Vit D

RachelKa · January 2011

How many of you ladies have low Vit D? My first oncologist (a breast cancer specialist) never checked my D and I learned a year plus after my diagnosis that I was severely deficient. Vey critical to reducing risk for cancer or recurrence. And low Vit d is very common with cancer survivors - my oncologist says a huge portion of his patients were deficient when they came to him.

Here an article on Vit D and cancer. Below the article I posted a link to another article on Vit D and colon that also discusses Vit D and cancer in general.

The latest on Vitamin D and breast cancer

The link between Vitamin D deficiency, breast cancer, and recurrence is not new. But now Vitamin D has actually been shown to kill breast cancer cells.

I was so intrigued by what I read, I had to get on the phone with the clinical investigator myself, especially since I, and most of the women I know with breast cancer have a Vitamin D deficiency, and I hear it more and more.

JoEllen Welsh, PhD, a professor at GenNYsis Center for Excellence in Cancer Genomics in Albany, NY, has studied Vitamin D and breast cancer for 30 years, but for the first time, has incubated fresh human samples with Vitamin D. She took samples of early and late stage tumors, those with and without receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and HER2.

"Within days, half the cells shriveled and died in every tumor," she said.

"Eighty percent of people have a vitamin D receptor, and if they have a tumor with this receptor it has potential to respond to Vitamin D, just as estrogen-positive breast cancer responds to tomoxifen," says Welsh.

Vitamin D actually becomes a hormone in the body, meaning it is transmitted through the blood to any and or all tissue.

Five human samples were tested, reflecting the following types and stages of breast cancer:

Stage IIIC ER and PR Negative
Stage III A HER2 Negative
Stage I ER and HER2 Negative
Stage IIA ER PR and HER Positive
Stage IIIC Triple Negative

What next?

Currently Welsh is doing genetic engineering in mice to understand the mechanisms that trigger a response.

"For example, we need to look at what levels you need? Is there a difference in how it works on triple negative breast cancer? Does it work in the presence of tamoxifen? What if the tumor has a BRCA mutation? Answering these questions is how we can predict who is most likely to benefit from optimal Vitamin D status," says Welsh.

http://www.1uponcancer.com/colorectal/

If you scroll down you'll see an article on Vit D and colon but again, it goes into Vit D and Cancer in general.

jan508 · January 2011

Very interesting, thanks for posting.

My oncolgist put me on 1,000IU along with what is in my calcium and vitamins.

I was at 29 (I think) and he wanted me at 30. I'm still not sure what is 'normal' Vit D #.

Is everyone different?

Jan

kira1234 · January 2011

There's a great thread here, it's called healp with vitamin D levels. There is lots of good info on that thread.

Letlet · January 2011

i was deficient upon diagnosis. My onc tested me right away and prescribed the high dose for a couple of weeks then I'm on 2000 daily.

LtotheK · February 2011

From what I'm reading online these days, there is research for and against vitamin D. I think all of us were hoping it's a magic bullet--perhaps it will be in time. But there is also evidence from studies that D has no effect, and as well, even some study that it could have ill effect. I read about some studies online, including one on Susan Love's page.

Valgirl · February 2011

My Onc has me on 4000 daily of Vit D. I tested at 33. The nauropath I met with said to take 5000 Vit D daily. The nauropath says that she would like to see my level at 50-80. So who knows???? For now I am taking the 4000 of Vit D daily. I will get tested again in March and see what to do from there.

VJSL8 · February 2011

I saw Dr. Susan Love 2 weeks ago when she spoke here for Gilda's club and I went to her "meet and greet". She dismissed Vit. D as just the vitamin du jour. She also dismissed the connection between smoking and BC--she relies on clinical research only for her opinion and I dont' think there has been enough research with either of these two. Just as chemotherapy is becoming more targeted, it may be that Vit. D will help a subset of women and not just anyone with BC--for example, it might help NNN and not ER+ or vice a versa. Stan Glantz from UCSF makes a strong case that smoking increases the risk of BC for a small subset of women that have not had children and are pre-menopausal but not for post-menopausal women.

My onc. dismissed Vit D too but I was tested and was 30 so my pharmacist recommended one bottle of 10,000 and then get retested but I read that the body can't handle that much at one time but I'll finish out the bottle since I already bought it.

rcbakermd · February 2011

Your nauropath is very informed.

All the posts have had an interesting discussion of vitamin D. This link below discusses breast cancer and vitamin D and I believe you will find it eye-opening. I hope you find it helpful.

http://robertbakermdhealthnewsletter.blogspot.com --- go to entry #15, breast cancer and vitamin D.

or goggle should find it by entering "Robert Baker MD AND breast cancer."

fairy49 · February 2011

http://robertbakermdhealthnewsletter.blogspot.com/2010/09/15-breast-cancer-and-vitamin-d.html

fairy49 · February 2011

my vit D level was under 30 when I was dx'd, its now over 70, I think this is a no brainer, get your levels UP!!

Laughing

DesignerMom · February 2011

There is good information on this non profit site too. www.vitamindcouncil.org There is also good info on a thread that has been going for a while called "help with my vit D levels" in the alternative forum.

thefuzzylemon · February 2011

After I looked into the Canadian research that is being done on Vitamin D ... I have been on 2000iu's ever since. Everything has a pro and a con, but in the northern states, it's tricky to get minimal amounts naturally.

