Ruth was diagnosed with low D two years ago, pre-diagnosis, but probably not pre-cancer. (I'm told tumors take 6+ years to show up?)
Present dilemna: told to not do extra vitamins during chemo. Told to not go in sun during chemo. In addition, it is documented that low hormones (ie chemopause, etc) makes one more susceptible to vitamind D defiency.
And yet this connection between low D and breast cancer is documented.
Ask Ruth's onc. It's pretty standard to not take many supplements during active treatment. And of course, major sun is not ok on chemo.
My onc only started testing for vit d levels about 6 months ago, so I was already almost 2 years from dx. I take 5000 units of D3 a day -- and sit in th sun -- but I'm not on any treatment.
L
Our onc is pretty traditional and recommends no supplements besides multivitamin.
Did they ever explain why they didn't test earlier? I don't know if this is a recent discovered link between bc and lack of vitamin D. A holistic functional medicine doc caught Ruth's low level of Vitamin D two years ago, wish other docs had caught it much earlier.
Hi. Hope Ruth is getting through treatment without too much hardship.
I assume that my onc didn't know about vit D until 6 months ago (the nurses said she (the doc) suddenly started ordering vit D levels on all her bc patients). I did find it weird that I was low -- also that I'd already been found to have osteopenia/osteoporosis -- which before bc had been the only health problem I'd EVER had. Related? Hmmm... Now, I'm reading more and more about the connection between vit d and cancer. I don't think they really know what's going on -- just that there may be a connection.
Best
L
Location: LAND OF YES!
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To *supplement* Or Not...
Please see my new thread re TO "SUPPLEMENT" OR NOT...
Also re osteopenia -- When I was dx w/that finishing Taxotere, my GYN consulted w/rheumotologist and put me on A PROPHYLACTIC dosage (1/2 strength) of Fosamax. After 6 yrs -- I was told to stop -- there was no reason to continue. MY BONES WERE "BEAUTIFUL". I had no idea I could actually improve, just hoped to retard further deterioration. And, with 1/2 dosage!!
Loving, healing energy to all... ANDI
__________________ 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...
__________________ 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...
To *supplement* Or Not...
I had no idea I could actually improve, just hoped to retard further deterioration. And, with 1/2 dosage!!
Corrected Link To -- To "supplement" Or Wait
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