Supplement Help
 

Hi,

My Girlfriend was diagnosed last year. Grade 3, Stage 3B, ER+. PR-, HER2+ at 31. 7 Positive Nodes of 17. She had FEC-T 6, Masectomy, and Radiotherapy. Also another 9 lots of Herceptin to go.

Will be starting Tamoxifen in two weeks time. Also probably Ovary suppression as well.

I've been looking at supplements which will help. So far I've got Vitamin D3 5000iu pd. I've got some liquid calcium 1200mg, but in the ingredients it lists soy lecithin. Is this OK? I thought Soy was a big no for any ER+ ladies.

I've also looked to get some Glucosamine HCI 1500mg with Chondroitin Sulphate 1200mg, but Shellfish is listed as an ingredient for the Glucosamine. I also thought this was a big no no.

Any help with this would be great.

Thanks

Re: Supplement Help
 

The Glucosamine is for the aches and pains of Herceptin.

Re: Supplement Help
 

I've also noticed the vit d3 has soy in it. Is this ok?

Re: Supplement Help
 

Soy contains Genistein which is a weak estrogen. Genistein seems to be somewhat preventative of breast cancer because it occupies the estrogen receptor and prevents the stronger estrogen (estradiol) from linking onto the Estrogen receptor. Once you actually have breast cancer the effect of Genistein is not well known. In rats it seems to fuel ER positive breast cancers. Call the supplement factory and see how much soy is in each tablet and how much Genistein. The amount may be very small. Of course to put your minds more at ease it might be easier to avoid the soy made products altogether.

Paul

Re: Supplement Help
 

Thanks,

I managed to get some without Soy in.

I couldn't find any Glucosamine without shellfish though, as it is predominately made from the shells of shellfish.

Re: Supplement Help
 

Hi,

I can't help with the soy and shellfish issues but I wanted to chime in on the Vit. D and Calcium. After all my treatment was done (except Tamoxifen) I had my Vit. D levels drawn and was hugely deficient. I now take a prescription strength Vit. D and will retest my levels in 9 weeks.

As for the Calcium I was informed that our bodies can only metabolize 600mg at a time (I was taking 1500mg at once) so now I break it up and take it twice a day.

Best
Leah