Valgirl · February 2011

fairly49 - great link. Everyone should read this. I'm happy I'm taking the 4000iu's a day.

http://robertbakermdhealthnewsletter.blogspot.com/2010/09/15-breast-cancer-and-vitamin-d.html

thefuzzylemon · February 2011

I asked my doc about being on Vit D during treatament ... didn't recommend that but said if I can drink it, I can have it ... So I will try to incorporate more Vid D in veggies during juicing ...

LtotheK · February 2011

I'm not so sure it's a no brainer. D acts as a hormone in the body. It is not unusual for studies to show one thing, then a few years later something drastically different. I think it's well worth women thinking seriously about whether they want to be in range, or up around what naturopaths suggest, as I don't think it's been proven that 60+ is effective or necessary.

susan_CNY · February 2011

I was tested 2 years ago (in relation to my colon cancer) and measured like a 7, went on megadose, then 4,000 a day. Yesterday had my oncologist yearly visit and my level at 15 is low and back to the mega 50,000 units a week for 1 month and then 1 a month for 2 and retest again. What is the level the safest at?

Hipline · April 2011

I was shocked that my Vit D level was low, 25. I am an outdoors sports girl and eat dairy and never thought about it. But my integrative oncologist said it was super important and now I take 5000 IU of D3 daily until we can get it up into the 50's. Then we'll drop to 2000 and see if it stabilizes. I am having it checked every other month.

FireKracker · April 2011

when i had my Vit D levels checked I was told the normal range is 19-67.mine was 42.

My onco told me to take 1000. Vit,D daily.

Thatgirl · April 2011

My onco would like my levels to fall inbetween 80-100. She stated higher levels are needed for BC.

crabbiepattie · April 2011

I take 5000 IU of D3 a day; I think my levels are probably pretty high - need to retest. But this doesn't sound entirely good:

Vitamin D Can Decrease - or Increase - Breast Cancer Development and Insulin Resistance

http://explore.georgetown.edu/documents/56320/?PageTemplateID=141

Thatgirl · April 2011

@crabbie.....thanks for posting. This study says it's good for er+ but not er-. .....maybe others will chime in.

ruthbru · April 2011

I went to a very interesting speaker. She is a doctor, nutrition specialist, and an eleven year breast cancer survivor. Here was her take on Vitamin

Vitamin D is a big deal.....she recommends getting it tested (should be between 40-50 ng/dL). She recommends 2000 iu a day to maintain a good level. Many, many conditions are associated with low vitamin D; heart attack, cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, muscle weakness, asthma, diabetics, multiple sclerosis etc. etc. etc. There are over 200 different body tissues that have been identified so far that have receptors for the vitamin D hormone and they need it to work properly.

* adequate Vitamin D levels has been shown to reduce the side effects of taxol based chemotherapy

* Adequate Vitamin D has shown to reduce the side effects of aromatase inhibitors

* start with a multi-vitamin, drink milk, eat yogurt (check and make sure it has vitamin D added), and most people will also need a supplement to keep that high of levels

She also said that one should make sure to get Vitamin K, 100 mcg, each day. Check your multi-vitamin, not all of them have it added (I noticed the Viactiv Calcium chews I take have both D and K added) . Inadequacy leads to an increased risk of various cancers, heart disease, osteoporosis and kidney problems.

crabbiepattie · April 2011

Thanks, ruthbru, I checked the Vitamin K in my multi and it is only 30 mcg.

seaotter · April 2011

Hi Fairy! I hope all is well with you! What brand of vitamin d are you taking and how much? I struggle to keep mine at 70.

Patty

Member_of_the_Club · April 2011

There's an article in this morning's New York Times about the very large, ongoing NIH study into aging women that says, among other things, that no major studies have found a benefit from Vitamin D. Interesting. My doctor believes that the focus on vitamin D is a fad. I don't really have an opinion -- my levels were tested and are fine, but if they weren't I would probably take supplements just to be safe. But I do think the jury is still out.

Member_of_the_Club · April 2011

Here's a link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/weekinreview/10estrogen.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hpw

Cyborg · April 2011

My surgical onc said that it was extremely important for me to get tested for vit D level. I haven't yet but I notice my mood has improved since I have take. It and I like to sit outside in the morning while drinking my green tea AND having the sun touching my bare skin. Lovely!

MariannaLaFrance · April 2011

I have seen the recent press about Vitamin D being a fad, but I can give anecdotal evidence that it has helped me enormously. Now, I don't know if it's helping fight cancer, but I can attest to the following significant changes in my health:

1. Less achy joints

2. Better mood--very happy now

3. No more diarrhea (combo with magnesium!)

4. Better skin, hair

5. Overall sense of well-being and energy

Ladies, I went from feeling like I was about 90 years old (I am 41) to feeling the way I did in my early 20s. I attribute most of it to the Vit D supplementation. It took a few weeks of supplementation for me to feel a difference, but oh what a difference it made.

I had a few complications which led to low energy levels, namely breast cancer and a gluten allergy / intolerance that caused me to be malnourished. I've spent the greater part of a year trying to get my nutritional status corrected, and I think I am getting closer to what "normal" should be. I have a pretty lengthy vitamin/eating regime that I follow, but I strongly believe Vitamin D is not something to be dismissed in disease control and prevention.

Just my 2 cents!! I am not a doctor or healthcare professional, but I think Vitamin D is a great, great thing. I am headed outside to get some right now!

Cyborg · April 2011

Vit D!!!! Better mood. I am interested I'm the vegetarian or non animal melatonin. I coils go to a local health food store like Lassems. At one point loose tea was easy to find at these health stores.

Cyborg · April 2011

Just saw a news bit about Vit D being good for macular degeneration.

Vit D

Comments

Categories