Vitamin D

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kimber3006
kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Just curious.....  Anyone taking vitamin D supplements during/after treatment?  I've always assumed I got more than enough naturally from sun exposure since I love to spend time outdoors and live in SC (and am far too lax with the sunscreen).  However, this time of year it's hard to come by and if I ever needed it, now would be the time!  My onc okayed taking 1200 IU per day (just a number I threw out while there at an appointment), so I was wondering how much/if others were taking.

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  • Christine2000
    Christine2000 Member Posts: 176
    edited January 2010

    My nutritionist recommended 4000 mg a day--so that's what am i taking!

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited January 2010

    I started 4 weeks after finishing Chemo (seems to be when my Onc said it was safe to start anything)

    I take 2000ius twice daily, so 4000 a day. I have upped that from 2000 which I took over summer. 

    I am up in the Great White North though, in winter I can sometimes go weeks without seeing much of the sun. My Onc  tells me I only need 400ius a day - but I read (somewhere??) that 4000 is safe.

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited January 2010

    kimber ~  You can have your Vitamin D level checked with a simple blood test.  Most oncs won't bother to do it, but your PCP probably will order the test if you want to know where you're starting out and how much benefit you eventually gain from that 1200 IUs.  I live in CA, where it's sunny 99% of the time, so my level was quite high (73) to start.  But I still opted to add 400 IUs, just to be covered.   There's also a Vitamin D thread here (in the Alternatives section) with some good info'.   Deanna

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited January 2010

    i am taking vitamin D and i live in sunny califronia. my oncologist checked my level and it was in normal range.  however; i have to say that increasing vit D has helped my body feel much better. i also drink a lot of milk and eat cheese.

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited January 2010

    My onc does check the D levels.  Mine are OK..but I still take around 800 IU's daily.

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  • Flamin_nora
    Flamin_nora Member Posts: 52
    edited January 2010

    am also in the Great White North---I try to get outside everyday, but when it's 20 below............anyways I was recommended to take 2000 IU per day (based on research by Richard Béliveau author of Foods that Fight Cancer) so that's what I've been doing

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  • everyminute
    everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
    edited January 2010

    I take 4000 IUs a day and still only am at 48.  My integrative doc suggested doubling it and taking with fish oil.

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited January 2010

    Unless you have genetic issues with processing D, most people can take 10,000 IU daily and safely.

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  • Gayleebug
    Gayleebug Member Posts: 166
    edited January 2010

    Hi kimber

    My surg onc's office (NP) tested me after I inquired, and found my D level in the basement. We had a hard time getting it to rise within the normal range ... I am finally there -- the low end -- and taking 2,000 IU a day except one day a week when I take 50,000 (yes, 50K not a typo). 

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  • YATCOMW
    YATCOMW Member Posts: 664
    edited January 2010

    I read a presentation that said your number should be around 100!

    I have mine checked as mine is very low even living in sunny florida.  I am on high dose vitamin D and have been for quite some time  It really helps also with the SE from Femara.  Made a huge difference once I started taking it.

    Jacqueline 

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  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited January 2010

    My PCP just ordered me to start taking 2000 IU a day. I don't think my onc ever tested for it, but it was part of my pre-op work-up for my upcoming recon. I know VitD helps the immune system and helps calcium do its thing in the bones. Does it do anything else?

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  • weesa
    weesa Member Posts: 707
    edited January 2010

    We are all so different. I have always taken 1,000 iu's a day. One day my onc decided to test my Vitamin D level because I was having so much soreness from Femara. To his surprise it was considerably above the normal range. And I am definitely not a sun worshipper.

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  • Nicole112
    Nicole112 Member Posts: 327
    edited January 2010

    Skimmingthelake- I, too take a megadose of Vitamin D, 50,000 IU's per week as my levels were so low when tested. I have been doing this for over a year and my level is now at 40.. still low... but I believe they say this is in the "normal" range????

    So many things to consider, with this said, I take it every week. I always get concerned about taking a multi vitamin with more D in it, is it okay to take more D?

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  • Janathan
    Janathan Member Posts: 121
    edited January 2010

    I take 4,000 IU a day as recommended by my PCP.  I live near Seattle, Washington, and she said it's a good idea to get outdoors 15 minutes a day even when it's cloudy.

