Did anyone have Vitamin D levels above 50 ?

Thatgirl

Hi,



I'm curious if anyone's vitamin D level tested above 50 when first diagnosed with BC?

Unknowingly, my level was 18.

aussieched

Hi,  My level was 21

Latte

mine was also 18. i'm trying to get it higher now, but haven't restested yet.

TokyoSing

After 6 months of 1000 IU's, mine reached the grand total of 31!  I am now on 2000 IU's, we'll see what happens at my next test.

RachelKa

My level was 19 - which my gynecologist discovered more than a year after my diagnosis. My oncologist never checked. I have been on 50,000 Unit weekly for about 5 mos and haven't retested. My new oncologist said many, many of his patients have low D and it is critical to keep it up!

Anonymous

Rather shockingly...mine was a whopping 6 when it was tested pre-lumpectomy!  My mom had somewhat severe osteoperosis and I had my first basal cell skin cancer at age 25 so I stay out of the sun (and look about 10 years younger than my age which I attribute to this and quitting smoking around that same age ).

I did a bone density baseline about six years ago as I recall; going to see if they'll do another one now to figure out where I'm at before I start taking any type of hormone suppression therapy. I started taking a multi-vitamin along with extra calcium and vitamin D3 a week ago as a result of that test result although the doctors haven't said "boo" about it to me yet.  Ugh...I loath taking pills!

debbie6122

I never knew what my vit d level was untill recently after moving and new dr wanted d levels, it was 49  and with taking 5, 000 iuds every day was not all that great from what my dr said- Any one who is 18 or close to that in my opinion is not taking enough d- that seems awefully low, but then again am not a dr. also heard recently that to much vit d is not absorbed correctly so if you have 5,000 iud's cut in half and take different times of the day,

annettek

mine was 18 after surgery..after taking supplement of 50,000 x 2 week...it is now 113..but i am changing what i took since damn doc had me on D2 not D3 (which you can only buy over the counter---go figure that one). so  i am buying some d3 and will take 2000mg per day

there is a very stong link just on here...never mind scientifically...that we all had some sorryass vit d levels when diagnosed with BC....

christine47

My vit D level was 10 at diagnosis, I was shocked since I get some daily sun exposure and have slightly olive toned skin.  Now taking rx for 50,000 per week and will retest in one month.  My friend who is an endocrinologist suggest this is important for other diseases as well such as diabetes.  She also suggests you take your vit D with a fatty meal or snack for better uptake. 

LuvRVing

At diagnosis last June, my D level was 39 and I had just returned from 2 weeks in Hawaii, where we were outside all day, every day and had a convertible.  It's probably the biggest dose of "natural" D I could have gotten.  I take about 3000 iu's now.  At my last test, I was up to 55.

Michelle

RachelKa

Here's  an article - not on Vit D - but Vitamins E and C. The Shanghai study referenced here is the first large-scale  study to look at antioxidant use during cancer treatment  ...

New study results on antioxidants during chemo

When I asked my oncologist about doing high-dose antioxidants during chemo, she was honest; she said the research isn't there to say whether it would be a good or bad thing.  My radiology oncologist, considered one of the best from Georgetown University's cancer center, was more blunt yet "I just don't know. I am ignorant."

 I have heard a few of my pink sisters say their doctors cautioned them against supplements high in antioxidants during treatment, swayed by evidence suggesting they can interfere with the drugs' effectiveness. You may have heard the same, and the jury is still out, because the epidemiologic data is limited. But a study recently reported (Cancer Eipdemiol Biomarkers  Prev Dec 21)  indicates doing some antioxidants from the time of diagnosis can cut your chances for recurrence, even if you take the supplements during chemo. The study looked specifically at Vitamin E and Vitamin C.

Background and concerns:  Radiation and certain chemotherapies produce free radicals, ultimately causing oxidative damage which kills cancer cells. There is widespread concern that antioxidant supplements interfere with the drugs' effectiveness by not only protecting healthy cells, but shielding cancerous ones, too.

The Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study. This study followed 4,877 women aged 20 to 75 diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in China between 2002 and 2006. At a mean four years after diagnosis findings were: 18 percent fewer deaths and 22 percent fewer recurrences in women who used Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and multivitamins. This was regardless of whether they did chemo and after adjustment for lifestyle factors, socio-demographics, and known clinical prognostic factors.

What does the data mean? In the words of Xiao-Ou Shu, MD Phd MPH, lead investigator of the study: "Our results do not support current guidelines that all supplements should be avoided during cancer treatments. The results actually suggest that  vitamin supplement use in the first six months after breast cancer diagnosis may be associated with reduced risk of mortality and recurrence. To my knowledge, this study is the first large prospective study among breast cancer survivors to investigate the association of vitamin use during cancer treatment and breast cancer recurrence and mortality.  The results highlight the need for more research."

Shu suggests future studies focus on variable settings and populations, and consider factors like appropriate dosages as dose information was not available on participants in the Shanghai Study, though the majority was taking recommended over the counter dosages.

Contact information:

Xiao-OuShu, MD, PhD, MPH Division of Epidemiology,  Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; Xiao-ou.shu@vanderbilt.edu

I posted this and other articles on diet, supplements and herbs (among other topics) on my site; www.1UpOnCancer.com.

Rachel

Rachel

lago

Yes and no. I was diagnosed with very low D a 10 months before my diagnosis. It was really low. 6 months after prescription then 1000 UI a day it was up to 40 or 50 I think. My onc tested it again (1 year after initial low D test). I'm 70! I was told it was just about high normal. My internist isn't worried about it at all now.

I take:
1000IU D3 supplement + 400IU in my vitamin + 400IU in my calcium supplement = 1800IU daily. Prior to testing I only got the 400IU in my vitamin that I didn't always take daily.

Anonymous

lago - can I ask how low you were initially?  My score of 6 seems to be the thread-winner at the moment and it's a trophy I'm not all that thrilled to have!  Take it from me??

I started taking vitamins the week before last once I found out about it...a multi-vitamin plus additional pills that up my total daily intake to 2250 IU of D3 and 1500 IU of Calcium (Mom had significant osteoperosis) plus 2000 MG Flax seed oil (because my friend insisted lol). 

I meet with the BC on Monday, nutritionist on Tuesday and the MO on Weds.  Surprisingly, no one has mentioned this horrible Vit D score in my results when the results came through before my surgery but I plan to bring it up with all, needless to say!

Makratz

Mine was about 16 and after 1.5 years of heavily dosing myself, I just tested 55 last week!  YAY!

Maureen813

My VD level was 3, not a misprint.  I took 50,000 IU for 8 weeks during chemo, the level went to a whopping 20.  Back to taking the 50,000IU VD for another 8 weeks and I take 2000IU/day and have been forever.  Want the onc to write me script for Caribbean Vacation so the insurance company would pay for it.

OG56

Mine was 9, after seeing the endocrinologist I am now on 59,000 IU weekly. Need to get it checked now that I have taken it for 6 months.

klp

Mine was 72....had blood test months after lumpectomy, surgery and radiation

Anonymous

Well...I feel better (thanks Maureen ) and worse! I obviously need more than my measily 2000 IU a day!

Valgirl

My vit D level was 33 when tested right after the lumpectomy.   My oncologist has me on 5,000 iu a day  and I was just tested again after 4 months and it is up to 54.    Will get tested again in about 3 months. I actually feel better taking the 5,000 iu along with other supplements.

Thatgirl

I've talked to other women who have/had cancer and they don't know their vitamin d levels and they were not instructed to take it. Does that sound weird?

Omaz

Thatgirl - My doc never mentioned it to me.  I go for herceptin tomorrow and I would like for them to do it.  What should I say?

Thatgirl

Omaz- I would ask him /her if they took your levels after your dx. I would also request one now. Hope this helps.

leaf

4 years after my LCIS diagnosis, after my doc prescribed a 25-OH vit D level for me, I followed the Vit D council (a nonprofit organization with many international experts)  suggestion to consume 5000 international units/day for 2 months (in addition to the 1200 international units that came with my calcium and the approx 3-4 cups of milk/day).  (I work the graveyard shift.)

  http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/ 

  My level was 56.9.