Complementary and integrative approaches

Thank you Sherri and the Newme I will check out that website you suggested thenewme.

Mollyann that is interesting about Curcumin,do you take it?If so how much?How often?

shirley that would be very much appreciated I look forward to hearing from you

Kymn

The internet is full of advice from and to body builders about abusing Arimidex but that is really separate from taking it to treat breast cancer.  Keep in mind that those are men taking it, and not under a doctor's supervision.

That's an interesting study, SherriG. I took a one-month break from Femara last year because of pain issues. I went back on it once all the pain was gone. This year I don't have that much pain anymore, so I'm wondering whether to take another break for "estrogenic stimulation." Or should I wait until Femara fails? Just wondering out loud. I am almost 4 years out from Stage IV diagnosis and have been NED over 3 years.  In the meantime, I am exercising daily to reduce my estrogen levels. I suppose that's akin to taking a higher dose of Femara. But unlike Femara, exercise also reduces inflammation and releases endogenous opioids.

I have no sources to back up this thought, but, I would be concerned that the cell could become resistant much like it does when you start and stop antibiotics.  Anyone have info on that?

Lactic acid found to fuel tumors

A team of researchers at Duke University Medical Center and the Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) has found that lactic acid is an important energy source for tumor cells. In further experiments, they discovered a new way to destroy the most hard-to-kill, dangerous tumor cells by preventing them from delivering lactic acid.

http://www.physorg.com/news146421554.html

A Yale study challenges oncology researchers to consider tumor cell hybridization with white blood cells as a major reason cancer metastasizes

"Cancer cells exhibit a remarkable number of traits normally attributed to white blood cells known as macrophages, including the ability to migrate to lymph nodes and distant organs and to form a new blood supply," said lead author John Pawelek in Yale's school of medicine. "Our data indicate they do this by hybridizing with macrophages."

http://www.physorg.com/news8989.html

Low Oxygen Recruits Inflammatory Cells to Tumors, Stimulating Growth

http://www.physorg.com/news191092873.html

New strategy to attack tumor-feeding blood vessels

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-strategy-tumor-feeding-blood-vessels.html

Does food act physiologically like a 'drug of choice' for some?

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-food-physiologically-drug-choice.html

Sherri, I think you meant to reply to me ?  Are they now doing sensitivity tests for chemo response in your neck of the woods ?

You say lower grade cancer doesn't respond well to chemo ?  I was I told that my grade 1 trumped a grade 3, don't get it ?  Sooooo much research to do !!!!!  What grade were you ?

My tumours were ductal with lobular features which classifies me in a very low percentage on the scale. Any "remnants" from TAC ?

Am so glad to have found a TAC sister, why are they so rare, I have to wonder.  So many questions !!

Novel Citrus Extract Blocks Deadly Cancer Cell Signaling

"Suppose instead you could disrupt cancer cells' lines of communication sufficiently to slow and prevent their proliferation, leaving healthy cells untouched?

Avant-garde cancer researchers are finding that a proprietary form of citrus pectin possesses this capability"

http://defeatosteosarcoma.org/2011/07/novel-citrus-extract-blocks-deadly-cancer-cell-signaling/

Thanks Kira, those links never work....what words did you use in your search ?

It's the new york article in the stage 3 thread Luan.

Phase I dose escalation trial of docetaxel plus curcumin in patients with advanced and metastatic breast cancer

http://defeatosteosarcoma.org/2011/06/phase-i-dose-escalation-trial-of-docetaxel-plus-curcumin-in-patients-with-advanced-and-metastatic-breast-cancer/

Well Luan, I will say you"ve been very busy. It is interesting info though.

SherriG, I didn't realize most ILC was grade 1. I really wish more Onc's understood ILC. What I find is we are treated just like IDC. When I first  found out I had BC I didn't realise it was so different.

Wow, that's pretty amazing about the sensitivity testing, not here yet, sheeshh, did not realize we were soo far behind   If I tell this to my onc, guess what, he'll say "we don't know", bugger.

Thanks for the bad and the good news in your post :0

TAC was/is a monster, but Tamox is not far behind for me at least.  I believe I have very high sensitivity to meds, never took them, unless I had a realllll bad headache.  So yeah, having gotten the "one size fits all dose" hit me like a tornado.

SherriG, How is TAC different than TC. 

Kira, don't cry coz you didn't get TAC, Lol.....An onc actually said that to you ???

Sherri, yeah Taxotere which is leaving me with major major hair regrowth problems, I hate it with a passion   I woud have given up my breasts if I had been warned and known that this would happen.

Can't figure it out.  The NCC guidelines prescribe TAC in my case, yet I've read that adryamicin does not work on ER+.  WTH ??