Pinned Thread About How to Lower Recurrence after Chemo

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  • Sjesse12345
    Sjesse12345 Member Posts: 45
    edited January 2013

    Bishop2003 - I'm pretty happy I finally got it too.  I started it yesterday and so far so good.  I will let you know what SEs if any I get.  FYI, she started me on a lower does than the trial but she wanted to make sure I do ok on it, so for the first month we'll go with that.   

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  • Sjesse12345
    Sjesse12345 Member Posts: 45
    edited February 2013

    Hi Ladies, I posted this info on the Calling all TNs thread as someone brought up Curcumin, I thought it would fit in well on this thread also.  I started taking a Curcumin supplement just over a week ago as I had read several other articles about it.  A lady I met recently who is also TN (not on these boards) suggested it to me also as her best friend is a Naturopath and told her to take it.  He recommended Meriva (the brand) as it supposedly is absorbed by the body better.  I'm currently taking a Curcumin I bought at the store but ordered some of the one he recommended online.  I have not any kind of side effects from it.

    I have been reading about anti-inflammatory foods lately too, here is a link that lists the top 10 of these.  No big surprises on the list, good old broccoli is there Smile.

    theconsciouslife.com/top-10-an...

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  • Bishops2003
    Bishops2003 Member Posts: 60
    edited February 2013

    What does western medicine say about curcumin? What did your oc think about you taking it? I am open to everything preventative just like to hear the concerns from both sides.

    Thanks for the recommendation and please keep us posted on side effects.

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  • Sjesse12345
    Sjesse12345 Member Posts: 45
    edited February 2013

    Here is an article on Curcumin I found recently.

    http://www.canceractive.com/cancer-active-page-link.aspx?n=1571



    I am seeing my Onc tomorrow and am going to mention it to her then, will pass on what she says.



    So far have been on the Metformin now for a week, had a bit of loose bowels but Imodium took care of that and hasn't been a problem since. Have been a bit more fatigued lately too, could be the Metformin.

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  • Luah
    Luah Member Posts: 1,541
    edited February 2013

    Some time ago, I told my onc I was planning to take curcumin supplements. She agreed there was some promising stuff on it, but no conclusive evidence that it works in a clinical setting... so she wouldn't recommend, neither would she discourage... She figured it couldn't hurt. Let us know what your onc says.    

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  • Yayme
    Yayme Member Posts: 107
    edited February 2013

    Hi ladies...



    There has been data on How Turmeric and Curcumin Provide Antioxidant Nutrients* for immunity in cancer...also on the Muscidine grape...

    I read many articles and decided to incorporate turmeric in some of my cooking. Has a kind of curry flavor to me...not bad. I also bought some Muscidine grape juice..has very low sugar so is a little tart, but again not that bad. I even bough a bottle of Muscidne Wine...have not tried it yet but will let you know..I hear it is very dry. My Onc said it definitely would not hurt to do post chemo, so I waited until then.

    I don't know if it will help, but I thought I would give it a try...although it is certain that vitamin D does play an important role...even my Dr agrees with that one. I do the Dr.Mercola Vit D in sublingual spray 2000u a day, when I was diagnosed as many of us were..I was so so low...

    Anyway...have a great day ladies...

    Lisa

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  • Bishops2003
    Bishops2003 Member Posts: 60
    edited February 2013

    Living in the south vitamin d is not a problem, thankfully. Thanks for all the info ladies. I am hoping to start metformin and curcumin supplements post bmx in march. Any more/new thoughts on DIM?

    Blessings,

    Shannon

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  • Sjesse12345
    Sjesse12345 Member Posts: 45
    edited February 2013

    So I mentioned everything to my Onc today and she just like Luah's Onc doesn't have an issue with it but also mentioned there was no clinical data on it, since I've read several articles on the Curcumin I'm going to stick with it.  I had also mentioned to her that I started taking AHCC she asked what that was, it is basically a mushroom supplement (I guess similar to DIM) that is supposed to help with keeping your immunity up, she says "oh, so that's why your WBC is so good today", me "um, I just started taking it yesterday" lol.  The AHCC is recommended by an acquaintance who was diagnosed also as a TN 1 1/2 years ago and recommended to her by her Naturopath friend. 

