I have not read through all of the thread but was wondering if there's anything that can be done to lower LDLs?  Mine is 114 and my PCP said that she wouldn't recommend statins "at this time" but to eat less processed white things like bread and rice.  But I don't eat those things now!  The total cholesterol is 193, the HDL is high and the triglycerides are low. 

What causes high LDLs besides genetics?

Wow, Voracious, that article about high HDL sometimes being bad for you blew my mind. Well, there was this study, too, that linked HDL to more aggressive breast cancer: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/1310...

So, LDL bad, HDL good, is not such a clear call anymore.

Tomato, hi neighbor! 

Yes, in doing research on cholesterol, I found Dr Tara Dall on the web. She is out in Delafield. It is a long drive as I live on the north east side, but she is an expert in the field.  I like it that she didn't insist on statins and advocates my low carb way of eating.

I saw on TV that in UK they did a study and showed that eating an apple a day lowered cholesterterol as well as a statin. Here is the study for your review. Worth a look and a try for sure.

http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f7267

Hi all!

I had my cholesterol checked recently and not surprisingly, I'm in the high range. I had high levels before bc:

cholesterol - 251

triglycerides - 246

HDL - 33

VLDL - 49

LDL - 169

I was on simvastatin for a short time a few years ago, which brought my levels down significantly. BTW, I wasn't very compliant on the drug - only took it when I remembered, but it really helped bring down the numbers!! My NP was so impressed. But then I followed the typical trend - I quit taking them and they bounced right back up.

BTW, I think high cholesterol is genetic in my family. I try to eat healthier now after having had bc, but with sky-high triglycerides I'm thinking hard about getting back on statins. Those studies about long term statin use causing bc are terrifying. Also, I'm afraid of the SE's because like so many women, I had crippling joint pain with Arimidex. Fortunately since I switched to Aromasin I've had no joint pain. While I"m afraid of ANY meds at this point, I know that my risk of dying of a heart attack are probably much greater than dying of bc.

My hubby's doc recommended fish oil supplements. Has anyone had success with this? How many do you have to take for results?

Thanks for the info, zogo. I'm not sure we have a local lipidologist, but I'm definitely going to ask about the tests you mentioned. I am determined to try and stay off conventional meds. Just like with antidepressants, I am afraid of the risks, both known and unknown, as they relate to having had breast cancer. Until there is a study that says they are safe for us to take as survivors and especially for those of us taking anti hormone drugs, I feel it's safer not to take them.

One thing that works against me is my ever-present sweet tooth. Yes, I know - bake some healthy cookies, only eat dark chocolate, go easy on the fruit, etc. I'm trying....!

High cholesterol runs in my family. All three of my brothers have had heart troubles, 48 year old brother/triple by pass, 64 year old brother /heart attack, had stints put in. My 54 year old brother had, amazingly, 100% blockage of both carotid arteries. Amazingly, he didn't have a stroke or heart attack. It was so unusual that when they did surgery on him to open up some other arteries to get more blood flow to the brain, they asked his permission to film it for the medical field. He is doing well, back to work and everything.

I have taken fish oil every day since the bc diagnosis. I also take a vitamin d supplement. Tried to regulate my diet and also took cinnamon supplements for a while as its claimed cinnamon reduces cholesterol. All of this to no avail. In December, I got a prescription for Pravachol. I am glad to take it, and take it every day along with Arimidex & vitamin supplements. No forgetting. They are all in a daily pill container. I don't seem to have side effects with Pravachol, maybe a headache here or there. I will get blood work one of these days to see how it's working.

My personal experience using supplements to lower cholesterol has not worked at all.

Wow, good info to know. I plan on calling my doc tomorrow and asking about Niacin. Thanks so much, Ruth!

Edited to say: I'm still torn between taking statins vs. dietary controls. There are sooo many conflicitng reports out there - like with anything else. Here is at least one study I found in favor of statins - simvastatin specifically...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21813413

Before I started niacin, I read the book by Dr Parsons "Cholesterol Control Without Diet, The Niacin Solution"

I started with delayed release niacin, but when I changed brands, I was having stomach upset. After doing tons of research, I found that the immediate release niacin is easier on your liver. I take 2Kmg now and sometime I do get a little bit of a flush if I haven't had a full meal before. But, the flush goes away quickly and doesn't really bother me (I know it is cleaning my arteries).

You can buy niacin over the counter, but I have gotten my Dr to give me a prescription and it is much cheaper. Slow release is called Niaspan and immediate release is called Niacor. I only pay $5/ month.

Ruth, you are right about getting liver enzymes tested while on niacin. It is important to get it checked on a regular basis.

As with any medication or supplement, they should be monitored. I learned while taking a supplement, that the level can accumulate and be beyond the therapeutic range and cause bodily harm. My vitamin E level was way too high at one point.

Here is what Mayo Clinic says about the damage Niacin can do to the body (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high...):

"What side effects are associated with taking high doses of niacin?

High-dose niacin can cause stomach upset and make your skin flush or itch. More importantly, niacin can increase your risk of:

• Bleeding
• Diabetes
• Infection
• Liver damage
• Stroke"

I am NOT saying not to take it. I am just saying that I learned that my doctors need to be aware of all my supplements/vitamins/minerals that I take and that some of the levels need to be monitored so they don't cause more harm than good.

I take a garlic supplement and that dropped my cholesterol by around 200 points!

bc101, you should be sure to ask for the complete cholesterol test including particle number. Total cholesterol doesn't tell you much.

Did you know that as women age, high cholesterol is associated with longer life?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/women-cholesterol-medication_b_1219496.html

Wow, Zogo. Very interesting!

CP,my recently retired GP made me promise that I would continue to see a GP, not a PA or NP, for my annual physicals and any medical concerns other than nuisance things (sore throats, UTIs etc.).

When I refused statins over 3 years ago, I researched lipidologists. One of the high profile ones online happened to be an hour from my house. I went to see Dr Tara Dall at Advanced Lipidology. It took me months to get in and I was told she would only see you once a year. The rest of the appts were with her NP who I have several issues with. Tara has since left the practice and I'm thinking about leaving, as well. It is so hard to find a good doctor!

Ruth! I LOL'd on that one. Thanks for the chuckle. I have very few (if any) doctors I put on a pedestal. My Ob that delivered my babies, one of my kids pediatricians, and my plastic surgeon for DIEP. All the others I seem to find something wrong with. Our insurance changed a few years ago and I had to change all of my doctors. I asked everyone I felt comfortable asking about recommending a good doctor. Even then, I still am not happy with the doctors I have. In 2 weeks I have an appointment with a Naturopath Doctor. It will be interesting to see what she says.

I had slightly elevated HDL and triglycerides so I started in red yeast rice. That did work for me, bringing my levels down modestly. Still, I had to have periodic liver function tests to make sure the RYR wasn't doing liver damage. Then I was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm and my HDL/trig levels had risen a little, so I thought the wise thing was not to take any more risk and just take a statin. Either way I had to have liver function tests. So I take 10mg of a statin and it has totally taken care of my levels. It was worth it for me. BTW, I have no side effects. .