I3C or DIM alternative for tamoxifen

colleen42

I3C or DIM alternative for tamoxifen

colleen42

has anyone heard of this? I have read a few articles about I3C being an alternative ..

any input would be great,

thanks

Bliz

I have been taking DIM for several months.  Couldnt tell you about the numbers versus tamoxifen.  I had no luck with the AI's due to side effects. I did just find out that I can take tamoxofen so the onc will surely want me to give it a try. If the side effects are overwhelming it will be back to DIM.

My recurrence rate was 13% with nothing and 6.5 with AI or tamox.

FEB

I had the same dx as you and just could not justify going on Arimidex.

(I am post meno). So I found a doctor who is helping me regulate my hormones naturally. SHe did full blood workup with my estrogen levels and put me on I3C and progest, because my progesterone is very low. The proof will be in a couple of months when I get my blood retested to see if there are any changes. But at least I feel good about what I am doing. I do not have any SE and I feel great about doing something positive. Plus, it is a heck of alot cheaper.

Bliz

Linda, Tell me more.  How did you find this doctor to help you regulate your hormones naturally?  Are they an actual medical doctor or holistic?

I was going to a practitioner before the BC diagnosis and we were trying a bunch of different things to bring down my high estrogen levels and sometimes high cortisol levels. Tried pregnonolene, trytophen, progesterone etc. 

I wonder now if I didnt do enough at the time; resulting in the BC, or was it all too much intervention, causing the BC?

My med onc is so hard to get into.  Usually a two hour wait once you are there.  The whole place is so depressing.  I know she is just going to tell me to take tamoxifen.  Trying to get her to say that by phone or email, but her assistant is getting kind of snippy about it.

It would be great to just try to manage the hormones naturally.  It seems that is what I am doing anyway.

Send more info, if you have it.

FEB

I think we have the same onc! LOL Mine is a very nice woman, and I do respect her, but she is overbooked all the time, the wait is terrible and soooo depressing. I can't even drive past the hospital. I go out of my way to Trader Joes just so I do not have to pass it!

The doctor I switched to is a chiropractic doc who really specializes in nutrition. She has put me on lots of supplements, and with my weight loss and exercise routine, I have gotten rid of most of the fat around my middle that produces estrogen, plus I am post menopausal, so that helps. Then she did a blood test to look at my estrogen level, vit. d levels, etc. If you are pre menopausal, I think they recommend a saliva test because your hormone levels may still vary during the month, so a saliva test is more accurate. Now I know traditional medicine wants nothing to do with this stuff, but how can they give us a drug without testing our blood??? Yes, my tumor was ER+, but they never did a blood or bone test, just told me to go on Arimidex even though it would statistically only give me a 5% advantage. How ridiculous! And the onc's nurses kept trying to talk me into it and also be part of some stupid study that would mean I would be at their office all the time for more tests. I did not want to be a guinea pig for a drug company. It made me furious. Why do they treat us as one size fits all. When I said no, they dropped me like a lead balloon!

I do plan to go back to my onc in a few months, with the results of my latest blood tests, and my new fit and fatless figure, and say, hey can you just give us woman a chance to make our our decisions. I wish they would treat us as individuals.

Bliz

I hear you. My onc is highly recommended and I actually like her too.  Still the wait and hospital is depressing.

I subscribed to what is called the "canary club" on line which has given me access to cheaper lab tests I can do directly and get the results directly.

The ironic thing is it is the same lab that did my testing for the holistic lady.  They are in Washington state. 

Looks like they want the saliva test and will check my cortisol levels, estrogen,progesterone and other things.  I have not devoted the time to it yet, but will when things calm down. 

In the mean time I have done all other nutritional, supplement, vitamin regimes available to me.  I take DIM and a green drink and liquid vitamin plus sub lingual B-12 and B. Also liquid cal/mag and powdered magnesium citrate. 

Have I left anything out.

Dejaboo

I havent heard of these 2.  Can you tell me more about them?

How much are you taking?

Do you have links to the articles you read?

Thanks,

Pam

anondenet

DIM and I3C suppress the thyroid and have never been proved to help breast cancer patients tho they can manipulate blood levels.

Iodine works on the estrogen receptors, not the estrogen blood levels.

Unfortunately, a lot of alt docs have bought into DIM and I3C. If you consider using it, please ask for several human or animal studies where it effects tumor growth.

50 mg Iodoral is my substitute.

atom

Hi Mcainiac, you mentioned that you are seeing a chiropractic doctor that specializes in nutrition.  I am also ER+ and would like to see your doctor.  I was diagnosed with BC two years ago and refused tx here in the US, you know, the usual treatment, chemo, radiation, surgery, tamoxifen.  I felt that here in the US all they know is chemo, and didn't feel like any oncolgist really care about me, all they cared was making money. 

Anyway, I did my research and went to Tijuana to get tx.  I got low dose chemo and radiation.  didn't have any side effects and didn't loose my hair at all.  I was fine until recently that I found a new lump in my clavicular area.  Went to see doctors and it is BC again!!!!!  I feel so frustrated now, 'cause I really don't wanna get chemo here in the US, and I can't afford to go back to Tijuana.  I do believe that there's cure for BC and that there should be a natural way.  doctors want me to take tamoxifen but I don't want to.  If tamoxifen lowers my estrogen, then there should be a natural way to do it too, maybe DIM or I3C?  I had so many blood tests but they never tested on my estrogen level.  Could you please provide me with your doc's info?  I will really appreciate it.  Thanks

Jain

I am interested in skipping tamoxifen and just taking DIM. My breast cancer is a high grade recurrence after 14 years, node negative, 2 cm., intermediate Onco Type DX score. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

tziari

Flax meal, which is grounded flax seeds, is a potent phytoestrogen. It mimics estrogen and saturates estrogen receptors without the estrogenic proliferative effect.

Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which in itself is anti-cancer, as well as vitamins and milerals galore. Write flax meal cancer in the search engine and you will see what you find.

Next check Fractionated Citrus Pectin, http://www.thorne.com/media/modified_pectin_mono.pdf. My Mother cured her metastasized endometrial cancer using them, together with a few other nutrients.

gailsun1965

I quit taking Tamoxifen about 5 weeks ago because of side effects....hot flashes, insomnia, joint pain. I started taking DIM about two weeks ago. At first on the DIM, my hot flashes and insomnia got worse (didn't think that was possible). Then, after about 10 days into the DIM, I could tell that the hot flashes were waning. Last night, I slept 7 hours without waking to hot flashes or insomnia! Prior to taking DIM, I was up at least 5 times a night. Sometimes, I would sleep only 2 or 3 hours. I will keep taking the DIM and give another report in a month or so. Crossing my fingers and toes for this to keep working!