    Oh, and my Onc was really glad to hear that I was trying to get in a power walk every day, she said that can only be good for me, physically and mentally.

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  • weety
    weety Member Posts: 1,163
    edited February 2013

    Bishops wrote, "Living in the south vitamin d is not a problem, thankfully"

    I live in California and thought the same thing--NOPE--big vitamin D deficiency. I would suggest still getting tested.  It is a cheap test and your PCP should not have a problem ordering it.

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  • Luah
    Luah Member Posts: 1,541
    edited February 2013

    Sjesse: Good to hear. Sounds like you are doing well - and yes, a power walk every day is probably the best "medicine" of all!

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  • Bishops2003
    Bishops2003 Member Posts: 60
    edited February 2013

    Bummer! I thought for sure I could cross that off my list. Thanks for the heads up. I will add that to my list :)

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  • Mumtobe
    Mumtobe Member Posts: 159
    edited February 2013

    Ladies,

    For those of you who have eliminated red meat & chicken from your diet (i eat organic chicken every now and then) - would you eat duck, venison or smaller animals like lamb? I just wonder are smaller animals pumped with hormones in the same way that larger animals like cows & pigs and chicken for mass production? Probably a silly thought but what do you think?

    I miss meat, i'm such a carnivore at heart!!

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  • Mumtobe
    Mumtobe Member Posts: 159
    edited February 2013

    Also...

    Can anybody recommend a low sugar red wine?

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  • Sjesse12345
    Sjesse12345 Member Posts: 45
    edited February 2013

    Bishop - Haha, nice try. My Onc actually said that the exercise gives the same effect as what you get from the Metformin, insulin levels and all that stuff. I love how it helps clear my head, crank the tunes and go.



    Mumtobe - Sorry can't answer re: the meat, been vegetarian for 20 years, hopefully someone will be along with an answer.

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  • Bishops2003
    Bishops2003 Member Posts: 60
    edited February 2013

    Vegetarian here as well but if you live near farms or if can get to farmers markets you could ask the farmers directly about the hormones that they use. Just a thought. :)

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  • Meggy
    Meggy Member Posts: 530
    edited February 2013

    Keep in mind if you are still on chemo...my oncologist told me not to take anti-oxidents......chemo is a bunch of cell killing chemicals...you don't want to limits its effectiveness by taking anti-oxidents. 

    Also, if still on chemo...I'd say cut out sugar since thats not good for you anyways...but I did not go low fat till I was done with chemo because while on chemo, I could only get myself to eat yummy mexican food...and I think it is very important to stay strong during chemo so your white cell count is high enough to let you take your next infusion on time.  The timing of chemo makes all the difference.  You have to keep hitting the cancer. 

    I do believe that the low fat diet helps keep the TNBC from coming back but it is no substitute for the amazing curative power of chemo. 

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  • Bishops2003
    Bishops2003 Member Posts: 60
    edited February 2013

    Amen! I am so thankful for chemo! Personally my anxiety is creeping up because Monday is my last chemo. All these preventative measures are for my mental peace as much as anything.

    My hubby is Mexican so the low fat thing will be more difficult then low sugar in my home.

    Blessings :)

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  • Yayme
    Yayme Member Posts: 107
    edited February 2013

    Hi Mumtoe...

    A decent low sugar wine red or white wine is made from the Muscidine Grape..I bought some online..it comes in a variety from dry to sweeter grape but have the lowest amount of sugar...plus the Muscidine grape has a lot of data suggesting a high anti oxident content and offers a anti recurrence benefit for triple negative breast cancer...you can look that up online and see a lot of studies on this type of grape...

    Hugs..

    Lisa

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  • Sjesse12345
    Sjesse12345 Member Posts: 45
    edited February 2013

    I agree with cutting out the sugar right now, it does no good.  I'm somewhat watching what I eat while on chemo but the focus is more on making sure I keep my strength up so not always low fat, some days whatever I feel like as those days I don't feel like much.  Trying to focus on protein mainly, also oatmeal (the Quaker individual packets) are a good source of iron too and go down fairly easy.

    Bishops2003 - I agree about the anxiety re: finishing chemo, I still have 4 to go (just had one this past Wednesday) and I am already nervous about finishing, I feel so much safer with the chemo in me, as horrible as it can be some days (yesterday...)

    lelela - What brand wine did you buy online?

