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12-08-2009, 09:22 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,526
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melatonin
Hi all
wondered if anyone had any experience of using this hormone. It's not available in the UK but can be imported from the States. Some of the research seems to say it may be useful in bc.
Would be grateful for any info about effects, dose or side effects
Thanks
Ellie
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12-08-2009, 09:48 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 347
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Re: melatonin
This book has a lot of info about Melatonin and breast cancer:
The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Breast Cancer by Sat Dharam Kaur.
One fact it states, "Melatonin is one of the body's first lines of defense in response to malignant breast cell growth. Increased melatonin keeps abnormal breast cancer cells under control, while a deficiency of melatonin allows breast tumors to form."
You can promote melatonin production by getting tryptophan in your diet. Some sources include Spirulina, tuna, salmon, cashews, avocado, oatmeal, miso, most beans, etc. Also, avoid working night shifts, spend at least twenty minutes outside in natural light in morning, sleep in a dark room, keep regular hours, avoid electromagnetic radiation, exercise regularly, have an evening meditation routine.
If you decide to take a supplement, if you're ER+, she says consider 5-50 mg one half hour before bedtime with medical supervision.
__________________
"Dancers Against Cancer" in the Eugene, OR Komen Race for the Cure 2010
Diagnosed 8/7/08 with stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma, micropapillary pattern, Her2 3+, ER+,PR-, grade II, positive lymph nodes.
Received 6doses of Taxotere, Carboplatin with Herceptin continuing for a year...DONE.
1/28/09 Left Modified Radical Mastectomy, Right Simple Mastectomy.
Surgery pathology: No invasive carcinoma present and 17 lymph nodes removed all negative! Only small amount of carcinoma in situ in left breast.
March/April '09, Radiation to left chest wall.
Currently involved in Neratinib clinical trial.
"Well being I won
and wisdom too,
I grew and joyed in my growth;
from a word to a word
I was led to a word
from a deed to another deed." (Odin)
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12-08-2009, 02:40 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: South East Wisconsin
Posts: 3,431
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Re: melatonin
Thread over here: http://her2support.org/vbulletin/sho...ight=Melatonin
I will say mom had a 20mg a couple hrs after some valium(pulled muscle) and hours later she felt unstable walking. Dug around on ye olde web and it seems there can be an interaction. |
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12-09-2009, 01:17 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 260
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Re: melatonin
Wow, I had no idea there were cancer-fighting benefits to melatonin. My herbalist/acupuncturist recommended it to me as a natural sleep aide when I mentioned I'd had some trouble sleeping. I have a spray form where you spray on spray under your tongue, hold it for 20 seconds and swallow. I use it almost every night and it works great. Not sure what dose I'm getting but I should investigate. I have not noticed any side effects from taking it - other than more restful sleep - which is what I was hoping for! Here's hoping its helping my cancer cells to die as well!
__________________
4/17/08: Dx Stage IV at age 30 - extensive mets to liver, lungs, and bones. Er/Pr-, Her2+++
April 08-Aug 08:Taxotere, Cytoxan, Herceptin, Zometa - complete response!
Sept 08-Dec 08: Herceptin +Zometa for maintenance.
Jan 09-April 09: Brain mets. Add Tykerb. Watch and wait.
April 09: Gamma Knife 10 brain mets, add Xeloda.
Sept 09: Gamma Knife to 1 brain met.
Nov 09- April 10: Lung progression, add Gemzar to Herceptin, Zometa.
May 10- Sept 10: HER2 Vaccine Trial
Sept 10: Add Tykerb for more brain mets.
Oct 10: Gamma Knife to 7 brain mets.
Dec 10: Switch from Zometa to Denosumab.
Jan 11: Gamma Knife to 3 brain mets.
March 11: Gemzar/Herceptin for lung/bone progression.
April 11: More brain mets - Intrathecal Herceptin
June 11: Ixempra/Herceptin for lung, soft tissue progression.
Aug 11: Gamma Knife
Sep 11: Abraxane/Herceptin
Future: NED
Send me a PM if you'd like to follow my journey on Caringbridge.
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12-10-2009, 11:03 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 2,214
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Re: melatonin
OMG, I was taking 3/4 mg per night and that was a bit much, lol. I see Trader Joes had 500 mcg which might be a better dosage to start.
I saw a great benefit in falling asleep and it settled my nerves in the daytime.
But now I just take it ocassionally.
__________________
Diagnosed 2007
Stage IIb Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Pagets, 3 of 15 positive nodes
Traditional Treatment: Mastectomy and Axillary Node Dissection followed by Taxotere, 6 treatments and 1 year of Herceptin, no radiation
Former Chemo Ninja "Takizi Zukuchiri"
Additional treatments:
GP2 vaccine, San Antonio Med Ctr
Prescriptive Exercise for Cancer Patients
ENERGY Study, UCSD La Jolla
Reconstruction: TRAM flap, partial loss, Revision
The content of my posts are meant for informational purposes only. The medical information is intended for general information only and should not be used in any way to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease
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12-18-2009, 01:33 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: indianapolis, indiana
Posts: 1,544
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Re: melatonin
i used it to help me fall asleep for awhile and didn't know it did all that other stuff!
