Vitamin D Deficiency and BC

Tsunami81

I ran into some medical journals that spoke of the high incident of women dx with BC and being vitamin D deficient.  I was just wondering if any of you ladies who were dx with BC had this checked and if you were indeed deficient?  I have had many years (14) of taking anti-seizure medications which in turn have caused me to have a vitamin d deficiency.  I am not suggesting that this is a precurser to BC but more of a curiosity of those who have been diagnosed and if it was ever brought up by your BS or oncologist.

MBJ

Tsunami21:  Every woman I know with BC has a vitamin D deficiency.  Mine was at  40 and to be healthy you should be at 80 even though GP's say 40 is fine.  Many women have been at much lower levels than mine, but live in areas where there is less sun.  I take 8,000 mg of a combined D3 + K 800 mg.  It's inexpensive.  Some women have been put on 50,000 mg to get them up higher when they have been dangerously low. 

My father had epilepsy and was prone to depression and had many vitamin deficiencies. 

Mary

Tsunami81

MBJ,

Thanks so much for your quick reply.  That is not surprising to hear that information.  I have done a lot of research on the long term effects of the meds I have to take but this was something that my neurologist brought up and then I started looking into a little further on the BC side of things and was shocked at the information I found.  I guess the deal behind mine, and probably your dad, was that certain seizure meds prevent proper metabolism of vitamin d.  But then again, I live in MN and we only get about 4 months a year, if were lucky, when we have great sunny weather.  My mom always says, "just 20 mins a day and you will be fine".  During the summer that isn't a problem when I have the kids at the beach but the rest of the year can be challenging.

I am amazed at how much D they have you taking.  But I guess when your body isn't metabolizing it a much higher dose would be recommended.  It is amazing about the little things, I would have never thought of, that can have such a negative effect on our bodies.

MBJ

You should check out the alternative site.  There is so much information on additional things we can do for our bodies along with standard treatment.  I noticed you haven't posted your stage, type of cancer, or anything.  You can do this in your profile information.  I have to go but PM me anytime and hang in there--there are many more things we can do to get our bodies back no matter how much we put our bodies through.

Sugar77

I had mine checked and found out last week it was 58, which my doctor said was in the "low nornal" range.  She suggested I take 1,000 IU of D3 per day. However, I informed her that I'd been taking that much daily for years and that I'd increased my intake to at least 2,000 to 3,000 IU per day for the past few months.  A Naturopath at the health food store said I should be taking 5,000 IU of D3 per day. 

Sherri 

bichonlvr03

My vitamin D levels were checked about a month after my diagnosis.  It was 25, "insufficient".  I was put on a loading dose of vitamin D (D2 is the scrip version) and at my next blood test in early May it was 50.  I think many if not most women with bc are deficient in vitamin D.  I wonder if I have been deficient for most of my adult life.

heyjude62

I have not been dx w/ breast cancer (am awaiting either bx or MRI) but my vit D level is a 4.

Tsunami81

Holy woman!  A 4.  That is really low. 

I got a little deeper into the scientific research that has gone into the importance of vit D and it appears that scientists think that there are quite a few health risks associated with an insufficiency.  It's funny, because I never thought that vit D was SOOO important in my diet.  I will readily admit that I also lack on the calcium, as I don't do dairy well...but I did start drinking Silk.  I love the lite chocolate flavor put in the blender with a banada, scoop of chocolate whey protein, and some ice.  It makes for a heck of a booster for breakfast.

I have to laugh, because my husband complains that I do all the grocery shopping for myself!!! LOL...  So, after I said that I went to Wally World and stocked up on all kinds of crap for him.  He was happier than a clam.  I can't stand the processed stuff, but if it makes him happy...oh well.  I'm not going to tell him what he can and can't eat.  The girls and I are into the farmers market and making lots of fresh fruit smoothies...  yum!

ChocolateLover

Tsu, that smoothie sounds delicious!!! i try to watch my sugars too, tho, and sometimes the flavored milks are full of sugar, even natural. I might modify your recipe and use plain silk and add vanilla and cocoa. ? here's to warm sunshine bringing everyone vitD (only 10 minutes tho gals) My hubby also loves the processed snacks. whatcha gonna do? lol. i'm more into the cherries and fresh summer fruit. YUM!

tsmc4

I have been trying to find info on this also, because at my annual physical I was told I was vit. d deficient and to take 1000 IU d3 per day.  I was not told how low I was, but totally could not understand why I would be deficient because I am in the sun all the time, I take my kids to the pool at least twice a week and I dont use a lot of sunscreen either.  Well, I went for my mammo and they saw punctate specks of micro calcifications and went for another mammo and stereostatic biopsy and am now awaiting results.....am hoping to hear today.

kira1234

Does any one know if we are low on vitamin d because of the cancer, or is it just a coincidence? I have also found I am low, which suprises me since I take a vitamine d tablet taily, plus try to get a bit of sun daily.

