Supplements During Chemo-Yes or No?

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Pure
Pure Member Posts: 1,796
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I am taking vit b-6 and vit b-12 as well as Vitamin D-3.

I take 5000 ius per day of Vitamin D-3.

I also take a low does multi vitamin. (kids gummi vitamins:)

Everything else I do through my food.

As far as aspirin- I read you can do it but to stop before rads and 2 weeks prior to any surgery.

But I haven't really taken any-except for a headache here and there.

Thoughts?

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

    I did nothing at all during Chemo, but started my vitamins during Rads.

    I just think you need to avoid high dose supplements during treatment.

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited February 2010

    Its antioxidants that you can't have during chemo because Chemo is a free radical and the anitoxidents could gobble them up before they can do the work

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  • lovemygarden
    lovemygarden Member Posts: 342
    edited May 2010

    I asked my oncologist about taking either B-6 or L-glutamine to help ward off neuropathy (I'll be getting Taxol + Herceptin weekly x12, then Herceptin alone for the rest of the year); and also whether I should continue my usual routine of taking one fish oil capsule (which also contains 10 IU Vitamin E) during chemo. Her feeling is "no vitamin supplements during chemo, because there have been no studies to determine whether or not there is any negative synergistic effect". So nothing at all for me allowed during chemo.

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

    My onc was OK with the B vitamins and calcium & multi.  He did not want the antioxidents and no green tea the day of or day after chemo.  He prescribed B6 during Taxol for neuropathy prevention.  I think you're fine with what you're taking...but always check with your onc.  

    With rads they said "go for it".

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

    I didn't even think about Green tea-yikes.....She perscribed the Vit D in large dose since my levels were so low. 

    Thanks everyone for your help!

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

    I stopped drinking Green Tea during Chemo as well. I just remembered that!

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited February 2010

    My oncologist said to take a good multi-vitamin but that's it. I also continued with my calcium + D. But no antioxidants because they fight against the chemo.

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited February 2010

    I was told no supplements during treatment, both chemo and rads.

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  • Gayleebug
    Gayleebug Member Posts: 166
    edited February 2010

    My chemo onc said a multivitamin was ok, but nothing else.  (This was before we found my D levels were so low.)

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

    Mu onc said a multi vitamin was ok. Thats it.

    I chose to do nothing through chemo and rads. Started taking supplements after rads.

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  • 2z54
    2z54 Member Posts: 261
    edited September 2014

    Don't tell my Onc, but I did take supplements recommended by an 83 year old cancer researh doctor who was also a 15 year prostate cancer survivor.  He recommend a supplement, which I'm still taking along with some other supplements.  I think the supplement kept my resistance up during chemo, which kept me healthy/functional. I did neoadjuvant chemo (before surgery) and while I did not get a complete response (as some women do with neoadj chemo), my tumor did shrink more than half. So, I do not regret taking the supplement. And, still take it!

    Oh, btw... my onc did have me take CoQ10 thru chemo.

    Sue

    Edited by Mods to remove brand name of the supplement, as requested by the company who makes it. To find out the name of the supplement, please send a PM to the poster of this message.

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  • kimber3006
    kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
    edited February 2010

    My onc said a multivitamin is okay (which I don't take) and put me on 5000 IUs of D because my levels are so low.  He said we'll do B if I have problem with neuropathy, but I haven't yet.  I never thought about the green tea either!  I drink it all the time.  I guess I'll stop.

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

    yeah and since I don't have SE I think I will stop the B-6 as well. I will just stick to the Vit D and possibly a few aspirin per week:)

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

    i didn't take anything during chemo and rads. started up after i finished. i had also read that antidepressants can interfere with chemo. something to do with serriotin.  i would check with your docs.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2010
    Pure ~ I took no supplements during chemo because I was told not to.  It made sense to me because I didn't want the cancer to grow strong from me taking vitamins.  I never stopped taking my B6 300mgs at night.  I think that helped with the water retention from Taxol and the numbness,.  I take the same supplements you are on now that I'm off chemo.  Also trying to eat way more healthy.  This morning for Breakfast I had Arugula and Avacado with lemon, and a bowl of steel cut oats, and a 20 oz glass of water.
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  • gamze
    gamze Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2010

    what is the effect of aspirin during chemo??

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  • kimber3006
    kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
    edited February 2010

    Gamze - It's a blood thinner.  There is always the worry that chemo will get your platelet count too low and your blood won't clot properly if you have an injury, even a little cut or bloody nose.  Aspirin thinning your blood would just make it worse.

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  • gamze
    gamze Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2010

    kimber3006 - Thank you. I know that aspirin thinning blood and delay the clotting. But  if chemo gets platelet count too low, what is the benefit of using aspirin during chemo?

    I read at news that using aspirin during chemo is rising the life time of cancer patients. that's why i'm asking about it. Smile

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

    I just came form my oncologist and she said go ahead and take it-.81 mg a day. She said 90% of her patients are on it and it's fine during chemo. I need to stop 2 weeks b-4 rads but she says she has always perscribed aspirn for her patients. Which I thought-humm you never told me before-what did you just forget?  I swear you ahve to be so active in your treatment and ask questions.

    They are now doing a study looking at aspirin at the same time of chemo to see the effects-very similar to zomtea at chemo. I am doing both with hopes that the studys are in my favor-if they aren't well no harm infact both aspirn and zometa are good for me either way.

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