General Cancer News Latest Breast Cancer News from Moreover Technologies |
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03-07-2014, 03:27 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 19,022
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Vitamin D boosts survival of breast cancer patients
Breast cancer patients with high levels of vitamin D in their blood are twice as likely to survive the disease as women with low levels of this nutrient, report University of California, San Diego School of Medicine researchers in the March issue of Anticancer Research.
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03-07-2014, 09:46 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 2,214
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Re: Vitamin D boosts survival of breast cancer patients
Linn65 = take your Vitamin D!!!
__________________
Diagnosed 2007
Stage IIb Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Pagets, 3 of 15 positive nodes
Traditional Treatment: Mastectomy and Axillary Node Dissection followed by Taxotere, 6 treatments and 1 year of Herceptin, no radiation
Former Chemo Ninja "Takizi Zukuchiri"
Additional treatments:
GP2 vaccine, San Antonio Med Ctr
Prescriptive Exercise for Cancer Patients
ENERGY Study, UCSD La Jolla
Reconstruction: TRAM flap, partial loss, Revision
The content of my posts are meant for informational purposes only. The medical information is intended for general information only and should not be used in any way to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease
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03-07-2014, 10:14 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Attica, IN
Posts: 371
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Re: Vitamin D boosts survival of breast cancer patients
Oh geez!! Good thing I am taking my BIG DOSE of Vit D!! Don't be giving me telling me what to do when I am already doing it!! So aggressive!! LMAO.
__________________
myleftlump.wordpress.com - started blogging my
IDC breast cancer
7/2012 diagnosed with multiple solid lesions
7/20/12 biopsy done. ER+ 30 PR -, HER+++,k167 80% Grade 2
9/2012 biopsy on lymph node - showed malignant
9/2012 Pre-adjunctive TCH chemo.
12/6/12 MRI after Pre-adj.
Results: Modest Decrease in size of left breast malignancy As well as the associated satellite lesions and auxiliary Adenopathy compared to prior study. Doctors hoped for better but good response it didn't grow.
12/18/2012 left masectomy with axillary nodes
Size 3.2 CM, Nottingham score 9/9
Grade 3, no evidence of in situ carcinoma
Areas of angiolymphatic are identified
Carcinoma is 0.5 cm from inked deep
Margin of excision
Attached axillary lymph nodes: metastatic
Carcinoma in 6 of 8 nodes.
Size of largest node 1.5 cm
Extracapsular
ER + 73%, PR+2%, HER2+
2/27/13 6 weeks of IMRT radiation finished
2/2013 Started on Tamoxifan 5 years.
8/2013 will take last Herceptin, 17 treatments total every 3 weeks.
BRCA1 & BRAC2 - Negative
August 28, 2013 DIEP flap on the left breast.
February 2014 Nip & Tuck
March 14, 2014 nipple reconstruction and removed port.
August 14, 2014 lump in lymph nodes under arm and above clavicle. Stage IV
August 28, 2014 herceptin And projeta starting and port put back in.
3/18/15 stopped arimidex.
3/18/15 progression....Tdm1
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03-07-2014, 11:10 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lakewood, WA
Posts: 56
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Re: Vitamin D boosts survival of breast cancer patients
I was told I had very low vit D levels about 3 years before I was diagnosed and started taking Vit D3 right away. At the time of my surgery, my surgeon (a big proponent of vit D) tested my levels and said they were "what some might call toxic" so she said I should take less. I was probably taking 4000 to 5000 units daily thinking more was better. So now I just take one 2500 unit Vit D. Curious what folks here are taking.
When I read about the study I was wondering why taking vitamin D didn't prevent the tumor I had from growing so large so rapidly. I guess this might fall under the "your mileage may vary" category.
Shirley
__________________
- Age 54 at dx (April '13) Stage 2b, grade 3
- ER+ PR+ HER+, 9 cm tumor one breast and <0.5 cm in sentinal node
- BRCA1 and 2 negative
- Neoadjuvant TCH chemo started 5-15-13 (4 rounds, 3 weeks apart)
- Unilateral Mx w/expander 8-22-13 (right side)
- 5/5 nodes Neg
- clear margins but close. Tumor at removal down to 2.2 cm.
