Even though it’s a highly uncommon form of cancer (in the U.S. the chances of getting it are 1 in 132), the American Cancer Society predicts 2019 will bring over 32,000 new cases in the United States alone.
Multiple myeloma is “a type of cancer that affects plasma cells, which are part of your immune system,” writes Healthline. It forms in a type of white blood cells that make antibodies and attack germs, basically what our body uses to fight infections. It can accumulate in the bone marrow, crowding healthy cells and producing abnormal proteins that cause complications, says the Mayo Clinic.
Those who are diagnosed with multiple myeloma must undergo chemotherapy, which means a healthy diet is super important to give the body the strength it needs to withstand treatment. Unsure what to do? Here’s a comprehensive list of what the best foods to eat are and what you should stay away from…
1. Best: Bland Foods
The medication used to treat multiple myeloma can cause nausea and vomiting, so you should avoid eating spicy foods and stick with more bland tasting foods like crackers, cheese, canned fruit, yogurt, toast, potatoes, rice, and pasta.
WebMD refers to this way of eating as the “BRAT diet” which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast — all great examples of bland foods to eat.
Avoid eating spicy foods that might irritate the tongue and mouth, particularly if you develop mouth sores.
