Is anyone taking supplements for prevention?

uh...hi!  i have been using flaxseed everyday on my cereal...who knows if it will help - all i know is that i don't want to go through this nightmare again....

CoQ10

There do not seem to be any good studies even the D3 that really look at preventing metastatic disease or recurrence which may be different biological

events than primary BC. There are even some studies that suggest supplements feed the tumor. Not one of the major CAM sites-like Sloan or MDA suggests any supplements are proven for BC. met prevention. It seems that MDA has backed away from curcumin for BC. EXercise for ER+ and low fat probably for both seem to have the most research based outcomes. Yes, the ER_ seemed to benefit from low fat most, but it was a close call that ER+ did not. Beth

I was diagnosed with LCIS in December; this week I met with a nutritionist at our Cancer Care Center regarding diet and supplements. I am not convinced I want to go on tamoxifen or evista and have put bilateral mastectomy on the back burner. I've decided to exercise more, eat healthier, and add the following to my diet (okayed by the nutritionist): Multiple vitamin daily; Calcium w/vitamin D daily; Omega 3 tablet daily; and home-ground flax seed one tsp daily for the omega and lignan benefits. I've researched this LCIS condition in and out the kazoo; talked to several doctors with differing opinions and have decided to tackle this on my own at the moment. Perhaps in 6 months or so I may try the Evista the surgeon recommended I go on, but if side effects interfere with my quality of life, the drug is history. So for now, it's a positive attitude and more veggies in my life!

Hi all, there is a doc in Texas that had a bad reputation because the FDA was trying to put him out of business and then his patients (who were by the way get amazing results with some of the toughest cancers!) rose up and the state pulled back their complaints on him (and that is clearly stated in the Board of Medical Examiners in Texas).  Anyway he has a supplement that I am never without - it is pricey but if you read his website (as well as his data) you will see that it can possibly be another alternate supplement it called  Aminnocare and his name is Dr. Burzinski.  Don't let the negative press put you off until you read the most recent - where it has been acknoledge that the FDA and the State of Texas was trying to put him under (you know there is a business in CANCER) because his treatment at the supplement level has been shown to be helpful.

Also, In Japan, China other Asian countries there is a mushroom supplement that is considered a chemo - it has been around for centuries and is added to the chemo as a norm.  It is Coriolus.. it must be the Coriolus that is hot water extracted and apparently it boosts the immune so that your body can fight the cancer better as well as keeping you strong.

I use both on a daily basis - this looks expensive on the surface, however with all the things that we knock out of our diets because of fear of cancer you will be surprised that your budget is not that badly hit!!

Best

Deirdre

I was told by my oncologist to be careful with anything that mimics estrogen if you are ER+/PR+.  Flaxseed is the best dietary source for substances called lignans. Lignans are classified as phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) because they seem to mimic the action of estrogen in the body.  There is so much controversy on this subject............

This post caught my attention from the main index page.  I haven't posted in this section before because I was already a bc patient when I found bc.org three+ years ago. 

I finished rads and started tamoxifen around the same time.  Been battling fatigue ever since, and it's been over 2 years.  Now I'm in a huge learning curve regarding thyroid issues, and I've come across several holistic doctors who are touting the benefits of iodine supplements.  Apparently the medical community is deeply divided on this topic.  

I'm still in the process of deciding whose information I believe.  Perhaps some of you here might want to take a look also.  One author in particular, Dr Derry, has written a book suggesting deficiencies in iodine is linked to breast cancer.  I'm not saying he's right or wrong, but y'all can read and make your own decisions and at least be aware of a potential alternative for prevention.  There's a lengthy thread in the alternative/complementary section about iodine.  Most of us who hang out in that section are bc veterans, but anyone on this thread is certainly welcome to join in the discussion.  

Oh, and btw, I've been eating ground flaxseed for breakfast since last May.  Not the most exciting breakfast menu, but there are so many benefits associated with flaxseed.  I too have concerns about the phytoestrogens and my er/pr+ status.  I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.  I'm not sure where I've read it, but I found information at the time stating that plant estrogens are less potent than our own body's estrogen and I believe even er/pr+ ladies can benefit because the plant esters bind to the receptors before the real estrogen, thus negating some of the risk associated with estrogen binding with the receptors.  Hope that made sense and I hope I remembered the information correctly.  

bumping

I'm a registered nurse and you would think i'd be head over heels to follow traditional treatment...but like many of you research has been my drive these days since diagnosis in February.

note; I have a family history as well. sister and 1st cousin diagnosed at age 32. I have tried to do things to be proactive in discouraging breast cancer growth. using Natural progesterone cream, no birth control pills, and low alcohol use...

but cancer struck and was found in my body at age 43, though small tumor and scoring only a 7 on the oncotype dx.

I am using CoEnzyme Q 10 (200mg twice daily) though I will probably be instructed to quit it when I start radiation in about 10 hours from now.

I just started Turmeric (curcumin)

Ground Flaxseed with oatmeal for breakfast

I appreciate all shared information of the supplements everyone is using for prevention

Please take a look at this!

DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK IN THE POST ABOVE FROM RACHEL5236.

THIS IS SPAM!  He (yes, Rachel is a he) is a known spammer who's only objective is to make money off cancer patients by having them visit his website.  DON'T GO THERE, EVEN OUT OF CURIOSITY, since it will just encourage this scumbag to continue to spam the BC.org website. 

And please click on REPORT THIS COMMENT in Rachel's post if the comment has not yet been deleted by the Community.

Marian,

I appreciate your comment on the FDA...I've never heard it said any better...it saddens me and sometimes I know mistakes from the med profession are made in hopes of finding a better treatment or cure..and I'm grateful for all the research and knowledge base we have, even though some, like your father, have suffered ill effects because of trial and error. His sufferings sadden me as well.

by the way...my radiation oncologist ok'd all my supplements even CoQ10...I'm so glad.

best Too!

Stacey,

I enjoyed Dr. Weil's article...very good reason.

other good sites too:

http://www.turmeric-curcumin.com/

http://www.chelationtherapyonline.com/GarryGordon/KarlLorenResearch/p43.html

http://margaret.healthblogs.org/life-with-myeloma/discovery-of-curcumin/curcumin-and-radiation-pesticides-and-other-hazards/

I didn't realize that turmeric/curcumin could help with the estrogen problem....coooool!

I I took a lot of vitamins pre-cancer and decided that if it didn't prevent it, it may not prevent recurrence.

II take the minimum stuff....calcium/vitamin D, alpha lipoic acid (to help lower blood sugar), and B-complex (for offset on wine drinking).

well, I don't think we can expect these vitamins to be some kind of miracle drugs.  It might be worth discussing what we're also eliminating from our diets and lifestyles. And what kind of things we're doing to strengthen our immune systems, including physical and psychological strategies.