Low Vitamin D3 and link to Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Cathytoo
Cathytoo Member Posts: 667
edited October 2016 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

LOW VITAMIN D3...This morning I've been reading about the link between vitamin D3 and breast cancer, especially TN. Studies are now showing that low levels indicate poor survival. Anyone have similar info? I was dangerously low at the time of my diagnosis and have not been able to raise the level to a moderate range which worries me. i'm currently taking 2,000 IU daily but my level is still low at 19. Would really appreciate any feedback.

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  • Lisey
    Lisey Member Posts: 1,053
    edited October 2016

    Cathy, I take 15,000 IUs daily.. you are way under dosing IMO.

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  • Cathytoo
    Cathytoo Member Posts: 667
    edited October 2016

    Lisey...I actually agree with you. My MO told me 1,000 which I knew was too low.

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  • Kayrem
    Kayrem Member Posts: 164
    edited October 2016

    Hi Cathy-I started taking 2000 IU daily around 5 years ago and my levels went barely above normal. I never got tested before that so I never had a baseline. I accidentally (a different supplement I was taking had some that I was not accounting for) started taking close to 3000 IU about 2 years ago and at the next blood test my levels went up a bit higher. I told the doctor about it and he said do not drop back, keep taking it. I now take 3000 IU in vitamin Dsupplements and get an additional 200 IU from a calcium supplement. I have not been tested for a while (I will ask for the rest at my next appt) but I am pretty sure my level will still be on the low side of normal.

    It takes time but if you bump it up to 3000 IU of D3 and get retested 6 months from now I am sure you will see an improvement. I would also try and eat wild caught salmon 2 times a week. I stopped doing that (and exercising) for a while and my cholesterol and lipids went sky high. I think the "natural" vitamin D from these products is absorbed better.

    Unfortunately you will find that you may have to make some decisions on your own with respect to supplements. I went to a naturopath Doctor to get their take on stuff and he gave me a vitamin E supplement. There is no way I was going to take that after I got home and researched it a bit. Good luck.


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  • Cathytoo
    Cathytoo Member Posts: 667
    edited October 2016

    Kayrem...yesterday my internist prescribed a 50,000 IU pill to take once a week for 4 weeks. If a blood test doesn't show an increase then I need to take for another 4 weeks. Hope this works. Of course, I'll be taking a supplement forever. Seven years ago another doctor told me I was low (7). He did tell me to take 1,000 IU daily but never retesting me or told me of the dangers of low vitamin D. I was still 7 at the time I was diagnosed with TN. Even now, being at 19 my MO only said to take 1,000 IU daily, which I'm aware now isn't enough. Doesn't give me much confidence in him. I'm actually thinking of switching to another MO

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  • chef127
    chef127 Member Posts: 891
    edited October 2016

    According to all the research I've done on vitD3 it is a critical part of good health and balance for all. Mine was never tested till I was dx'ed with BC. My D3 was a low 17.

    I was also dx'ed with a neurologic disorder pre BC which may be due to low D3 but was never tested. I took it upon myself and started mega dosing @ 25,000 iu daily and my D3 did climb to 69+. I take 2,000iu + vitK2 daily which helps to absorb the D3 til my next D3 test to maintain the level and if it drops again I start the 25,000iu again.

    I spent 7 days sun bathing recently and my level did rise to 84, highest level yet, which for me means more sun. Sunning 10-20 min a day between 10am and 2pm with as much skin exposed as possible without sunscreen. Not easy in winter in the north east. You even absorb D3 through your eyes.

    I've been told by my dr that too much vit D is not good and I've read that a 100+ is a necessary level for some conditions. I would like my D3 level as high as I can get it. Talk to your dr about a mega dose to get your level to an acceptable #. It is, IMHO, crucial.

    Good Luck

    xoxMaureen

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  • Kayrem
    Kayrem Member Posts: 164
    edited October 2016

    Hi - found this on Science Daily.

    https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/1605...

    Pretty interesting how important Vitamin D is for us

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited October 2016

    my vitamin D level has been low for years. I've been taking 50000 IU weekly for about 5 years. Only once was my blood level above 30. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer my vitamin D was 19, despite taking 50000 units weekly. I just had another vitamin D level drawn last week and it is up to 23 now. I guess I'll hang in there and see if it will eventually come on up.

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  • chef127
    chef127 Member Posts: 891
    edited October 2016


    Kayrem,

    Thanx for the article about vitD3. I can't understand why drs really don't know the importance D3. My drs almost never bring it up and they don't add it to blood work unless I insist on checking it.

    Maureen

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  • Kayrem
    Kayrem Member Posts: 164
    edited October 2016

    This one is important for me but it shows how Vitamin D management is more than a one dose (one size) fits all!

    http://www.ascopost.com/issues/june-25-2013/vitami...


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  • Kayrem
    Kayrem Member Posts: 164
    edited October 2016

    One more article and then I am done!

    https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/1604...

    My level was at 42 ng one year ago. It took me 2 years at 3000 IU daily to get me there. I am curious to see where it is now.



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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2016

    Hi Kayrem,

    Pardon me but I just noticed inyour history profile that you went thru a CEF-Paclitaxol regimen in 2011. i am just curious how it went for you. i am just asking because my MO is about to put me thru 6 FEC sessions with a 3-Wk interval but i also want Paclitaxel added to my regimen. i've recently read in an article on www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, entitled "Systemic Treatment Strategiesfor TNBC" by BS Yadav, that a Paclitaxel addition to FEC improves the 7yr DFS(Disease-Free Survival) rate from 56% to 74% from 171 tnbc cases. This study was started in 2010 accdg to table 2 shown in that article. I can see from your history profile that you've had radiation in 2012 & surgeries in 2013 (prophylactic, which i think there was a probability of recurrence to you) but of course, each case is unique. The fact is you are still active after five years (2011-2016). it is amazing. i would appreciate any feedback/advice on your experience. We might have a common thing

    here's the link. i hope you find it interesting too. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC40147...

    hi cathy, seems likewe've been bumping on each other from thread to thread. i am much interested in vit d3 but i am afraid i still have no knowledge about it. gonna try and read the links given here.

    thank you and God bless my friends.

    gmmiph


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  • Kayrem
    Kayrem Member Posts: 164
    edited October 2016

    Hi gmmiph - yes I did FEC-D back in 2011. I did 3 FEC cycles and 3 doxetaxol. So 6 cycles in total. This is a pretty common regime in Canada I believe. When are you starting? You can private message me if you want and we can talk more. I will try and post more info - just no timeright now. Talk to you soon.

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