Karen

imbell

I am from north of MN so we even get less benefit from the sun. You can't store vitamin D so 20 minutes of sun a day may help but in the winter when our part of the world is turned away from the sun we get no benefit even if the sun is shining. Would be interested in rates of breast cancer on the Equator and heading north to the Arctic. Of note, I don't hear of any breast cancer epidemics in the far north ie Alaska versus Arizona.

 P.S. since a lot of us have bone mets Calcium and Vitamin D can't hurt.

chrissyb

I have been dx'd twice, first in 2003 and then mets in 2009 both times my Vit D has been very low and Calcium has been very high. I am now on 4000IU per day.  I have also had many BCC's removed from my face, neck and arms so I avoid the sun like the plague.  If I go outside, I am always well covered and wearing a hat.

leaf

Its not just cancer patients.  

According to this UC Riverside researcher,More Than Half the World’s Population Gets Insufficient Amounts of Vitamin D, Says UC Riverside Biochemist

 http://newsroom.ucr.edu/news_item.html?action=page&id=2376

Bruce Hollis, a pediatrics professor at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, has spent years studying whether more of the sunshine vitamin would help pregnant and breastfeeding women and their babies.

Dr. Hollis is so convinced about the possible health benefits that he has been taking 4,000 International Units daily, for years, but recently upped it to 6,000 IU, to raise his blood levels of the nutrient. “I don’t know of anybody who is studying this who isn’t taking” the vitamin in robust amounts, Dr. Hollis says.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/scientists-taking-vitamin-d-in-droves/article1649132/ (emphasis mine)

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

To estimate one's vitamin D intake from the sun, here is a blog with a link to a scientific calculator.  Warning: it is NOT very user friendly, but the blog contains hints on how to fill it out.

http://www.self.com/fooddiet/blogs/nutritiondata/2010/07/how-much-sunshine-do-you-need.html

Contains link to calculator at:
Calculator: http://nadir.nilu.no/~olaeng/fastrt/VitD-ez_quartMED.html

We are probably several well-controlled, double blind studies away from saying whether vitamin D is a 'flash in the pan' nutritional fad or a major player.  However, it is safe (in nature-type amounts) and cheap.

It is an individual choice.  I will ask my gyne next time I see her what my vitamin D level were. (She said they were normal, but I'd like to know the number.)

Dustysmom

I just found out today that my pre  bilat mastectomy  vit d level was 13 (04/08/10)  starting today i have been prescribed 50,000IU once a week for 6 weeks then a recheck...no wonder I always feel exhausted!!!

Anonymous

Current research is not only linking Vitamin D deficiencies to cancer but also to autism, chronic pain, depression, diabetes and autoimmune diseases such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.  (Some researchers think that fibro and CF may only be D deficiences.) There are several threads on here for more information on Vitamin D.   I have suffered from fibromyalgia for over 8 years.  I recently found out my levels were 12 and have started taking high doses of D3.  Within months many of my fibro symptoms had lessened considerably.  

A word of caution however!  Our bodies do not excrete excess D like we do most vitamins.  It is very possible to overdose with serious consequences.  Do not supplement without first getting your levels checked to see if you are deficient.  The amount of your levels will determine how much to supplement.  If your levels are normal, and you start taking supplements, you can do irreversible damage to your organs, cause high blood pressure, kidney stones, irregular heart rhythms and much more.  So please make sure you get a blood test first!

squidwitch42

Tsunami81, 

funny, I am awake due to my hip pain, I couldn't roll over.  Mine Vit D level started at 4 and I made it to 16 on the last blood draw. I am on weekly 50,000 units of D2.  I have had chronic pain for years, and hope this will get better...this continues to be a very interesting topic!

(Hi Kate

Anonymous

Hi squidwitch!  Was your chronic pain ever diagnosed?  I hope the D starts to help you, too!

squidwitch42

Hi Kate!

Not yet...I did have a PET two weeks ago and no one has called me yet, so I am going to take that as a good sign ?  I see my Onc on the 17th..It might be a combo of the chemo and the D deficiency.  I still am only working part time due to fatigue/pain etc...so I might be one of those who takes a very long time to recover....

lago

I was diagnosed with low D last September. I was put in perscription D first for a while and now I'm on 1,000 IU of D3 per day. Last time I was tested I was in low normal range. Now a days it's not usual to have low D especially if you live in places that have winter and spend lots of time indoors. I live in Chicago. My mom has low D too she lives in the northeast.

They see it but is it really a link to BC? Its so common now. I bet a lot of us like chocolate too. Doesn't mean that chocolate lovers are more likely to get BC. In general I don't let new studies drive me crazy. They are interesting but the do need to researched further to see if it truly is a link and what it actually means.

Anonymous

I live in Phoenix where we get lots of sunshine but it doesn't help because we're programmed to put sunscreen on every time we leave the house!

stenan

Studies suggest that Vitamin D could prevent BC along with other cancers.  Also beware that some forms of BC such as estrogen + has been linked to diet.  Many cows are treated with antibiotics and injected with hormones.  Many fruits and vegetables contain high doses of pesticides. (WWW.EWG.ORG).  I have been advised by my ND to take 2000 of Vitamin D3 daily.

Most cancer centers are now checking vitamin d levels.  Have yours check and do your research.

Good Luck