Food supplements and hormone related breast cancer

noa

Dear all,

I had an IDC and a lumpectomy in April (100% hormone related), followed by a chemoterapy (4) and radiotherapy (25+5) (completed in August and on October 19 respectively). I am now on Zoladex and Nolvadex since September, I'm 46.

My question is: how do I know which food supplements can I take to improve my immune system and some other problems and without harm for my cancer to repeat? I would like to take Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, co-enzyme Q10, vitamins, glukosamine. All I get from my oncologist is that I should eat normal and various food and that this is enough. I don't think so, but I don't know if this can do any harm to me or, according to him, it is just not necessary.

 On breastcancer.org I found the following:

Some dietary supplements can interfere with breast cancer treatment and prescription medication. Supplements can't always be safely taken along with prescription medication. Some supplements can change the way medications and radiation work in your body and may make the treatments less effective. For example, red clover and St. John's wort may interfere with the way tamoxifen works in your body.

Can you, please, suggest any link where I can find this specific information ?

Thank you so much

peggy_j

This book (link below) has a table listing some supplements/etc that are contraindicated by some medicines (I found it in my library). There may be other books or resources.

The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1587613581 

There have been many discussions here on this topic, but I can't remember the names of the threads. But I know, for example, that there have been discussions about flax seed and flax seed oil and, of course, soy. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice tends to be contraindicated with many meds.  Maybe someone else can remember the threads or maybe if you "search" for those keywords you can find that?

I believe that many nutritionists have access to a super-database with this info.  One of our local cancer centers has a free consultation service w/ the nutritionist--you don't even need to be seeing the docs there. (so maybe there are resources in your area?)