Multiple Myeloma Cancer Patient Diet

Fighting cancer is a full-time job. Thus, no matter its form, you should aim to make defeating cancer your number one goal 24 hours a day. To do this, you will have to make some drastic lifestyle changes, including a full revamp of your current diet and exercise regime. If you have been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an effective diet can help strengthen your body, increasing your odds for survival.

Multiple Myeloma

• Cancer in general is a condition whereby the cells of your body mutate. If left unchecked, these mutated cells will continue reproducing until they spread throughout your entire body, interfering with your normal biological processes and eventually causing death. Cancer is designated through its point of origin--the point at which the first tumor (growth of malignant cells) appears. Multiple myeloma is cancer occurring in the bone marrow, specifically within the blood cells of your bone marrow.

Multiple Myeloma Diet

• According to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, there is no one diet to combat multiple myeloma specifically. The best plan is adherence to a general cancer-fighting diet as prescribed by many organizations dedicated to the eradication of this insidious disease. One ideal dietary approach for fighting multiple myelmoma is the one recommended by the American Cancer Society.

Diet Foundation

• The foundation of your cancer-fighting diet should consist of ample quantities of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. At every meal you should have at least one serving of each of the aforementioned groups, without fail. Adequate fruit and vegetable consumption is important throughout the fight with cancer due to their antioxidant properties; many fruits and veggies have been shown to have an anti-cancer effect. For example, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli contain compounds that have been shown to slow or halt the development of existing cancers. Other potent cancer-fighting fruits and veggies include berries, grapes, leafy green vegetables and tomatoes. Whole-grain intake is important in the fight against cancer because whole grains contain ample amounts of phytochemicals, which are substances that insulate cells against potentially cancer-causing damage.

Rounding Out the Diet

• Once you have your foundation set upon whole grains, fruits and vegetables, you should round out your multiple myeloma-fighting diet by ensuring that the rest of your caloric intake is low in unhealthy (saturated) fats, while moderately high in unsaturated fats like that found in olive oil, almonds, avocados and coconuts. Additionally, the American Cancer Society warns that you should curtail consumption of higher fat meats; make sure that you are consuming mainly lean protein sources like chicken, turkey and seafood.

  Although staving off multiple myeloma is difficult, if each meal contains a lean protein source, some healthy fat, a whole grain, a fruit and a vegetable, you will be giving your body the best chance to fight off cancer.