Iā€™ll progress to active myeloma at some point, no matter what I doā€”even if I stand on my head every night at midnight singing an aria from ā€œLa Traviata”…even if I walk around with a pineapple precariously balanced on my head…even if I sleep all day like my cats doā€¦even if…

But (seriously now!) hereā€™s the thing: while it goes without saying that I want my hematologist to give me the truth, the straight and honest truth, I also don’t want her to give me what Dr. David Servan-Schreiber, the famous French neuroscientist and physician, called falseĀ hopelessness. Here’s an interesting 2008 article on this topic:Ā http://goo.gl/oeJh5

Dr. Servan-Schreiber believed that feelings of helplessness can actually feed cancer. I’m convinced that’s true. But Iā€™ve written about all this before and donā€™t want to repeat it, so just go have a look at my March 13 2011 post if you have no idea what Iā€™m blabbing about: http://margaret.healthblogs.org/2011/03/13/hope/.

In spite of all the evidence that patients who are given hope do better than those who are given no hope, the current conventional approach in the MGUS and SMM world is to tell us that there is nothing we can do. Does that make any sense to you? And some doctors, like Vermorken and his team, go as far as to suggest that it might actually be DANGEROUS for us to do something like use turmeric in our cooking. I mean…you’ve got to be bloody KIDDING!!!! But thatā€™s fodder for another post that Iā€™m working on (grrrrrrimace!), so Iā€™ll leave it at that for now.

Point is: watching and waiting and doing bloody nothing is no way to live. It takes power away from us. It makes us feel weak and afraid and anxiousā€¦It gives us a sense of despair and helplessness. All these negative feelings can only lead to the buildup of stress. And stress, as we should all know by now, feeds myeloma cells (look up ā€œnorepinephrineā€ on my blog or scroll down my Pages to the title ā€œMyeloma and stress,ā€ which, yes, needs some updating!).

Hereā€™s what I firmly believe (and again, itā€™s MY OWN OPINION blablabla): we CAN be proactive in a way that doesnā€™t Ā risk waking up the monster inside of us. We have to be incredibly careful, of course,Ā not to take anything toxic and without solid scientific backingā€¦and not to go overboard. For example, Iā€™m not a fan of drastic changesā€¦ā€cold turkeyā€ dietary changes, e.g. Do things gradually. Easy peasy.Ā 

And for cryin’ out loud, if you really want that slice of chocolate cake or apple tart, go ahead and have it! šŸ˜‰

As for being proactive, sure, Iā€™ve had my doubts, too. Have I made the right choices or have I totally screwed up? Well, it’s pointless to dwell on all that. I donā€™t have a time machine, so I canā€™t go back to 2005-6 and do things differently. And, to be honest, even if I were offered that opportunity, I would ignore it. I doubt that I could have done any better…But, of course, only time (more time!) will tell. šŸ™‚

A final rambling: even if you don’t believe in taking supplements or making any dietary changes, you can do other things. Laugh. Enjoy your life…even the little thingsā€¦learn something newā€¦travelā€¦relax (meditate)…be with your loved ones and friends as much as possible…cuddle with your catsā€¦do whatever makes you happy…and hey, donā€™t forget to eat some chocolate. šŸ˜‰Ā 

Iā€™ll stop here for today. Note: the second part of my post is not as rambling as this one but instead focuses on a part of the study that should be of interest to all of us… Ciao for now! šŸ™‚

8 Comments

  1. Thank you, thank you and thank you again Margaret. If it wasnĀ“t for you and your blog so many of us would not have found out about curcumin and itĀ“s association with MM.Consequently, we have been able to read the many abstracts and scientific articles that you have posted (and deciphered!)and brought to our attention to get a much deeper understanding of this complex disease. I have been able to make some pretty important decisions with my doctor because of this knowledge during the course of my treatment and so far all the decisions have been right for me. So donĀ“t worry about the occasional rant! We want to read it all!! Cheers from Madrid šŸ™‚

  2. Margaret,
    Would you be willing to share some of the curcumin brands that people find most reliable and what dosage?
    Thank you!
    Elisabeth

