HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Vitamins and BC--Too much of a good thing?

chrisy · 02-08-2008, 02:59 PM

Joanne, thanks for posting these - it is definitely a topic that gets and needs a lot of discussion!

I think the "conclusion" of both these articles is true: that it is true that not enough is known about how these substances interact with cancer in the human body. I'm unimpressed with the "review of 32 studies" in that there have been hundreds of studies indicating the opposite is true.
It is definitely an area of controversy, and unfortunately most doctors are not educated in this at all so have less to offer in terms of direction than we would like. Of course, that is because their gold standard of proof is randomized double blind studies which are extremely expensive.

That said, there is a lot of "evidence" regarding use of supplements, and we just have to be diligent in our research and judicious about what we use. I wish we had more answers!

02-08-2008, 02:59 PM	#2
chrisy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 3,207	Joanne, thanks for posting these - it is definitely a topic that gets and needs a lot of discussion! I think the "conclusion" of both these articles is true: that it is true that not enough is known about how these substances interact with cancer in the human body. I'm unimpressed with the "review of 32 studies" in that there have been hundreds of studies indicating the opposite is true. It is definitely an area of controversy, and unfortunately most doctors are not educated in this at all so have less to offer in terms of direction than we would like. Of course, that is because their gold standard of proof is randomized double blind studies which are extremely expensive. That said, there is a lot of "evidence" regarding use of supplements, and we just have to be diligent in our research and judicious about what we use. I wish we had more answers! __________________ Chris in Scotts Valley June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?" 9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++ 10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response! 04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED 04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial 06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin 01/08 Progression in liver 02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial 08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1 02/09 Continue NED 02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED 12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver 07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:( 12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:( 03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial 5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!! 8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!) 9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3 11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc 11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go. 2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go. 3/13 TACE procedure