- Radiation 6 wks starting 10-17-13.
- Herceptin every 3 weeks until 4-23-14
- DIEP/Mastopexy 10-8-14, U of WA
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03-07-2014, 12:32 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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Re: Vitamin D boosts survival of breast cancer patients
You end up figuring out what is right for you. I take 4000iu daily but my level is 60. The range is 30-100 for normal so I need a hefty dose to stay in the good range. Someone else may need much less or even more.
This article is insightful because it mentions that tumors have receptors for some of the vitamin d breakdown components and that they tend to be present when tumors are small and thus, if you take enough D then, it curtails growth. But what does "small" mean? Microscopic where it would take years to detect? We just don't know enough yet. Also, it can be the chicken and the egg of which researchers are trying to figure out. Do you have low D levels because you have cancer or did you get cancer because you have low D levels? Since humans don't live outside anymore and when we are outside, we slather ourselves with sunscreen (which prevents our skin from manufacturing Vitamin D naturally), having low D levels seems that we are doing ourselves wrong by not taking it. It hasn't been (evolutionarily speaking) that we have lived this way and we haven't evolved enough yet.
So, get your readings and take vitamin D if needed and then get them done again so you know how to adjust the amount. I started with 2000 but it barely got me to 30. After all these years, I know 4000 iu a day is the right dose for me so everyone has to figure out what is the right dose for them.
__________________
Kind regards
Becky
Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia
NED 18 years!
Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
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03-07-2014, 12:50 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Attica, IN
Posts: 371
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Re: Vitamin D boosts survival of breast cancer patients
Becky,
I have 9 more weeks with the once a week dose, so I will be interested if my levels improve!! Sooo many things I took for granted.
I was inspired by your osteopenia not being detected. Never have I been faithful with Vitamin's like I am now...Does that mean I am getting old!! Crap on a crap stick!! LOL
__________________
myleftlump.wordpress.com - started blogging my
IDC breast cancer
7/2012 diagnosed with multiple solid lesions
7/20/12 biopsy done. ER+ 30 PR -, HER+++,k167 80% Grade 2
9/2012 biopsy on lymph node - showed malignant
9/2012 Pre-adjunctive TCH chemo.
12/6/12 MRI after Pre-adj.
Results: Modest Decrease in size of left breast malignancy As well as the associated satellite lesions and auxiliary Adenopathy compared to prior study. Doctors hoped for better but good response it didn't grow.
12/18/2012 left masectomy with axillary nodes
Size 3.2 CM, Nottingham score 9/9
Grade 3, no evidence of in situ carcinoma
Areas of angiolymphatic are identified
Carcinoma is 0.5 cm from inked deep
Margin of excision
Attached axillary lymph nodes: metastatic
Carcinoma in 6 of 8 nodes.
Size of largest node 1.5 cm
Extracapsular
ER + 73%, PR+2%, HER2+
2/27/13 6 weeks of IMRT radiation finished
2/2013 Started on Tamoxifan 5 years.
8/2013 will take last Herceptin, 17 treatments total every 3 weeks.
BRCA1 & BRAC2 - Negative
August 28, 2013 DIEP flap on the left breast.
February 2014 Nip & Tuck
March 14, 2014 nipple reconstruction and removed port.
August 14, 2014 lump in lymph nodes under arm and above clavicle. Stage IV
August 28, 2014 herceptin And projeta starting and port put back in.
3/18/15 stopped arimidex.
3/18/15 progression....Tdm1
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03-10-2014, 01:55 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wilmington, Del.
Posts: 1,126
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Re: Vitamin D boosts survival of breast cancer patients
I haven't posted in a while, so I am amazed to find this topic here today. I am an eight year survivor (stage 1). Through the years I've read Becky's posts about Vitamin D, but didn't think I could be low. I take calcium and extra D every day -- about 1600 units. My bone density is good. Last year my gyn gave me a script for a vitamin D test, but I didn't bother to take it. This year she really leaned on me to get the test. My score was 13 and the min. ok score is 30. I was so surprised. So I'm going on a high dose and seeing her again week 13. I do struggle with chronic depression -- SAD. I wonder.......
