Complementary and integrative approaches

Ladies,

A couple of things to share about my recent visit to the Block Center, near Chicago. Their approach made a lotof sense to ne because they actually tailor a supplement program for each individual based on a series of extensive blood chemistry that they do. They have a hole team of researchers who stay on top of the literature and make determinations of what looks to support the health of cancer pts. Their feeling is that, while it is preferable to get nutrients from whole foodd, they don't believe you can get enough for a therapeutic effect from diet alone. They recommended a regimen for me which will be about 40 pills a day. This is a stretch for me because I only remembered to take my multivitamin (1 pill) about 30% of the time pre-BC. They told me not to take commercial multivitamins because they contain copper, which supports angiogenesis/new bloOd supply formation for tunics. They also reco'd calcium d-glucarate, which I researched and found to be considered a non-toxic cmpd

Luan,  urban legend--Vit D.  sheesh. I'd be switching too.  I love my PCP.  We don't always see eye to eye, but, boy, she listens.  Listens and cares.  Scary how much at the mercy we are of providers sometimes

2tzus, here in Cnda, they factor in both and arrive at a total cholesterol value, because if your HDL is also high, then it,s not so bad, am in no way an expert on the subject though.



Pinkbutterfly, wow, pretty amazing the care you,re getting. I,m sure all my sisters are waiting anxiously on that list that we,re hoping you,ll share. Saw on tv this doctor, will not mention name...who said calcium and D are the two most important for fighting cancer.

I use calcium citrate -- my onc told me from the start to use citrate instead of carbonate, as it is much better absorbed.  She also tests my Vitamin D levels regularly, and when they dropped she had me take megadoses for 4 weeks, then back to regular dose of D3.

2tzus, lol, you,re funny, yes a health food store will carry the red rice yeast for sure, try to find out your HDL, if it,s also high, no need to worry, i don,t think, but the yeast looks like it,s gonna help.:)



Kmmd, the next doctor i was able to find me is a circumcision specialist (((

2tzus, have to check my notes too, but if my fried brain remembers, vit C competes with calcium and should not be taken at same time. i,ve read to always use the combo calcium/magnesium as each helps the other absorb and magnesium is critical. the bottle i have right now has a ratio of 1:1, but its better to have a higher ratio in the calcium, i.e 2:1

Hi, I'm back. Read my post and somehow 'tumors' was auto-corrected to 'tunics'. Lol. I hope I didn't confuse anyone.

Anyhow, the calcium- d glucarate is not actually a calcium supplement, but another molecule that is bound to calcium as a salt. Just wanted to clarify.

Other reco's from Block: resveratrol. On the fence about this one b/c I found research on MSK website that ER/PR + should not take resveratrol because it is a phytoestrogen. Makes sense to me b/c wine tends to be discouraged for it's estrogen - raising properties, but they showed me other research that says the opposite, and they said they have good results with it. They also rec'd a very high dose of Vit D for me (tho only for a short time until my levels go up) and I read also on MSK site that high vit d was assoc with pancreatic ca. Scared me and I haven't picked up the Rx they phoned in for me. They also reco'd a mushroom blend for immunity, fish oil, cucumin (they have several smoothie recipes with curcumin), melatonin for those with sleep troubles (also a powerful anti-oxidant), and Co-Q-10. They have their own optimal ranges, which are sometimes different than what is considered "normal". Still waiting for my final regimen. There is a book written by Dr Block called Life Over Cancer. It touches on all things "integrative' - exercise, mind-spirit, nutrition, with specific detailed. I highly recommend it.

Gee Mollyann.  First Britchick and now Memorial Sloan-Kettering.  Why would I believe you as opposed to the best that state-of-the-science treatment has to offer???

Tell me, where did you get your degree in cancer research, epidemiology, or medicine that you are able to dismiss these opinions out of hand???

This is absolutely jaw-dropping.

I have read through these posts and want to thank Britchick for her enlightened view on the value of estroidal testing.  On the money, as usual.

Another marvelous example of how ignorance trumps evidence-based medicine in the minds of so many people. I should not have been surprised having done research for a major cancer treatment center.

The criteria: if the patient lived, then a wonderful place, no matter how questionable the treatment received. If the patient died, then the place was terrible (even if the cancer was advanced at the start of treatment).

These boards bear out the research findings. - Claire

Luan, don't know if you were kidding or not about the circumcision specialist, but, I needed the smile tonight, thank you.  Just been one of those days today.  Hopefully the melatonin will kick in, I'll get to sleep soon and tomorrow the morning will bring a different perspective (or at least not a cranky over tired one!)

Kathy - thanks for providing the link!

Claire,

I'm so with you on this one, as well as all of your posts.  And the comment about the "sanctimonious tone" of your post? Couldn't be farther from the truth!  In fact, that's kind of funny, and sad, that one would even infer that, but whatever.  Just consider the source.  

Digger, just love the way you interject, after saying you were leaving BCO...what are you implying exactly by "consider the source" ? Come on, put your girl panties on...



Have some of you set out to have this thread shut down too. Anything to do with the alt discussion, right ?

I will Luan, thanks

Reminder,

Please keep sniping off this thread. We are trying to maintain peaceful discussion area. Thank you for being kind.