Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get StartedLifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffThe following tips may help you keep multiple myeloma under control:
- Stay active. Exercise helps keep your bones stronger. If pain keeps you from being active, ask your doctor about ways to lessen the pain.
- Drink fluids. Drinking fluids can help keep you from becoming dehydrated. And by drinking plenty of fluids, you help dilute the Bence Jones protein fragments in your urine, which may help prevent kidney damage.
- Eat a balanced diet. One way to promote your overall health and cope with any form of cancer is to eat well. The amount of M protein in your system isn't affected by how much protein you eat, so there's no need to limit protein intake unless told otherwise by your doctor. Don't take vitamins, herbs or medications without your doctor's approval because they may interfere with your treatment.
References
- Rajkumar SV, et al. Multiple myeloma and related disorders. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/145977116-5/856340478/1709/160.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06694-8..50114-7_4940. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Konrad CN, et al. Multiple myeloma: Diagnosis and treatment. American Family Physician. 2008;78:853.
- Rajkumar SV. Initial chemotherapy for patients with high risk multiple myeloma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Rajkumar SV. Initial chemotherapy for symptomatic multiple myeloma in patients who are not candidates for transplantation. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Treatment of the complications of multiple myeloma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Detailed guide: Multiple myeloma. Chemotherapy and other drugs. American Cancer Society. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Multiple myeloma: Moving on after treatment. American Cancer Society. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Richardson PG, et al. Management strategies for relapsed multiple myeloma: Therapy in practice. American Journal of Cancer. 2006;5:393.
- Detailed guide: Multiple myeloma. What are the risk factors for multiple myeloma? American Cancer Society. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Multiple myeloma: What are some questions I can ask my doctor? American Cancer Society. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Integrative medicine & complementary and alternative therapies as part of blood cancer care. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/attachments/National/br_1150734030.pdf. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Complementary and alternative methods for cancer management. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_5_1_Introduction.asp. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Rajkumar SV (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 8, 2008.