__________________
dxd 9-04, lumpectomy,
st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
2 tac,33 rads,6 cmf
1 yr herceptin,
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12-18-2009, 05:18 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 309
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Re: melatonin
I heard there was research on this and ILC breast cancer-that melatonin actually prohibited the growth---maybe I read it on this site? if not--so sorry I can't remember where-but if I run across I will post---
__________________
DX: 11/08 Age: 53
Surgery: 1/09
Bilat Mastectomy, no reconstruction
ILC-4 tumors-1.7 cm,1.5 cm (2).8 cm
DCIS-11 cm
All tumors Grade 3
All tumors ER-0%/PR-0%
All tumors HER2+
IHC-all tumors Overexpression/borderline
FISH 2 tumors Her2-Negative
FISH 2 tumors Her2+ Equivocal
Stage I, 0/1 nodes
LVI-Indeterminate(treated as positive)
SPR Score 8/9
Ki-67 20%
BRCA genetic test 1/2=negative
Chemo: 6 rounds TAC Feb-June 2009 w/Neulasta
Herceptin: 6/12/09-6/4/10 52weeks
HNPCC genetic test: negative
Port Placement-9/23/09 Port Removal 6/25/10
Echo's every 3 months-All normal
2/09 Staging PET/CT showed 0.2 micronodule upper R lobe-lung-Onc does not think this is mets--
6/5/09 AND 10/09 CT scan 0.2 micronodule unchanged
1/10-PET/CT-uptake in nasopharynx-
1/10-MRI All normal
6/10-Bone Scan-clear
12/10-PET/CT-All Clear-NED
12/11-PET-All Clear-NED
12/12-PET-All Clear-NED
12/13-CT w/contrast Head, Torso-All Clear
12/14-CT w/contrast Head-All Clear
2/15-Core needle biopsy-R scar line
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12-18-2009, 05:20 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 309
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Re: melatonin
__________________
DX: 11/08 Age: 53
Surgery: 1/09
Bilat Mastectomy, no reconstruction
ILC-4 tumors-1.7 cm,1.5 cm (2).8 cm
DCIS-11 cm
All tumors Grade 3
All tumors ER-0%/PR-0%
All tumors HER2+
IHC-all tumors Overexpression/borderline
FISH 2 tumors Her2-Negative
FISH 2 tumors Her2+ Equivocal
Stage I, 0/1 nodes
LVI-Indeterminate(treated as positive)
SPR Score 8/9
Ki-67 20%
BRCA genetic test 1/2=negative
Chemo: 6 rounds TAC Feb-June 2009 w/Neulasta
Herceptin: 6/12/09-6/4/10 52weeks
HNPCC genetic test: negative
Port Placement-9/23/09 Port Removal 6/25/10
Echo's every 3 months-All normal
2/09 Staging PET/CT showed 0.2 micronodule upper R lobe-lung-Onc does not think this is mets--
6/5/09 AND 10/09 CT scan 0.2 micronodule unchanged
1/10-PET/CT-uptake in nasopharynx-
1/10-MRI All normal
6/10-Bone Scan-clear
12/10-PET/CT-All Clear-NED
12/11-PET-All Clear-NED
12/12-PET-All Clear-NED
12/13-CT w/contrast Head, Torso-All Clear
12/14-CT w/contrast Head-All Clear
2/15-Core needle biopsy-R scar line
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12-18-2009, 05:22 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 309
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Re: melatonin
__________________
DX: 11/08 Age: 53
Surgery: 1/09
Bilat Mastectomy, no reconstruction
ILC-4 tumors-1.7 cm,1.5 cm (2).8 cm
DCIS-11 cm
All tumors Grade 3
All tumors ER-0%/PR-0%
All tumors HER2+
IHC-all tumors Overexpression/borderline
FISH 2 tumors Her2-Negative
FISH 2 tumors Her2+ Equivocal
Stage I, 0/1 nodes
LVI-Indeterminate(treated as positive)
SPR Score 8/9
Ki-67 20%
BRCA genetic test 1/2=negative
Chemo: 6 rounds TAC Feb-June 2009 w/Neulasta
Herceptin: 6/12/09-6/4/10 52weeks
HNPCC genetic test: negative
Port Placement-9/23/09 Port Removal 6/25/10
Echo's every 3 months-All normal
2/09 Staging PET/CT showed 0.2 micronodule upper R lobe-lung-Onc does not think this is mets--
6/5/09 AND 10/09 CT scan 0.2 micronodule unchanged
1/10-PET/CT-uptake in nasopharynx-
1/10-MRI All normal
6/10-Bone Scan-clear
12/10-PET/CT-All Clear-NED
12/11-PET-All Clear-NED
12/12-PET-All Clear-NED
12/13-CT w/contrast Head, Torso-All Clear
12/14-CT w/contrast Head-All Clear
2/15-Core needle biopsy-R scar line
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12-21-2009, 10:04 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Hershey, PA. Live The Sweet Life!
Posts: 2,005
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Re: melatonin
Ellie,
I take 20mg of Melatonin nightly. Cancer Treatment Centers of America's naturopaths prescribe this dosage to all their cancer patients. Good to know!
__________________
Smile On!
Laurel
Dx'd w/multifocal DCIS/IDS 3/08
7mm invasive component
Partial mast. 5/08
Stage 1b, ER 80%, PR 90%, HER-2 6.9 on FISH
0/5 nodes
4 AC, 4 TH finished 9/08
Herceptin every 3 weeks. Finished 7/09
Tamoxifen 10/08. Switched to Femara 8/09
Bilat SPM w/reconstruction 10/08
Clinical Trial w/Clondronate 12/08
Stopped Clondronate--too hard on my gizzard!
Switched back to Tamoxifen due to tendon pain from Femara
15 Years NED
I think I just might hang around awhile....
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