What Should I Eat If I Have Multiple Myeloma?

There are not any proven diets to directly treat multiple myeloma. However, there are specific nutritional strategies that you can use throughout your treatment to strengthen your immune system and prevent infection. 

Be aware that multiple myeloma and its treatments may make it difficult to eat right, but there are steps you can take to help. Sometimes eating is the last thing you want to do. The symptoms of this blood cancer and the side effects of treatment can make it hard to have an appetite or eat as much as you used to. Getting the right nutrients (and enough of them) is an important part of getting well.

Strategies to Use Throughout Your Treatment

Having a strategy for your nutrition will help keep you on track during your treatment. Using these nine directives will help you feel well:

• Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day.
• Choose foods that are easy on your stomach.
• Include protein-rich foods.
• Choose whole grains.
• Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables.
• Stay hydrated.
• Choose healthy fats.
• Limit added sugars.
• Practice good food safety.

Foods to Avoid

Multiple myeloma makes your immune system weaker. Treatments such as: intense chemotherapies, a stem cell transplant or potent immunotherapies, might make you neutropenic. This means that your blood cell counts are so low you are more likely to contract an infection. During these times of neutropenia, you’ll want to stay away from any foods that could make you sick, including:

• Raw meat or fish.
• Runny eggs.
• Unpasteurized drinks.
• Sushi.
• Unwashed fruits and vegetables.

Foods for Anemia

Multiple myeloma can also cause anemia. With anemia, you can experience fatigue and weakness. Anemia can also be caused by deficiencies in iron, folate, and vitamin B-12.  Here are some foods that are rich in iron, folate, or vitamin B-12 that you could consider adding to your diet:

• Clams
• Liver
• Red meat
• Beans
• Chickpeas
• Lentils
• Nuts
• Spinach and other leafy greens
• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Fish
• Poultry
• Eggs
• Dairy
• Fortified breakfast cereals
• fortified non-dairy milk: soy milk, flax milk, or almond milk

Vitamin D

A small study of post-myeloma treatment patients showed that about 60% had a vitamin D deficiency.  Here are some sources you can use to make sure you are getting your vitamin D and avoid the deficiency.

• Sunlight
• Fortified orange juice
• Fortified yogurt and milk
• Sockeye salmon, tuna, and sardines
• Egg yolks

Along with your medications and other treatments, lifestyle changes can have a big impact on your fight against myeloma. Healthy eating habits can be hard at first, but remember, eating healthier can strengthen your body to fight multiple myeloma more efficiently.

Help myeloma researchers to learn more about dietary habits and multiple myeloma. Join HealthTree Cure Hub to participate in patient surveys like this questionnaire on your eating habits:

ANSWER THE FOOD FREQUENCY QUESTIONNAIRE