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hutchibk · 05-04-2007, 08:13 PM

Hi ladies - I consulted with my cancer specific naturopaths today. Got my new plan since I am on a new protocol.

I thought I would share some helpful info that I learned today. This is a plan that is specific to me since they know me and my treatments so far, so I fall short of recommending it for anyone else. But, there is some info that you all might find helpful.

They asked me to stop my multi-vitamin and B-complex while on Xeloda. They have seen reasearch that suggests that the folic acid in multi's and complexes can possibly worsen some of the Xeloda side effects. (I don't know which ones)

They switched me to 50 mg a day of B-6 alone, to help ward off hand foot syndrome.

As far as Magnesium deficiencies that might be caused by the "nib" monoclonal antibodies (although, currently Lapitinib is not thought to be as destructive to magnesium as the ones used for colorectal cancers), they feel that I get enough magnesium in the calcium/magnesium supplement that I take.

They offered that probiotics were not the most efficient way to go with diarrhea from Tykerb. The action of probiotics is more specific to bacterial imbalances, which this side effect isn't. They suggested that if I suffer with diarrhea from Tykerb, that I try Bentonite Clay (1 tblsp in juice, water or apple sauce, if needed for diarrhea, up to twice a day, if needed) as it has highly absorptive factors and regulates the intestines. Also, in lieu of that, they also suggested Carob powder, which is supposed to work in a similar way. (same type of dose if needed)

They asked me to try not to use immodium on a regular basis, as it's not good to stop and start and stop and start the digestive system/intestines/colon like that.

I also learned that Zofran (for nausea) has side effects of constipation and headaches, so I am glad that I won't have to rely on it too much since I seem to not get nausea from Xeloda.

So, they want me taking B-6, mineral supplements, digestive enzymes, calcium/magnesium, essential fatty acids, glutamine (for neuropathy), and glucosamine (for stiff joints).

Hope this helps a little for those who might be interested!

05-04-2007, 08:13 PM	#1
hutchibk Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,519	Tykerb and Xeloda supplement/vitamin info Hi ladies - I consulted with my cancer specific naturopaths today. Got my new plan since I am on a new protocol. I thought I would share some helpful info that I learned today. This is a plan that is specific to me since they know me and my treatments so far, so I fall short of recommending it for anyone else. But, there is some info that you all might find helpful. They asked me to stop my multi-vitamin and B-complex while on Xeloda. They have seen reasearch that suggests that the folic acid in multi's and complexes can possibly worsen some of the Xeloda side effects. (I don't know which ones) They switched me to 50 mg a day of B-6 alone, to help ward off hand foot syndrome. As far as Magnesium deficiencies that might be caused by the "nib" monoclonal antibodies (although, currently Lapitinib is not thought to be as destructive to magnesium as the ones used for colorectal cancers), they feel that I get enough magnesium in the calcium/magnesium supplement that I take. They offered that probiotics were not the most efficient way to go with diarrhea from Tykerb. The action of probiotics is more specific to bacterial imbalances, which this side effect isn't. They suggested that if I suffer with diarrhea from Tykerb, that I try Bentonite Clay (1 tblsp in juice, water or apple sauce, if needed for diarrhea, up to twice a day, if needed) as it has highly absorptive factors and regulates the intestines. Also, in lieu of that, they also suggested Carob powder, which is supposed to work in a similar way. (same type of dose if needed) They asked me to try not to use immodium on a regular basis, as it's not good to stop and start and stop and start the digestive system/intestines/colon like that. I also learned that Zofran (for nausea) has side effects of constipation and headaches, so I am glad that I won't have to rely on it too much since I seem to not get nausea from Xeloda. So, they want me taking B-6, mineral supplements, digestive enzymes, calcium/magnesium, essential fatty acids, glutamine (for neuropathy), and glucosamine (for stiff joints). Hope this helps a little for those who might be interested! __________________ Brenda NOV 2012 - 9 yr anniversary JULY 2012 - 7 yr anniversary stage IV (of 50...) Nov'03~ dX stage 2B Dec'03~ Rt side mastectomy, Her2+, ER/PR+, 10 nodes out, one node positive Jan'04~ Taxotere/Adria/Cytoxan x 6, NED, no Rads, Tamox. 1 year, Arimadex 3 mo., NED 14 mo. Sept'05~ micro mets lungs/chest nodes/underarm node, Switched to Aromasin, T/C/H x 7, NED 6 months - Herceptin only Aug'06~ micro mets chest nodes, & bone spot @ C3 neck, Added Taxol to Herceptin Feb'07~ Genetic testing, BRCA 1&2 neg Apr'07~ MRI - two 9mm brain mets & 5 punctates, new left chest met, & small increase of bone spot C3 neck, Stopped Aromasin May'07~ Started Tykerb/Xeloda, no WBR for now June'07~ MRI - stable brain mets, no new mets, 9mm spots less enhanced, CA15.3 down 45.5 to 9.3 in 10 wks, Ty/Xel working magic! Aug'07~ MRI - brain mets shrunk half, NO NEW BRAIN METS!!, TMs stable @ 9.2 Oct'07~ PET/CT & MRI show NED Apr'08~ scans still show NED in the head, small bone spot on right iliac crest (rear pelvic bone) Sept'08~ MRI shows activity in brain mets, completed 5 fractions/5 consecutive days of IMRT to zap the pesky buggers Oct'08~ dropped Xeloda, switched to tri-weekly Herceptin in combo with Tykerb, extend to tri-monthly Zometa infusion Dec'08~ Brain MRI- 4 spots reduced to punctate size, large spot shrunk by 3mm, CT of torso clear/pelvis spot stable June'09~ new 3-4mm left cerrebellar spot zapped with IMRT targeted rads Sept'09~ new 6mm & 1 cm spots in pituitary/optic chiasm area. Rx= 25 days of 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the tumors. Oct'09~ 25 days of low dose 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the bone mets spot on rt. iliac crest that have been watching for 2 years. Added daily Aromasin back into treatment regimen. Apr'10~ Brain MRI clear! But, see new small spot on adrenal gland. Change from Aromasin back to Tamoxifen. June'10~ Tumor markers (CA15.3) dropped from 37 to 23 after one month on Tamoxifen. Continue to monitor adrenal gland spot. Remain on Tykerb/Herceptin/Tamoxifen. Nov'10~ Radiate positive mediastinal node that was pressing on recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing paralyzed larynx and a funny voice. Jan'11~ MRI shows possible activity or perhaps just scar tissue/necrotic increase on 3 previously treated brain spots and a pituitary spot. 5 days of IMRT on 4 spots. Feb'11~ Enrolled in T-DM1 EAP in Denver, first treatment March 25, 2011. Mar'11~ Finally started T-DM1 EAP in Denver at Rocky Mountain Cancer Center/Rose on Mar. 25... hallelujah. "I would rather be anecdotally alive than statistically dead."