IV Vitamin C Therapy

peacestrength

Anyone using or have used this therapy specifically to help prevent bc relapse?  Curious to begin a discussion regarding others experiences with this.

I'm just using IV C as another tool in my toolbox.  I'm in no way promoting it as my main treatment.  I have had neoadjuvant chemo, BMX, radiation, Tamoxifen, ooph, and continue with Femara and Zometa.

I use both conventional and alternative...and hope for the best.

peacestrength

No one use this therapy before?  Maybe I should repost in CAM?

pipers_dream

Well, my doc does do IV vit C, but hasn't ordered it for me yet.  I've heard they're expensive and they can be hell on your blood vessels, is the talk I heard in the IV room the other day.  You're supposed to shout out for a nurse if you start to ache b/c it's hard to stop that once it's started.  Still, the man who was receiving the therapy had driven down 8 hours to do it, so I imagine he sees a lot of benefit.  He doesn't have cancer though.  My doc has put me on megadoses of oral vit C and I assume it's to help the chelation therapy along.  

dlb823

I posted the same question recently -- looking for first hand experience from those who had done it -- and didn't get much response.  My ND says it will "make me feel better," but I haven't been convinced enough to try it.   Interesting, pipers dream, about it possibly being hard on your blood vessels, as that's the last thing I need, since I have tiny veins and blood draws and IVs are always an ordeal.

I'm also curious how much Vitamin C you get when given IV.  Does anyone know?  Would mega dosing on a high quality Vitamin C supplement give any of the same benefit?     Deanna

bluepearl

Didn't work on my friend. She's stage 4 now.

peacestrength

Thanks for everyones responses.  I am considering Vit C treatment for 6-8 weeks.  I am deficient in Vit C after receiving my micronutriant panel.  

Piper - thanks for sharing  If the Vit C isn't mixed correctly, it can be hard on the veins.  So, it's critical to have a licensed, degreed and experienced naturopathic; preferably with oncology certification.  

dlb - the amount of IV C depends on the person.  If I decide to go ahead with it, I'll start at 50 grams and work up.

Pearl - did your friend have conventional and alternative treatments?

Silve - I know the solution is much deeper.  Do you have the solution?  This is why I personally use conventional and alternative means - our biologies are different and what may work for one may not work for another.  I see that you are new to bco.  It would help to include your dx and treatment(s).  Can you explain your IV C treatment and how long you did it?  

cider8

My friend tried it along with conventional and many other alternative treatments (mistletoe, hyperbaric, hyperthermia, +) and complimentary treatments.  I don't recall her saying she physically felt better from the C infusions, but emotionally she felt better taking an active role.  Unfortunately she progressed to Stage IV and passed away within the year.  She was very young when diagnosed and passed within 3 years of initial diagnosis.  She had a genetic mutation (not BRCA) that worked against her.  

juneping

there is an alternative cancer treatment center in NJ, i called and they do IV vit C infusion. that's part of the treatment plan. i didn't do it, just asking for info. the lady was very patient to explain everything to me.

leggo

I'm usually up to being a guinea pig for any alternative treatment, but my qualifier is knowing someone else who has tried it or based on a doctors experience with other patients who have tried it. My personal knowledge and that of my naturopath onc is that it helps while undergoing chemo....helps with side effects and may or may not help with chemo response in certain cancers. I think he mentioned colon and stomach cancers. Nobody I know or have heard of has had a response outside of a chemo setting. That's what's keeping me from trying it. I did ask a lot of questions about it though, and Deanna to answer yours, the dosage is dependant on a persons weight, can't remember the number though...and yes, you can take the high dose orally, but it's A LOT and would be unpleasant. The upside to IV is that it gets directly to your blood stream quickly without the unpleasant side effects of working through your gut. As for it being dangerous, I've never heard of it being a problem, but all things considered I'm only going to pay for something that I know has been successful....and it looks like this is....when you're undergoing chemo. Just my thoughts.

peacestrength

Cider - sorry about your friend...so sad.  

