Do you take Metformin?
 

Hello everybody,

I've noticed that some of you have or are currently taking Metformin as part of your treatment for cancer (not diabetes). I'm considering asking my onc to prescribe it to me and would be interested in your personal experience with using this medication.

Thanks for you input!

Take Care,
Brenda

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

I asked my Oncologist about this. She didn't exactly say no but doesn't prescribe it. Told me to go through GP and see if he would. I was on a trial at the time so think this might also have been a reason for not prescribing. I didn't want to rock the boat so haven't gone to GP.
Like you, I would be interested in hearing all the pros and cons of it!

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

Following this

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

I may or may not be taking Metformin -- I'm participating in a trial to see if it has any effect on breast cancer recurrence. I haven't noticed any side effects, so I may be on a placebo.

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

Metformin seems to have an effect on stem cells which are becoming
more and more important. If your renal function is good the side effects are not sevefre.
Some people get stomac issues. It wond directly lower blood sugar like Sulfonylurea drugs
like glyburide

Paul

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

I am using the ketogenic diet to lower my blood and brain glucose levels. So far my body is really happy about it.

Metformin is used a lot for women with PCOS dealing with fertility issues but my sense was that insulin resistance was at play for the development of breast cancer as well. Lots of stage 4 BC sisters are on metformin and tolerating it well. I think if you ask on Inspire.com you might find more.

I think if we think about cancer as a metabolic disease that we are fighting then it makes a lot of sense to switch to a less favorable diet, one that makes cancer grumpy. It has been part of my modus operandi -- making my brain mets uncomfortable ;)


BTW, I found this great article that is very relevant to this discussion:

An integrated multidisciplinary model describing initiation of cancer and the Warburg hypothesis
http://www.tbiomed.com/content/10/1/39

They think glucose dysregulation happens first, then cancer develops.

This also mentions that weekly dosing (metronomic, dose-dense) of certain chemo agents might work better based on cell cycle dynamics.

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

I take metformin. Had no problem getting a prescription from my onc. She even asked me what dose I wanted, maybe she was testing me to see if I had done my homework. But I asked for 500mg tabs. I think I read somewhere that was the clinical trial dose. I take 2 pills per day, so 1000 mg. I also bought a glucose meter. I test my blood in the am and sometimes at night. I'm usually around 86-90, fasting at 70. But I have cut out sugars and carbs. And like Agness I am following a ketogenic diet, so no refined carbs or sugars anyways. Carbs through veggies.

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

Also metformin can cause diarrhea and it can be compounded if you take other chemo that causes diarrhea. And sometimes I only take one tab. I've done some experimenting to check my glucose without taking metformin and find that since my diet is low in sugars, carbs, and fruits, my glucose measures low. Still trying to figure out what I am going to do with that info. Maybe someone has an idea? But I continue to take it.
Some people lose weight on metformin.

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

Thanks for your responses. Sounds like metformin may be worth taking. My diet is pretty good but I do like an occasional sweet.

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

I'm on Metformin, have been for a few years. I take 850 mg twice a day and other than a metallic aftertaste, I don't really feel any different.

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

I take 750mg at night for the past year..

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

Really interesting to know about this. I am definitely interested. sarah

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

Yes, it does seem that a fair amount of us with Her2 take metformin. I have an appointment next month with my onc and I'm going to ask her for a RX. If the side effects aren't bad, I think I'm going to start taking it (assuming she writes me a RX).

Thanks everybody for your responses!

Take Care,
Brenda

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

I've just heard from a friend on the Metformin trial who had TNBC that all ER-/PR- patients are being dropped from the trial because the latest analysis of the data has shown that Metformin has no effect on recurrence rates for that group.

I haven't yet heard from my study coordinator (my cancer was ER-/PR-/HER2+) but once I do I'll post back here.

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

that's disappointing. Did they test ER+ as well or not?

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

Broccoli,

Thanks for the info. I'll be curious to see if they do infact decide that ER-/PR- folks are not helped by metformin. I appreciate your comment about posting back to this thread if you are contacted by the study coordinator.

Take care,
Brenda

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

Sarah -- all types of breast cancer were included in the trial.

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

I just got confirmation from my study coordinator that all ER-/PR- patients are to stop taking Metformin, as it is having no effect on outcome.

Of course what that DOES mean is that they are seeing an effect for patients that are ER+.

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

Thanks so much for posting. It is a bummer that it doesn't help all of us with breast cancer but the good news is that at least it is helping some.

Take care,
Brenda

Re: Do you take Metformin?
 

Thanks Broccoli,
Sarah