Multiple Myeloma and The Cancer Prevention Strategy That Often Gets Overlooked
Multiple Myeloma and The Overlooked Cancer Prevention Strategy
Having worked with multiple myeloma clients in the past, the most frequent question I encounter is “What could I have done to prevent this?” Prior to their diagnosis, none of my clients even heard about multiple myeloma, despite it being the second most commonly diagnosed blood cancer in the world. If you’re wondering what cancer prevention looks like for multiple myeloma then look no further than body weight.
Multiple myeloma (MM) affects 176,000 people worldwide every year. It is one of those cancers that is often under-reported therefore the actual number of new annual diagnoses may be higher than what is reported.
MM patients have cancerous plasma cells. Plasma cells are cells of the immune system. These cells make antibodies to viruses, bacteria, and fungi that invade the body and cause infection.
The disease process of MM occurs when abnormal plasma cells cause tumors in the bone or soft tissue. When there is one tumor it is considered a plamacytoma. When there are multiple tumors, it is called multiple myeloma.
One Cancer Prevention Strategy for Multiple Myeloma
Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for multiple myeloma. This disease starts with a benign pre-cancerous condition called MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance). This is where the body’s plasma cells produce a type of antibody protein in exceedingly high amounts.
MGUS is the first “warning sign” that a blood cancer may be on the horizon.
Researchers from Washington University identified just over 7,700 men diagnosed with MGUS and found that those who were overweight were 55% more likely to progress to multiple myeloma than normal-weight patients. And men that were identified as obese were 98% more likely to have MGUS progress to MM.
Closing Thoughts
Thanks for reading this article, “Multiple Myeloma and The Cancer Prevention Strategy That Often Gets Overlooked” in honor of Multiple Myeloma month. If you have any thoughts or comments, share them below. Schedule a complimentary 15-min call with me to get clear on what modern, science-based cancer prevention looks like.
FREE RESOURCES
Have more cancer prevention questions? We may have the answers in our free resources. Read or download them now:
1. Download the FREE eBook “HEALTHY FOOD SWAPS” if you’re ready to ditch processed and ultra-processed foods (which are linked to chronic inflammation) with healthier snack options. You’ll also get a list of healthy snacks according to weight and health goals (heart, brain focus, energy)
2. READ about the 10 foods that prevent cancer and our article on 6 Foods for Cancer Prevention
3. Read the article 4 Tips to Improve Breast Cancer Survival along with The Breast Cancer Diet that Increases Survival, then DOWNLOAD the FREE breast cancer survival kit that includes questions to ask your doctor, 8 tips to help lower your risk of a new or recurring breast cancer diagnosis, and 3 days of easy plant-based recipes.
4. Read the article Prevent a Colon Cancer Recurrence and The Optimal Colon Cancer Diet
ABOUT THE CANCER DETOX
Hi! I am Dee Grace Ph.D., scientist, author, and health coach based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Cancer Detox helps cancer patients, survivors, and those wanting to stay ahead of the curve prevent a new or recurring cancer with science-based health coaching.
Is the fear of cancer keeping you up at night? Is what you’re eating putting you at risk for cancer? What if you’re doing everything wrong and don’t even know it? Schedule a complimentary 15-min call with me to get clear on what modern, science-based cancer prevention looks like.
Purchase my book “Cancer Prevention: Diet and Lifestyle Factors that Reduce Your Risk” on Amazon. Pulling from over 100 science-based studies, I provide the case for why cancer isn’t always random and often preventable. You’ll get 24 Prevention Habits that hold you accountable for implementing a cancer prevention lifestyle. along with over 40 cancer prevention guidelines for fighting breast, lung, colon, and prostate cancers.
DISCLAIMER
The information in this article is for educational purposes and is not meant to treat, diagnose, or prescribe medications or herbs. For questions on the information contained in this article, please consult with your healthcare provider. This information is intended for educational purposes only, and you should consult with your healthcare provider and a licensed dietician or certified nutritionist for additional information related to the content of this article.
REFERENCES
Zhang FF, et al. Diet quality of cancer survivors and noncancer individuals: results from a national survey. Cancer. 2015;121:4212-4221.