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  • Yayme
    Yayme Member Posts: 107
    edited February 2013



    Jessie



    Hyman Vinyards...but there are others...just google Muscadine Wines...I chose a dry one, not bad but I think I would like to try some of he others as well..maybe a slightly sweeter one they have...they also have the Muscadine Juice in bottles as well...

    Everything you read on this grape shows great metabolic nutritional promise for help in recurrence preventions..just like adding the lower fat diet, and physical activity does in prevention....

    Lisa

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  • Mumtobe
    Mumtobe Member Posts: 159
    edited February 2013

    Bishops2003 - I can understand your anxiety. I just finished chemo last Wednesday and it's like being diagnosed all over again. Have cried as much in the last week, pure anxiety and fear. But crying is good and I pray a lot. Let us go easy on ourselves :)

    Lelela - Can you order a muscidine wine in a pub or restaurant? I'm no wine buff but would definitely choose this over another red wine if I was out.

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  • Yayme
    Yayme Member Posts: 107
    edited February 2013

    Mumtobe...

    I have not found this type of wine out..I also would order it out if I could, but there is a limited market I guess... :(

    I hear you ladies feeling the anxiety after chemo...I am out 3 1/2 months from chemo and still feel the loss of the safety net...every little ache kind of throws me into a panic..I am getting better little by little..we'll get there slowly but surely.. :)

    Lisa

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  • Bishops2003
    Bishops2003 Member Posts: 60
    edited February 2013

    Question- has anyone had a prophylactic hysterectomy as a step to reduce recurrence?

    Thx

    Shannon

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  • Mumtobe
    Mumtobe Member Posts: 159
    edited February 2013

    Ladies, went to the off license the other day looking for Muscidine wine and the guy told me that it's a white grape from France and wouldn't get it in red wine :( I sound like such an alco, all I do on this thread is talk about wine..:)

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  • Mumtobe
    Mumtobe Member Posts: 159
    edited February 2013

    Oh yes, meant to ask....starting rads tomorrow, should I wait until I have finished before started Turmeric root capsules (curcumin) or could I start taking them now do you think?

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  • Yayme
    Yayme Member Posts: 107
    edited February 2013

    Mumtobe..



    I have it in Red...so I am not sure what he means that it is only a white grape..it's both...

    Hummmmm....I will try to scan a label and PM it to you.....they grow this also domestically in the Southern states...you don't sound like an alki...so funny, I must though because I know the biology of this stupid wine so I could get a buzz and feel good about it too....lol..lol..lol..

    Lisa

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  • Yayme
    Yayme Member Posts: 107
    edited February 2013

    Hi Shannon,



    Most ladies that are advised to get a prophylactic hysterectomy are done so because they carry a BRCA mutation which makes them a higher risk for Ovarian Cancer...however, there are times when a physician may also recommend one because of estrogen elevations which then could result in recurrences if you are ER +.....,,



    Hope this helps...

    Lisa

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  • Bishops2003
    Bishops2003 Member Posts: 60
    edited February 2013

    Thanks- I am scheduled for the hysterectomy April 1st, and am having my mastectomy March 7. I am brca - but have family history.



    I also plan to start my curcumin after surgery. Dr said I would heal better with out it.



    Thx ladies

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  • Mumtobe
    Mumtobe Member Posts: 159
    edited February 2013

    So I was released from my onc today, doesn't need to see me anymore. I hope I never ever have to see her again! Spoke to her about curcumin, vit d and metformin. She didn't recommend taking metformin. She told me that a good diet, no smoking, controlled use of alcohol and plenty of exercise is what I need to do. She suggested taking a normal multivitamin would suffice and just shrugged when I mentioned curcumin. I think I'll wait until I finish rads and then start taking my multivitamin and curcumin.

    Anybody's onc actually recommend curcumin or vit d to them?

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  • Jen78
    Jen78 Member Posts: 102
    edited February 2013

    Hi Mum - My onc recommended Vitamin D and my levels have increased dramatically since I was originally diagnosed, which is a good thing.  Diet and exercise seem to be the hallmarks of health for us going forward.

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