Thread: Curious...
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Old 08-06-2012, 11:29 AM   #6
Andrea Barnett Budin
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW...
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Re: Curious...

Yes, I took immune boosters, supplements that boosted heart function, liver detoxifiers, energy boosters and so on. I also took fish oil.

I developed shingles 1 mnth into Taxotere, but caught it fast (as I had an appt w/a stem cell expert which was a direction I was considering at the time). I asked, What is this and lifted my shirt to reveal what looked like a big, itchy bug bite. Herpes Zostrix, he responded immediately. So I had the advantage of starting the Valtrex (I think that's the name) to fight the disease that takes advantage of immune compromised people. I felt sicker than I ever remember but thought it was from the chemo. I layed my head on my husband's lap, a thing I would never consider before, while in the waiting room.

So, I found when I went for my chemo tx that the onc wouldn't give me chemo while I had shingles. This could take mnths. I KNEW I had to get back on the chemo. I went home and read my PRESCRIPTIONS FOR NUTRITIONAL HEALING book, looking up shingles. I added a few suggested weird supplements.

10 days later I returned to the onc. How are you, he asked. Good, I said (after 10 days of fierce agony). He smiled and said, Let me see. I lifted my shirt and he circled me on the exam table. You're right!, he said w/amazement. You can have the chemo. I was crusty all over. Healing.

Did the extra supplements and the immune boosters, etc. the nutritional onc gave me, and of course the quick dx and immediate Valtrex all save me?

I think the Universe had my back...






Fish oils block chemotherapy drug
By James Gallagher Health reporter, BBC News Fish oils may block cancer drugs
Fats found in fish oil supplements can stop chemotherapy drugs working, according to researchers.
Writing in the journal Cancer Cell, they advise cancer patients not to take the supplements.
The two fatty acids involved, which are also produced by stem cells in the blood, lead to tumours becoming immune to treatment.
Cancer Research UK advised patients to ask their doctor whether they would be affected.
Scientists in the Netherlands were investigating how tumours develop resistance to treatments.
Fat shield Experiments on mice showed that stem cells in the blood responded to the widely-used cancer drug cisplatin. The cells started producing two fatty acids, known as KHT and 16:4(n-3).
These fatty acids begin a series of chemical reactions, which mean cancerous cells become resistant to chemotherapy.
“Start Quote
We currently recommend that these products should not be used whilst people are undergoing chemotherapy”
End Quote Prof Emile Voest University Medical Centre Utrecht
Using drugs to block the production of the fatty acids prevented this form of resistance which "significantly enhances the chemotherapy," the study says.
However, researchers warned that these fatty acids were "abundantly present in commercially available fish oil products". They showed that off-the-shelf fish oil supplements, given to mice, could stop chemotherapy working against some tumours.
Prof Emile Voest, lead researcher at University Medical Centre Utrecht, said: "We show that the body itself secretes protective substances into the blood that are powerful enough to block the effect of chemotherapy.
"These substances can be found in some types of fish oil.
"Whilst waiting for the results of further research, we currently recommend that these products should not be used whilst people are undergoing chemotherapy."
Jessica Harris, health information manager for Cancer Research UK, said: "This interesting study suggests one possible option for stopping cancers becoming resistant to treatment, but it is at an early stage and much more research would be needed to develop ways to halt resistance.
"The results also suggest that fish oil preparations may reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs.
"Cancer patients who are taking or thinking of taking these supplements should talk to their doctors to find out whether they could affect their treatments






Andi
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Andi BB
'95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive...

'98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!)
+ good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either...

Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...
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