__________________
MJO
IDC, Stage I, Grade 2
Oncotype DX Score 32
Her2++ E+P+, Node Neg.
Lumpectomy 11/04/05 Clear Margins
3 Dose dense AC (Couldn't tolerate 4)
4 Dose dense Taxol & Herc. (Tolerated well)
36 weeks Herceptin (Could not complete one year due to decrease in MUGA score)
2 years of Arimidex, then three years of Femara
Finished Femara May 2011
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03-19-2014, 09:26 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 943
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Re: Vitamin D boosts survival of breast cancer patients
I agree that 60 is the aim level, but if you can obtain it with only 2000 IU /d, maybe that is best. I think you don't want to overwhelm my body with too much of something, just enough, cause I wonder if too much might be a bad idea too ...
Link to limits....
http://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/fe...much-vitamin-d
__________________
Robin
2002- dx her2 positive DCIS/bc TX Mast, herceptin chemo
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03-19-2014, 09:42 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 943
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Re: Vitamin D boosts survival of breast cancer patients
I agree that 60 is the aim level, but if I can obtain it with only 2000 IU /d, maybe that is best. I think I don't want to overwhelm my body with too much of something, just enough, cause I wonder if too much might be a bad idea, too, in regard to cardiovascular calcification ...
Link to limits....
http://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/fe...much-vitamin-d
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypervitaminosis_D
It would be nice to know an exact level at which would be the limits on cardio health for vitamin D3.
__________________
Robin
2002- dx her2 positive DCIS/bc TX Mast, herceptin chemo
Last edited by RobinP; 03-19-2014 at 09:45 AM..
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03-19-2014, 09:55 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 474
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Re: Vitamin D boosts survival of breast cancer patients
I read in one of my pharmacy journals that a Vitamin D level of 40-60 nanograms per ml of vitamin D was valuable for prevention. This author stated for treatment of already established breast cancer the level should be raised to 80ng/ml Vitamin D (active metabolite. This sounds a bit high but apparently isn't toxic.
Paul
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03-19-2014, 01:33 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 2,214
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Re: Vitamin D boosts survival of breast cancer patients
It sounds like the most important decision is to be tested for Vitamin D levels and if supplementing having follow up testing.
I imagine the cost of testing for Vitamin D is extremely low as compared to the cost of developing cardiovascular disease or cancer.
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03-19-2014, 02:44 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 646
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Re: Vitamin D boosts survival of breast cancer patients
I get tested for Vitamin D every time I see the oncologist. Used to be every 6 months before new cancer, now every 3. She doesn't like it to be above 65 or so.
To be honest, I've been taking Vitamin D supplements for 12 years (2000 IU) and have always been in the 60's, sometimes in the low 70's.
Yes, I've survived (so far) breast cancer twice but it didn't help prevent it from re-appearing after 12 years.
__________________
March, 2000: 48, Post menopausal (5 yrs HRT) Left breast, IDC 3mm/DCIS 1.6cm, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, mod differentiated, MIB low, lumpectomy, node neg via SNB, rads=33 Stage 1a
June, 2000: Tamox 4.5 years,Femara for 5 years (end in Jan. 2010)
Sept, 2012: 61, Via mamm, ultrasound, biopsy, right breast, 2.3cm tumor, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, poorly diff, KI67 60-70%
BRCA 1 and 2 negative
October, 2012: Bi Mast with tissue expanders, port placement
Final Path: IDC 2.8cm, DCIS, 1/4 sentinal nodes positive (@#$%). Stage IIB
Nov 29, 2012: Begin TCH/6x/every 3 wks, H for 1 year/every 3 weeks.
March 14, 2013: Finished chemo
April 9, 2013: Begin radiation 28x
May 22, 2013: Finished rads
June 1st, 2013: Started Aromasin for 5 yrs.
July 15, 2013: Switched to Letrozole (Femara). Probably for the rest of my life
October 16, 2013: Exchange surgery
October 31, 2013: Finished Herceptin
December 5, 2013: Port removed
Glad this year is over!
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