Vitamins Controversial?

Craftylass · April 2012

As you can tell from my signature line, I'm new to the cancer club. This is my first post to bco, but not my first time visiting. I've read a lot of the forums and I've been appalled at some of the comments made in the world of alternative/complementary/conventional treatments.

I'm currently undergoing neoaduvant chemotherapy. Completed three of eight cycles. (Cycle two was delayed by two weeks due to infected ingrown toenail that had to be surgically corrected.) I'm now back on track with chemo every three weeks. (Four cycles AC followed by four cycles Taxotere) Surgery to follow chemo (hoping for a lumpectomy) followed by radiation.

Cycle 1 was uneventful with moderate nausea and mild (very limited vomiting). Felt "normal" after four days.

Cycle 2 was horrid with severe nausea and severe vomiting for four days. Couldn't eat for four days after that due to damaged stomach lining. Had to take acid suppressors. Felt "better" after ten days and "normal" after two weeks.

Started doing some major research on vitamins and supplements. Got doc approval to take B-100 Complex and CoQ10 (the only two that I had researched at that time). At the time of my diagnosis, I asked about taking vitamins and I was told that they shouldn't be necessary if I were eating properly.

Given how poorly cycle 2 went, I became concerned about nutrition. I now want to add vitamin C and vitamin D (with magnesium and calcium). I'm considering vitamin E complex as well as some probiotics.

I'm not talking about mega-doses . . . I'm talking about "regular" doses. In the future, I'd also like to add K-2 (for bone strength).

I started taking the B-100 complex and the CoQ10 when my cycle 3 was delayed due to my toe. When cycle 3 came along, I also took Emend for the first time. Cycle 3 was no problem at all! No vomiting, mild-to-moderate nausea and only a couple of days of fatigue.

How could vitamins and supplements interfere with chemotherapy?

Moderators · April 2012

Hello Craftylass, and welcome to BCO.

The main Breastcancer.org site's article on Before You Begin Chemotherapy includes this:

"Talk to your doctor about any vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter and prescription medicines you're taking. You may have to stop taking some vitamins, supplements, and allergy medicines while you're getting chemotherapy, since some of these can interact with chemotherapy. Tell your doctor about ALL the medicines, supplements, and vitamins you take, including laxatives, cold medicines, herbs, and pain relievers, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Your doctor needs to know how much you take, how often you take it, and why you take it. You may want to bring in the bottles of everything you take so you don't forget anything."

Lowrider54 · April 2012

Just my experience - I was told to not take a multi-vitamin as some things will interact. Instead, we went over a list of supplements I SHOULD be taking. I also always check with my onc when I find something that might help with certain side effects and generally, I have been given the go-ahead on most things. For instance, Olive Leaf Extract helps with fatigue - they checked it out and the only potential down side was it could lower blood pressure - in my case being on Xeloda, which can raise blood pressure, it could be a good side effect! It is important to keep our bodies healthy and a generally overall multi-vitamin may not be the best thing where indiviual supplements are designed to meet a persons individual needs - and thanks to our Moderators for weighing in...you guys are awesome!

mary625 · April 2012

I checked with my onc on all supplements and always got the green light. I also asked if I could take ginger supplements and got approval. Those really helped me. I took them during the three days leading up to each A/C treatment. Regarding nutrition, it's my understanding that supplements can't take the place of everything especially calories and micronutrients. You might want to check with your place of treatment to see if they have a nutritionist you can meet with to get strategies for boosting calories and things that you can tolerate on days following chemo. Most cancer treatment centers have someone on staff. Another thought, when you switch to the Taxotere, ask about permission to take B vits. I did not ask and then my onc left. The new one wanted me on the B vits right away to possibly prevent neuropathy. Thank goodness I got with this new onc!

SelenaWolf · April 2012

With both my oncologists' knowledge- and approval, I remained on a regular daily multivitamin, extra calcium, and 3000 iu of Vitamin D3 as well as cod liver oil (Vitamin A) throughout my chemotherapy/radiation treatment. And I double-checked with them, again, before starting radiation. They both said that the doses of the various vitamins that I was getting with this supplementation was not high enough to interfere with treatment, but was enough to help ease side effects and keep me strong.

When they talk about not taking supplements during therapy, they are - usually - talking about the massive/mega-doses that people begin taking without their oncologists' knowledge, some of which can - indeed - interfere with treatment and be downright dangerous. I, also, understand that every oncologist has differing opinions on this because it is still a controversial/conflicting area where there is no definitive data either way.

My oncology team was okay with it. But - like stated above - ALWAYS check with your team before adding something new. It may not interfere with your treatment, but it may not be good for you regardless.

Review everything with your treatment team.

Anonymous · April 2012

Nausea - if it's still a problem during treatment ask the oncologist to prescribe EMEND - it's the best for preventing nauseau with chemotherapy. More expensive than many of the other meds, s maybe why more docs don't use it - but VERY EFFECTIVE.

Lowrider- nice to see you, and "snap" - I've just started taking Olive Leaf Extract for the same reason, fatigue, cumulative in my 5th year of Arimidex.

Vitamins Controversial?

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