vitamins

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laurissa
laurissa Member Posts: 773
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Do any of you take vitamins? I wasn't told to. If so, what do you take?

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  • Taina
    Taina Member Posts: 166
    #2
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    no vitamins
    While i was on chemo treatment i was told by my oncologist not to take vitamins.
    i just started radiation last week which is the same to no vitamins while treatment.
    they don't want the cancer cells feed from vitamins.
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #3
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    My doctors didn't want me
    My doctors didn't want me taking vitamins during treatment either. The onc started me on multi vitamin after radiation was over.
  • Cat64
    Cat64 Member Posts: 1,192
    #4
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    Laurissa
    My Onc said no vitamins right now also. Your hair looks so adorable short!
    Hugz,
    Cathy
  • aurora2009
    aurora2009 Member Posts: 544 Member
    #5
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    Cat64 said:

    Laurissa
    My Onc said no vitamins right now also. Your hair looks so adorable short!
    Hugz,
    Cathy

    No vitamins for me either
    I'm still waiting for my Vitamin D test levels to come back also, and after I see my onco on the 28th, I'll be starting the Tamoxifen, so thats when I'll ask her if it's time to start taking them.

    Aurora
  • Wolfi
    Wolfi Member Posts: 425
    #6
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    No vitamins on radiation
    My doctor also told me to not take ANY vitamins during radiation. We don't want to make the cancer cells healthier.

    I can tell that I haven't had vitamins for a while because I feel tired and kind of blah (although much of it may be due to radiation). It also makes me nervous when many people around me (mostly at work and in stores) have colds and I can't even dose up on vitamin C or zinc to stop myself from getting sick. I try to clean off my work area often and have hand sanitizer at my desk.
  • mbalder
    mbalder Member Posts: 31
    #7
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    Wolfi said:

    No vitamins on radiation
    My doctor also told me to not take ANY vitamins during radiation. We don't want to make the cancer cells healthier.

    I can tell that I haven't had vitamins for a while because I feel tired and kind of blah (although much of it may be due to radiation). It also makes me nervous when many people around me (mostly at work and in stores) have colds and I can't even dose up on vitamin C or zinc to stop myself from getting sick. I try to clean off my work area often and have hand sanitizer at my desk.

    HELP
    Girls your all scaring me. My Onc. prescribed me a Multi Vitamen and Vitamen C. I did 1 round of chemo and have 7 more to go. How do the vitamens feed cancer cells?
  • Tux
    Tux Member Posts: 544
    #8
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    mbalder said:

    HELP
    Girls your all scaring me. My Onc. prescribed me a Multi Vitamen and Vitamen C. I did 1 round of chemo and have 7 more to go. How do the vitamens feed cancer cells?

    You are scaring me, too!
    You are scaring me, too! I've finished rads & nothing was ever said about no vitamins--I continued to take them throughout. If I had known, I would have asked, but it is too late now.
  • mbalder
    mbalder Member Posts: 31
    #9
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    Wolfi said:

    No vitamins on radiation
    My doctor also told me to not take ANY vitamins during radiation. We don't want to make the cancer cells healthier.

    I can tell that I haven't had vitamins for a while because I feel tired and kind of blah (although much of it may be due to radiation). It also makes me nervous when many people around me (mostly at work and in stores) have colds and I can't even dose up on vitamin C or zinc to stop myself from getting sick. I try to clean off my work area often and have hand sanitizer at my desk.

    Sorry my Chemo Brain is
    Sorry my Chemo Brain is kicking in, I meant Vitamins not with an e.
  • cindycflynn
    cindycflynn Member Posts: 1,132 Member
    #10
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    I'm taking a multi vitamin & calcium
    But I haven't started treatment yet. Just had my lumpectomy on Monday.
    I did tell my surgeon what I was taking and they haven't said I should stop. We'll see what the medical oncologist has to say.
  • Marlene_K
    Marlene_K Member Posts: 508
    #11
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    cindycflynn said:

    I'm taking a multi vitamin & calcium
    But I haven't started treatment yet. Just had my lumpectomy on Monday.
    I did tell my surgeon what I was taking and they haven't said I should stop. We'll see what the medical oncologist has to say.

