There aren’t any proven diets to treat multiple myeloma. However, there are specific nutritional strategies that you can use to treat common symptoms, that occur while being treated with multiple myeloma, as well as to reduce a cancer recurrence.

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. But 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 strategies will help in you feeling 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 so 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 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 should 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, such as soy milk, flax milk, or almond milk

Vitamin D

A small study of post myeloma treatment patients showed that about 60 percent 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, that we not only eat to help fight the cancer, we also eat to nourish our body.