  3. Hi Margaret
    I was diagnosed with MGUS three years ago and it was siuggested by my consultant that I started Turmeric 400mg three times a day, my levels have decreased by 40% since diagnosis. I am currently taking Turmeric Good n natural but wondered if there is a better product and should I consider a higher does? Great to hear all this positive feedback
    Keep Well and look forward to hearing from you
    Regards Louise Ansell UK

  4. 2-13-14 Hi Margaret–I have been reading your blog for about a month now. I was diagnosed in Nov. 2007 with MM. I, contrary to the specialist, my oncologist, and my husband the scientist, refused stem cell transplant. I was convincing enough in my presentation that they accepted it because of all the new novel drugs. Until about a month ago, I was off all meds for 2 years. My M spike went up to .3 and my light chains somewhat too. I elected to back on Velcade. I am in the off week after my first cycle of 3 shots. After my first shot, I read some interesting stories, including your blog,re; curcumin on the ACOR listserv. I had heard about the research. So I investigated, read your blog and contacted someone in London who mentioned you and who was taking the 8 grams a day. Recently, I saw am MM specialist who proclaimed me a very “young 72” who should consider harvesting my stem cells and having a transplant in a few years. I told him “probably not” but I would research harvesting. Well, I have read and talked to many people–my answer is still “no thanks.” Two days ago, i started on 1 gram. I had my Protein and light chains blood tests drawn before I started. Don’t have my results yet. When I mentioned curcumin to the specialist, he told me not to waste my money–no surprise. Next week, I will tell my oncologist. –Neither of them know that I visited my 93 year old aunt in Napoli dintorno in early December. I will live a very long life and certainly not pass of MM.

    Now to my question to you. I have a few months supply of Doctors Best C3 capsules w/ bioperene. I am confused about adding the fat to help bioavailability. I had intended to take some Greek Yogurt with it. I could also take omega 3 capsules with it. Or simply a tbls of olive oil. Do you still take the “fat” with it? At bedtime, I am not into preparing anything too complex. I would appreciate your comments on this.
    Also, I have a few personal questions: Somewhere I read that you teach: what do you teach? And in what subject is your PhD –just curious. I am an MM support group leader (affiliated with the IMF) and in to holistic and alternative medicine, energy healing and meditation. Am also in the process of writing about my journey with MM from a philosophical and spiritual point of view.
    Thanks for all of your work. Am including a website address to another “cancer cure” being researched at Washington State University –Artemisinin. I am also gathering some info on cannabis, the plant.

    Ciao e grazie
    Josephine

    1. Hi Josephine

      Have you gathered any more info on Artemisinin since you wrote this comment?

      Thanks, Ian
      London, UK
      Myeloma since Sept 2014

      1. Hi Ian–No, I haven’t gathered any more info on Artemisinin. I will update you on my MM. I hust started my 10th year with MM. I have a very indolent MM and the test that is most accurate about my myeloma is not the Abnormal Protein but the Light Chains. I have come to a new insight: it takes a few years for all of us to learn about our own individual myeloma. I just came off the drug Pomalyst–I had a horrible reaction to it and finally told my doctor “no more!” Since October, I am off all meds. I actually have stopped most supplements too for a while. I do take a liquid mixture of various vitamins and minerall–Called Prodovite : a multi-vitamin-mineral Phytonutrient complex Proprietary prodosomes and a capsule called Brain Reward. https://www.vniinc.com/ I am about to begin curcumin again –I had to stop because of developing a rash. –Regret I could not be more helpful. Best Wished

        1. Thank you Josephine. Appreciate the link to Prodovite. Best wishes for your continuing long-term remission – heading towards cure!

  5. My wife started curcumin several months ago. She is increasing dosage slowly over time since she has had her gall bladder removed 15 years ago. Don’t want any problems and want to evaluate results through her routine blood test. She takes the capsules with a couple tablespoons of coconut oil. She heats it slightly to return to its liquid state. Heat increases curcumin bioavailability, too. It’s a healthy oil and not very strong in flavor. More healthy than omega-6 vegetable oils. She, also, takes the oil soluble vitamins with the coconut oil. She was diagnosed with MM in 2011. Bone lesions, cracked rib, all the rest of the symptoms. Has been on Rev 25 mg, stopped the Dex several months ago, No SCT, steady M-Spike down to 1.3 from 3.8+. Doing well. Since she is stable, it will easy to see the result of taking the curcumin.

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