    Yes, SCARY for sure!
    I have asked my oncologist many questions about vitamins and supplements, as I have always been a strong believer in them. I also am a strong believer in "Airborne" which is a great 'pick-me'up' if I feel I am coming down with something. I planned to ask about that on my next visit right before starting chemo. It's hard to comprehend that something good for you could be bad. I'm so used to taking vitamins and with all this talk about being tired, I'm scared silly about not taking them. I've also read recently that women that take calcium with breast cancer have deterred the spread to the bones. OMG... there's just so much to take it, my head hurts, lol!
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #12
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    Marlene_K said:

    Yes, SCARY for sure!
    I have asked my oncologist many questions about vitamins and supplements, as I have always been a strong believer in them. I also am a strong believer in "Airborne" which is a great 'pick-me'up' if I feel I am coming down with something. I planned to ask about that on my next visit right before starting chemo. It's hard to comprehend that something good for you could be bad. I'm so used to taking vitamins and with all this talk about being tired, I'm scared silly about not taking them. I've also read recently that women that take calcium with breast cancer have deterred the spread to the bones. OMG... there's just so much to take it, my head hurts, lol!

    No vitamins during treatment
    My rads oncologist said NO to any vitamins during my rads. You do not want your cells to get plump and healthy by the vitamins, not your good cells or your cancer cells. So, ask your rads oncologist and oncologist before you continue taking them.

    Sue :)
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #13
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    I was told no vitamins, but
    I was put on 1200mg calcium with 1000IU D3 because I have osteopena. I was diagnosed with the osteopena before BC so I am wondering about the low D theory. But was absolutely told no vitamins! My Onc said that if we are eating as healthy as we can, no need for any extra anyway. ♥Pammy
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #14
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    Akiss4me said:

    I was told no vitamins, but
    I was put on 1200mg calcium with 1000IU D3 because I have osteopena. I was diagnosed with the osteopena before BC so I am wondering about the low D theory. But was absolutely told no vitamins! My Onc said that if we are eating as healthy as we can, no need for any extra anyway. ♥Pammy

    No vitamins for me during
    No vitamins for me during rads. Like everyone wrote, you don't want to feed the cancer cells and make them stronger. You want the radiation to kill them.

    Debby
  • roseann4
    roseann4 Member Posts: 992 Member
    #15
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    mbalder said:

    HELP
    Girls your all scaring me. My Onc. prescribed me a Multi Vitamen and Vitamen C. I did 1 round of chemo and have 7 more to go. How do the vitamens feed cancer cells?

    They don't feed the cancer.
    Most oncologists do not want us to take anti-oxidents while on treatment because they say they can protect the cancer cells as well as the good cells. I have done a TON of reading on the subject and some experts say it doesn't protect the cancer cells at all. I was told I could take a multi vitamin but no herbs or anti-oxydents. Some will say that vit c feeds the cancer cells but based on my extensive reading on the subject it is not clear that it works that way. Cancer cells are sugar feeders. In fact, that's how they identify cancer on a PET scan. They inject radio active sugar and watch where it goes. Many scientists now believe that vitamin C fools the cancer cells because there is something in the make-up that mimics sugar. The cancer cells absorb it but these scientists believe it does not have the same reaction in the cells as sugar. Many believe it has positive healing effects and helps to destroy the cancer in the cell. It is SO confusing. There seems to be evidence on both sides. It is very frustrating that the research on vitamins and nutrition is so indecisive at least where doctors are concerned. Go back to your doc for clarification. Don't be afraid.

    Roseann
  • natly15
    natly15 Member Posts: 1,941
    #16
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    DebbyM said:

    No vitamins for me during
    No vitamins for me during rads. Like everyone wrote, you don't want to feed the cancer cells and make them stronger. You want the radiation to kill them.

    Debby

    I'm calling my onc today. He
    I'm calling my onc today. He briefly mentioned that I didnt need vitamins just folic acid. We didnt get into any discussion. I take prenatal vitamins plus folic acid for thalassemia trait, which is an inherited red cell condition. Wow the last thing I want to do is feed a cancer cell. Yikes
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #17
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    My oncologist told me to
    My oncologist told me to take Vitamin D3 and Calcium. I have taken these through chemo. I will ask at my appointment about taking vitamins during radiation. I have read here that many doctors do not recommend it.
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #18
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    MyTurnNow said:

    My oncologist told me to
    My oncologist told me to take Vitamin D3 and Calcium. I have taken these through chemo. I will ask at my appointment about taking vitamins during radiation. I have read here that many doctors do not recommend it.

    Took none
    I was told to not take any vitamins at all during rads, and, I didn't. And, after it was explained to me why not to, it made a lot of sense.

    Leeza
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #19
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    DebbyM said:

    No vitamins for me during
    No vitamins for me during rads. Like everyone wrote, you don't want to feed the cancer cells and make them stronger. You want the radiation to kill them.

    Debby

    What was that? lol
    I love your picture Debby! That witch really goes fast! lol

    Sue :)

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