June - were you glad you checked into it? Did they give you a price for the therapy? We have limited alternative resources in my area.  

Leggo - good info and I am cautious... I'm opensince my naturopath has been treating a stage 4 cancer patient for 5 years when conventional said there was nothing else they could do for her...he treats other cancer patients too but don't know much about them.

leggo

"since my naturopath has been treating a stage 4 cancer patient for 5 years when conventional said there was nothing else they could do for her". 

If my doc told me that while looking me in the eye, that would be good enough for me to give it a shot.

Thank gawd for these guys. They don't get nearly enough credit....so I'm going to give them a little bit here. 

THANK YOU for giving us options when conventional medicine fails.

peacestrength

I agree, leggo.  My naturopath has helped me in several ways.  

Ladies, thanks again for this discussion - it means much to me.

Sue2690

I used it - lots.

I started with 25g 3x/week even before chemo started, and kept that up all the way through radiation.  At some point they did a blood test to make sure I had some enzyme then I got bumped up to 50g.  I now (am supposed to) do twice a month, but it's hard now that I've gone back to work and the rest of my life.

I can't swear that it made me feel any better, since I started before I started chemo, but I spoke to an awful lot of people while I was at the naturopath's office who had started chemo first, then added in the vit c, who said it made a huge difference for them.  One woman even told me that the nurses at her chemo ward said they could tell who was using vit c and they were writing a paper on it.

I also did hyperthermia and a bunch of supplements, plus no sugar or flour and 30+ minutes of exercise every day.  Like someone else said above, it made me feel like I was doing something.

My tumor was initially "too big for surgery."  The second set of chemo (taxotere & herceptin) was supposed to shrink it enough to operate.  After 4 rounds of AC they did what I assume was supposed to be a baseline MRI to measure shrinkage during the TH chemo, but the tumor was gone, or at least too small to image on MRI.  I did continue with all my treatements (conventional and naturopathic) then had a mastectomy.  Prior to surgery I said "the best thing that could happen is the surgery turns out to be unnecessary" which is what a happened.  I had a pathological complete response - no cancer found at surgery - but I can't say for sure whether that was because of the conventional treatments or the alternative.  I believe the alternative treatments were a huge part of it because it was the second set of chemo that was supposed to shrink the tumor, and it was gone after the first set.  

Sue

peacestrength

Sue - I appreciate you sharing!  It's so helpful to hear from you.  Did you have any issues with your veins during the IV C infusions?  Also, were you node positive?

Sue2690

I had a port for most of it, so no vein issues.  I've had probably 8 treatments since having my port out and no issues at all.  Actually, I've never heard anyone in the clinic say it was an issue.

I had one node confirmed cancerous at biopsy and 3 more that looked like it on ultrasound.  All were clear at mastectomy - and "all" was only 6 nodes from level I and level II combined.  (It's weird how the number of nodes varies so much!)

Sue

juneping

peace - sorry for the delay, didn't get a chance to come back, went back to work facing right with a deadline....T_T

okay, here is the long version of the dr. 

Dr Schachter, practiced alternative since 1974. he uses multiple faucets treatment which includes vit therapy (supplements), diet, life style and IV therapy (pretty sure it the vit C you're talking about) which is twice a week. it's a whole package and we cannot pick and choose. start up cost 2K and follow up is about 550....can't afford it.

pls share you experience when you start the tx.

Scotch

My mother just completed a 3 month round of intravenous nutrients at Nature Works Best cancer clinic here in Tempe, AZ. The treatments  included Vitamin C among other things (read about it here). She got her MRI results back last week and the news was great, no traces whatsoever. The intravenous nutrients are key, but more importantly was the complete elimination of sugar (Check out the results here).

peacestrength

I'm starting Vitamin C IV therapy next week.  It will be 2x per week for several weeks depending on how I tolerate it.  I'm at risk for LE in both arms and need to receive it with caution.  My port was removed during my BMX but would really come in handy for this.

leggo

Good luck peace! Please do come back and let me know how it goes. Always interested in stuff that makes this shitty disease more tolerable. It's pretty benign so I was thinking they could go through a vein in your foot so you don't have to worry about your arms. 

peacestrength

Thanks, leggo.  