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  • caaclark
    caaclark Member Posts: 936
    edited January 2010

    My levels were checked right before I started Boniva (currently on Fosamax since Boniva side effects were horrible for me.)  Vit. D levels were fine but doc still recommended I take vit. D.  I take 1800 per day. 

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  • Gayleebug
    Gayleebug Member Posts: 166
    edited January 2010

    hi nichole -- it should be ok

    Per medlineplus, the "normal" range is 30-74 ng/mL.  I am finally up into the 30's but my onc's office wants me closer to 100 (just as jacqueline said).  They are fine with me taking a regular multivitamin that has D in it (Centrum), plus the 2,000 IU 6x a week, plus the 50,000 IU 1x a week.  I eat lots of cheese but don't drink milk.  I wrinkle badly so I try to wear sunscreen, but my onc's office wants me out there "naked" (no sunscreen) a couple times a week for 15 mins at a time.  We'll see, when it gets warmer!

    gayle 

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  • gogo_xago
    gogo_xago Member Posts: 131
    edited January 2010

    My mom take 5000IU daily because must increase her levels. Now her levels are on 40 which is normal, but in women with bc, the levels must be from 80 - 110 (or so). So she will take 5000 IU daily for 3 months and after this, she will have another test to check and maybe she will reduce the dosage in half. But as I know the suitable vitamin must be D3. And if you are ER+ and PR+ read the ingredients carefully: it must not contain soya.

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited January 2010

    Yes it's vitanmin D-3 not just vitamin D.

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited January 2010

    My onc does not check my vit D levels, but said it would not hurt to take 1000iu/day...I've just added D to my regimine to see if it helps with joint pain.

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  • stlrepke
    stlrepke Member Posts: 34
    edited January 2010

    I just had mine tested yesterday and found out today they are low. So now I'll be taking 50,000 IU a week. I just happened to come on here and was wondering what the importance of Vit. D was and here you all are talking about it. Love how that works on this site.

    Well off to do more research.

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited February 2010

    I had my vit d checked and it came back at 18-they said it was low but not critically low-what should it be?

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited February 2010

    Is it ok to take Vit D during chemo?

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited February 2010

    I would ask your Onc...I didn't start until after chemo, Rad Onc OK'ed it.

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  • geewhiz
    geewhiz Member Posts: 1,439
    edited February 2010

    My onc has me on it. Levels are supposed to be at least 80 in bc patients, so Pure...you need to get some going if your doc ok's.

    I was told to take 5000 daily. And my levels are in the normal range.

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  • YATCOMW
    YATCOMW Member Posts: 664
    edited February 2010

    Pure....you are critically low......

    Your number should be at 100......even though normal starts in the 30's.  I saw a big presentation on  "you tube"  (funny how we get our information) from a doctor that really knows his stuff and he says that to use it as disease prevention we should be hitting the 100 mark.....

    Jacqueline 

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited February 2010

    Hi there,


    Yes I did some research and saw that.Funny thing I was doing  10000 ius a day. I must have been really low prior to that.

    I got a persecription for a high dose from the doc.

    Kind of makes me think if this is one or the reasons for my cancer.

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited February 2010

    Pure ~ Before you fill that RX, you may want to read up on Vitamin D.  Frequently Rx's are for D2, which is a synthetic form of Vitamin D and not as readily absorbed as D3.  Natural D3, available in natural foods markets and health food stores, is the better choice.  Deanna

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  • Annaanne
    Annaanne Member Posts: 190
    edited February 2010

    My onc started testing me a few years ago and I was really low.  We tried 2000 units a day, then 4000, checking every few months.  I had to take 7000 a day to get it up to a good level.  I've taken 7000 a day ever since.

    Annaanne 

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  • YATCOMW
    YATCOMW Member Posts: 664
    edited February 2010

    wow...did i really do that?  I am quoting cancer guidance from "you tube"......

    Jacqueline 

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited February 2010

    I just had my Vitamin D levels checked. It came back "insufficient". Didn't know they put a number on it, Ill ask next time.

    Anyways, I was doing 1000iu a day. My GP has now told me to do 3000iu. I say lets make it an even 4000iu....lol. I think Ill check again in 6 months.

    Im not surprised at my low levels. I never drank milk. All growing up I hated it. I ate cheese an yougurt, but even today, I avoid cows milk. I do drink Almond milk.

    I wonder if my Vitamin D situation had a link with my dignosis...

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