It might be possible to keep you hair during chemo
 

When I was having chemo treatments, I lost my hair. I started to take a supplement called Noxylane4 and my hair started to grow back - even though I was still being actively treated. Noxylane4 is a supplement that is supposed to increase your NK cells to help your immune system fight off cancer. It is rice bran and mushroom formula.

I met a woman in chemo who had all her hair - she was on her final chemo treatment (15 in all). This poor woman was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer, they did a CT and found out she also had stage 1 lung cancer. A doctor had told her to take AHCC, he told her it would help her a lot. This formula is also rice bran and mushroom, she said she believed that formula saved her hair. I tried that formula too - but I found it upset my stomach. This formula is easier to find at a health food store, Noxylane4 you would probably have to order on the web.

I suspect that if someone started taking either of these formulas or MGN3 (Almost the same as Noxylane4), it will not only help your immune system but it would help you keep your hair as well.

I first heard of these formulas in a book named "Cure Your Cancer".

Very interesting post, I have a question, since this formula increase the immune system how does it effect the chemo? For instance as the chemo
is going after T cells and your are feeding the immune system is it counter effecting the work of the chemo?

When I was taking chemo my dr. did not want me taking supplements which may work against the chemo. After chemo during herceptin I
was permitted to take all.

Regards,
jean

My doctor did not have a problem with supplements - this supplement encourages you to use traditional treatments because the formula works with them. If you look at Herceptin it is made to make the cells more vuernable to chemo or your immune system. These supplements help your immune system by making your natural killer cells more active. Cancer patients usually have very inactive NK cells - I believe that is part of the reason we got cancer to begin with. While chemo goes after all fast growing cells - the only ones we really need them to kill are the unhealthy (cancer cells)

Everyone will have to decide for themselves as to whether they wish to take supplements or not. My oncologist tells me that I am at very high risk of re-occurance, I therefore want all the help I can get.

My onc told me I was not to take any supplements at all during my chemo trts. I also had a 2nd opinion onc up at a major cancer center and she was totally against it too. I didn't even bring up the topic...she did. I was told the same thing Jean & Karen were told by their onc's. My recurrance rate is really high too so I just did as I was told. This is something everyone should always discuss with their onc while doing chemo.

Chelee

I too was told not to take any supplements while in treatment. I will ask about this next week when I go for my treatment.

HMMMM, interesting, but...
When I had this discussion with Dr. Slamon who is the Father of Herceptin
he did not want supplements while on chemo/herceptin.

Part of chemo treatment unfortunately does destroy healthy cells.
These is still unanswered questions regarding the many pathways
that channel cancer. Research has not discovered just exactly what
occures and there are yet many theories as to why the cancer cells
survive and destory our healthy cells..but we certainly do not want
to defeat the actons of the drugs. Nothing is better than our bodies
abilites to protect us as far as I am concerned, but as I said earlier
it is still a mystery as to "why" our cells cannot defeat the cancer cells.

I believe this is yet another topic that is ripe for discussion!
Regards,
jean

A good read...
 

Regarding supplements and chemo...

http://www.abreastinthewest.ca/medical2.cfm?Num=43

You have to fully understand the possible consequences of combining antioxidant supplements and chemo. Based on the CURRENT knowledge available, there is a potential reduced effectivenss of certain chemotherapeautic agents when combined with antioxidants. This could mean that with a reduced benefit there could be a lack of response, or continued progression of the cancer despite therapy or a decrease in long term survival, this has not been determined.

When I was having radiation, the very first thing the rad dr. stated was no antioxidants during treatment, esp. Vit. C
Since none of the supplements/and/herbs are not regulated and are easliy purchased we must be cautious and remember
these are drugs in and of themselves. No one really understand their reactions along with chemo. I do not know of any
trials on this subject...we should check with Lani to see if she has any research articles on this.

Great Topic.
Regards,
jean

I have to ask what kind of chemo she's having?
I know when I go, there are other CA patients there getting chemo, and depending on the chemo given, they do or do not lose their hair. Seems BC- yes, lung, colon BC- no. At least at my Onc's.

I do not know what kind of chemo she was taking - whatever the drug it was for lung cancer and experimental for breast cancer.

Thanks goops. I'd be interested in knowing how it works for the BC.

I have a nutritionist who only wants me taking very specific supplements while on chemo - and nothing that is anti-oxidant or immune boosting... as they can interfere with the pathways that the chemo uses, and they can interfere with the efficacy of the chemo during the "protected zone" which can be a time frame that ranges from 2 weeks to 5 days to 2 days on each side of a treatment. The last thing I want to do is mess with anything that could negate the work that the chemo is supposed to be doing! I would rather be bald, personally.

Brenda,
I agree and by the way your one good looking woman with or without hair.

