10 TX in and new info from onc????

bfkh2t
bfkh2t Member Posts: 16
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Hi I'm mostly just venting here, but opinions/ thoughts are always welcome.  I went in for my 10th treatment today and the nurse (who has been on vacation and I just met for the first time a few days ago) looked at my chart and asked if I was still taking the vitamins and supplements listed.  I told her yes and she asked if my doc knew and what she had said.  I told her yes the doc knows and she didn't say anything to me about them, eventhough she went through them one by one. (though the truth is that when she asked why I was taking turmeric and I told her that I read it was good for fighting cancer she rolled her eyes and said "whatever").

 The nurse then told me that she was going to have me see the other RAD ONC today (b/c mine is on vacation).  He then pulled me into his office and asked again if my doc had advised me on the vitamins and supplements.  I told him that no, she hadn't said anything.  He then said that "in theory" radiation works by oxidizing the cancer cells and that antioxidants can work against the rad.  He said that they have no clear data one way or the other, but they generally advise against use of antioxidants during radiation...

Which I KNEW because I did a lot of research beforehand.  HOWEVER, I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THEY DECIDED THAT THIS WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO TELL ME AFTER 10 TREATMENTS!!!!  I am so thankful that I have researched ahead of time and feel comforatable with my decisions because if I relied solely on the docs I'd have been screwed long ago!!!! 

Thanks for letting me rant!!  Peace and good vibes to all out there!

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  • snowyday
    snowyday Member Posts: 1,478
    edited July 2008

    I was asked not to take any anoxidants while on rads because it can effect the way it will work in your body, That was one thing they really stressed with.  So I stopped for rads, but really missed them.  But they had me scared shitless of taking them.  What did you find that made you realized it was okay to take your supplements, just curious. Now I'm wondering if I got the run around AGAIN!

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  • bfkh2t
    bfkh2t Member Posts: 16
    edited July 2008

    Hi Snowyday:

    I have read info by Dr. Russell Blaylock in his book called Natural remedies for cancer patients.  Hi is an MD that believe that docs have it ALL wrong when they tell their patients not to use antioxidants.  I have also read it in a book my sis got me called Beating Cancer with Nutrition by Patrick Quillin. Both argue that the antioxidants help keep healthy tissue from being destroyed.

    My question as a nonmedical person (but quite logical one) is if the antioxidants are not strong enough to kill the cancer than how are they strong enough to effect the rads and how are the rads strong enough to kill the cancer???  The rad onc I saw today said that there is no conclusive evidence either way, so I'm going for doing everything I can to help my immune system stay strong through this mess. 

    BTW I hope no one blasts me for this, I realize that my opinion is considered unorthodox by many and I'd never suggest to anyone else that they do anything they're uncomfortable with. I was just shocked that if this was SO important that it wasn't brought up day 1 when I came in for my consult with my list of vitamins and supps.Foot in mouth

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  • donnajrn
    donnajrn Member Posts: 154
    edited July 2008

    Interesting you should talk about curcumin.  I did a lot of research and found a lot of information about curcumin.  One person called it the Asian aspirin.  It is amazing what it seems to do.  Several large cancer centers have been researching it.  Looks like it is a protectant against breast, colon and pancreatic cancer. (maybe even alzheimers) If you look at the statistics of cancer in India where they use a lot of tumeric you will find it very low.  Some radiation oncologists tell patients it is okay to use, and as a matter of fact one person that had bad skin reactions during the rads was able to clear it up in 3 days.  I asked on the John Hopkins web page and she said not to use it.  I asked 2 of the radiation oncologists at the place where I get my treatments.  Looks like there is not enough research out there to say it is okay to use during rads, and definitely not during chemo.  I started taking it before I started my treatments (had to order it on line), but did stop during my therapy, but have all intention of restarting it when my radiation is completed.

    Donna

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