MusicLover

Nearly every time I research an idea, I find a new thread on the board with the same thought. I found this information on this subject: http://www.naturalnews.com/034663_IV_vitamin_c_cancer_treatment.html

There are bunch of other links at the bottom of that link but the one that is most interesting is http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17297243

What started me down this road was that I found a woman who cured her early stage breast cancer with  IV vitamin C and diet changes, Jessica Richards.  I have also seen others who say they used it to cure their cancers.  If anything it is supposed to help with fatigue. 

 Best of luck.

geewhiz

I did Vitamin C Iv's all the way through treatment, and still do occasionally. I hate that you guys pay so much! My naturopath/md charges about $165 for an infusion. I also get other goodies added in depending upon my bloodwork. If magnesium or potassium or b vitamins seem low he adds those in. I am not sure if it helped, but I am still here! Whenever I am feeling run down I call up for an infusion. There is a funny taste in your mouth when the drip starts - take gum. I sometimes get a headache afterwards, but it goes away quickly.Fingers crossed it helps you!!!

peacestrength

Thanks Musiclover and Geewiz!  I start my IV C infusion tomorrow.  

Geewiz - I appreciate you sharing your story.  My naturopathic charges $125 per infusion with bloodwork and monitoring.  I'll pm you with a few questions soon.

peacestrength

Just had my first infusion...I was emotionally triggered by the thought of having an "infusion" but got past it quickly.  I received 15 grams today and will receive the same dosage on Friday.  

peacestrength

Second high dose Vitamin C infusion today...I feel good.  Need to eat little amounts to bring glucose levels back up.  

peacestrength

Third infusion today...trouble with getting IV started. Drinking about 60 oz helped - I believe I was dehydrated from all weekend activities. 

25 grams today and feeling fine.

hopefour

peacestrength...Hope the IV Vit C is continuing to go well for you!  I choose not to do IV Vit C during Chemo for a number of reasons, but the week after Rads was done I started IV Vit C infusions twice a week for 6 weeks and continued with them twice a month up till now. I will continue with them for at least another 2 years. I don't share much what I personally have chosen to do as no one has the magic formula to keep us NED....but I researched extensively and believed in its value...I also choose other life style changes, supplements and such. I just went for my 3 year check up and all is great. 

When I first started the IV Vit C infusions...it made me tingle. It felt like life was coming back to a dead body after all the poison  and radiation...I loved the feeling. I did use my Picc line from chemo those first 6 weeks, but have done all others with my veins and never an issue! I also feel mentally more positive, physically can run longer and have more stamina after my infusions!  My drip takes about 2 hours per infusion as I also get potassium which has to be timed.  My insurance covers some of it as I have a MD who orders it for me. Hope this is an encouragement to you.

peacestrength

Hopefour - thank you for responding...you are an encouragement to me!  I also agree that no one has the magic formula to keep us NED - I like to find others who have chosen a similiar path as myself to share experiences - I appreciate you sharing yours and will pm you with a few questions.

I had my 4th infusion (25 grams) today and it took approx 2 hours.  I use that time to ask my naturopath questions and information sharing.  I'm noticing that my endurance has increased some.  If everything goes as planned, I will continue with infusions for approx 7 weeks and will go on a maintence amount thereafter.   

On Wednesday, it will be increased and additional micronutrients will be added.

Peskywabbit

hello Sue2690. Wondering what clinic for hyperthermia and what supplements you used. Thanks so much. 

peacestrength

Vitamin C Story

MusicLover

Peacestrength, Thank you for posting that link, I had seen it before but I forgot about it. Unfortunately, my oncologist said he would not allow me to have IV vitamin C, but said oral vitamin C is fine so I ordered the Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C off from Amazon.com.