Jean

The main problem with trying to boost the immune system during chemo is the fact that the chemo drugs can't differentiate between good fast replecating cells, such as skin, hair, intestins etc. and not the bad fast replecating cells such as breast cancer cells. Also the body does not discriminate as to which cells to boost, the good cells or the bad cancer cells. as my onc told me, we certainly don't want to kill the good cells but we more importantly don't want to inadvertantly boost the bad ones.
Alice

I have to ask what chemo you were on besides what chemo the other woman was on?? I have lost my hair 6 times to breast cancer and leukemia chemo's. My first time, I took adriomyacin/cytoxin. I lost my hair in 2 weeks time. I did four treatments, then started taxol. Within 2 weeks of starting the taxol, my hair started to grow back. I was not allowed to take supplements because of possible interactions with the chemo. The last thing I wanted to do was weaken the chemo I was taking to kill the beast. Each time I lost my hair thereafter, the time it took to grow back was different with each drug. I am starting a new plan soon, and I've been told I won't loose my hair at all. I'd be the first one to try something to keep my hair, but I've found that people sometimes tweak the facts to boost their own self worth (I know I do it). Please be careful and discuss things with your onc before trying any miracles...

My onc. also said ABSOLUTELY NO SUPPLEMENTS, not even a multi-vitamin pill during chemo. He and the onc. pharmacist stressed I was not allowed to take anything at all except for Tylenol without their permission.

Once I switched to Herceptin only he has basically allowed me to take pretty well anything, but I still ask.

I'm with Brenda H - I'd rather be bald.

all the best
caya

Yep same with me I was told NO SUPPLTMENTS until Chemo was done.

Once I started Herceptin I was able to start my COQ10, and my Calcicum/Vit D.

I was not going mess this up.

I am interested in this thread. I am certainly not telling anyone to take supplements nor to go agaist their onc's opinons but...

1) I'm under the impression that this is theoretical only. In other words, it is theorized that the supplements could get in the way of chemo, but no studies have borne this out? I think rads + antioxidants have more definite evidence.

2) The oncs just don't know, and most of their training is heavily "westernized" obviously.

3) I'll admit it; we went against the standard onc rec during chemo, and Ruth did so very well the very first treatment that the onc said "go ahead and keep doing what you're doing". We did not load up on the typical anti-oxidants (vit C) but RUth took astralagus, reishi, glutamine, fish oil, heavy duty multi-vitamin, protein powder that included amino acids, etc.

I just don't think anyone really knows, but I was so concerned about trying to help her system, and it seemed to really help. (white counts stayed up, she never missed work, etc)

If Ruth recurrs, (god forbid) I guess we will never know if this was a mistake; however so far the onc said it was one of the best immediate responses she had ever seen, especially in a cancer as large as her was. I think it possible that these things work synergistcally instead of getting in the way but of course I am no expert. Each person must make these choices for themselves.

This is the first I am hearing about not even taking Vit D, Calcium etc during chemo. My onc certainly knew I was taking these and it was not an issue. Is this something else I can add to my worry list??

I have been approved to take omega 3s and calcium+D during all of my chemos. During some of my regimens I have been allowed a very specific dose of multi, B6, and/or B-complex, some I have not been allowed B-complex for 48 hrs prior or 5 days post treatment, and on Tykerb/Xeloda, I am not allowed multi or B-complex at all. Each chemo comes with it's own potential interferences from vitamins, so I think a lot of docs would rather say to just steer clear, rather than have to work out a complicated supplement regimen. I consult with a nutritionist who is cancer specific, and my onc approves whatever plan he comes up with.

vit b etc
 

R took a B complex also. She avoided a 3 day window around treatment also. I forgot this Brenda, thank-you!

Re: It might be possible to keep you hair during chemo
 

My onc said no astralagus or other antioxidants or supplements supporting the immune system. Websites promoting the product advertise that it is for use during chemotherapy and radiation. After reading this thread, I decided to go with my onc's advice. I have a very aggressive cancer and do not want to take any chances. I love you all for your great thoughts and advice!

Re: It might be possible to keep you hair during chemo
 

Interesting thread. Back in Feb I started seeing a holistic nurse to get my nutrition/eating habits up. My onc, who never addresses this kind of stuff, was thrilled I was taking a multi-vitamin, vitamin D supplement, probiotic & CoQ10. He tested my vit d level, which came back in the normal range. The only thing he said was not to take too much vitamin d in case of toxicity, but his idea of a therapeutic level of vit. d is much lower than what more natural approaches recommend so I'm not concerned.

Re: It might be possible to keep you hair during chemo
 

Hi
I also use fish oil, q10, mg, reishi, astralgus, flaxseed oil and meal.....but I leave a 3 day window around the chemotherapy.
Jackie (down under)