Optimizing the odds of avoiding cancer recurrence: Go jogging in your Speedo or bikini!

SandiaBuddy
SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
edited June 2017 in Colorectal Cancer #1

Optimizing the odds of avoiding cancer recurrence: Go jogging in your Speedo or bikini!

I have been looking around, mostly on pubmed ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ ), for non-chemotherapy strategies to reduce cancer recurrence and mortality.  To avoid an overlong post, I will summarize very briefly the information I have found, with hopefully a link to one supporting study.  If the topic interests you, I encourage you to go to pubmed and read more.  Of course, all of this information is from my perspective only and you should use it as a springboard for discussion with your doctor or your own research.

Vitamin D: One of the most surprising results of my research was the impact of vitamin D on colorectal cancer recurrence and mortality.  One article reports, “Freedman et al demonstrated in one of the largest prospective studies including 16,818 participants that CRC mortality was inversely related to serum 25(OH)D level. Individuals with serum levels of 50-80 ng/mL and > 80 ng/mL had a relative risk of CRC mortality of 0.44 and 0.28, respectively. ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4419060/ ) That is a 72% reduction in colorectal cancer mortality for those with a serum 25(OH)D level of 80-100ng/mL!

The research on vitamin D levels is solid, but there are some indications that the vitamin D levels may be protective, rather than a form of treatment.  Also, simply taking a vitamin D supplement may not be enough, there is some indication that the greatest benefit comes from exposure to the sun.  That’s why jogging in your Speedo or bikini may be good for you!

Serum vitamin D levels apparently increase slowly, over weeks or months.  On a personal basis, I had my vitamin D level tested and it was 29 ng/mL, surprising to me because I do a lot of outdoor activities in a sunny climate.  My goal, needless to say, is to raise the level to more than 80 ng/mL.  I have not started jogging in a Speedo yet, but I have stopped using sunscreen and I wear shorts and take my shirt off on my daily walks.  Think of that, a potential 72% reduction in colorectal cancer mortality–way more than you get from Oxaliplatin–for the cost of some
embarrassment, sunburn (and potentially an increased risk of skin cancer–but the colorectal cancer would probably get me before the skin cancer).  See also: http://www.impactjournals.com/oncotarget/index.php?journal=oncotarget&page=article&op=view&path[]=16597&path[]=53092

Exercise: The second part of my title–go jogging in your Speedo, is exercise.   For a high level of exercise (more than 9 hours per week) there’s a 23 to 63% increase in overall survival and more than 50% increase in CRC free survival, let’s just call it an easily justified 50%.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3150459/  See also, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4922494/

Coffee: Have a cup of coffee, better yet four or more, before or after your jog in your Speedo.  Solid research demonstrates that consuming 4 or more cups of coffee a day resulted in a 52% reduction in overall mortality. http://ascopubs.org/doi/pdf/10.1200/JCO.2015.61.5062

The Bone Zone: Along with vitamin D, described above, I found a cluster of supplements I generally relate to bone and joint health, have a cancer fighting component as well. 
       Calcium and milk: A higher intake of calcium leads to reduced mortality by 38 to 41%. One study noted, “postdiagnosis total calcium intake was inversely associated with all-cause mortality (relative risk [RR] for those in the highest relative to the lowest quartiles, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.53-0.98; Ptrend = .02) and associated with marginally statistically significant reduced colorectal cancer-specific mortality (RR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.33 to 1.05; Ptrend = .01). An inverse association with all-cause mortality was also observed for postdiagnosis milk intake (RR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.55 to 0.94; Ptrend = .02), but not vitamin D intake.”   In that study, calcium intake was over 1156 milligrams a day.  So take a couple of calcium pills with a glass of milk (or a healthy dose of cream in your coffee) after your Speedo jog.  http://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2014.55.3024?utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=J_Clin_Oncol_TrendMD_0&utm_source=TrendMD
       Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM: Another popular supplement usually associated with bones and joint pain is Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM.  So far, the studies I have mentioned deal with the recurrence of colorectal cancer.  Unfortunately, I could not find any that dealt with recurrence with these supplements, but there are studies dealing with the initial occurrence of colorectal cancer, plus what I call “test-tube” studies that were generally favorable.  One study said, “Any use of glucosamine and chondroitin, which have anti-inflammatory properties, over the previous 10 years, was associated with significantly lower . . . CRC risk: HR: 0.73 (95% CI: 0.54, 0.98) and HR: 0.65 (95% CI: 0.45, 0.93), respectively. There were also statistically significantly inverse associations of fish oil: HR: 0.65 (95% CI: 0.42, 0.99), methylsulfonylmethane (MSM): HR: 0.46 (95% CI: 0.23, 0.93). . . with CRC risk. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2814533/  Let’s just guess that a combined  Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM supplement could give you a 35% reduction in colorectal cancer.
       Aspirin: After your run in your Speedo, you might be feeling a bit sore and want an aspirin.  Go ahead and take it.  After initially promising research about aspirin, it seems its effect is limited to certain types of colorectal cancer.  Early studies showed a 50%+ improvement, but a 2017 publication said, “In the three studies, median (maximum) follow-up was 5.1, 5.8 and 7.5 years, respectively. 3,033 incident CRC cases were identified in Study 1, 3,174 in Study 2, and 12,333 in Study 3. Current use of low-dose aspirin was associated with a significantly reduced risk of 34%, 29% and 31% in the three studies, respectively; corresponding RRs (95% CIs) were 0.66 (0.60-0.73), 0.71 (0.63-0.80) and 0.69 (0.64-0.74).” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27428004  I have no in-depth information about my type of cancer, so I am taking a reduced dose aspirin daily, and a full dose aspirin on the many days I am sore (jogging in a Speedo takes some effort at my age), so let’s just say aspirin gives a 30% increase.
       Vitamin K: I do not know much about Vitamin K, but to my understanding it falls within the “bone zone,” supplements that are generally related to bone and joint health.  The results about the influence of vitamin K on colorectal cancer are preliminary and mostly based on “test-tube” studies, but they are encouraging and I include a vitamin K supplement in my regime.  http://www.reuters.com/article/us-vitamin-k-idUSTRE62U4VO20100331
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/91/5/1348.full
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4449879/

Tree nuts: After your jog, you may also want to enjoy a handful of tree nuts.  Eating two servings of tree nuts a week resulted in a 42% increase in disease free survival and a 57% increase in overall survival in a recent study.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4560032/
   
Multivitamins: Along with your lunch, why not take a multivitamin/mineral supplement.  I found no reported studies on the impact of multivitamins on the recurrence of colorectal cancer, but I found support for about an 8% reduction in initial occurrence of colorectal cancer.  It is probably worth it, just in case. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25335850

Folate (Vitamin B9): Have some Brewer’s Yeast.  At lunch time I drink KAL Brand Fortified Brewer’s Yeast Flakes.  I admit, it is temporarily as miserable as having an Oxaliplatin infusion, but the horrible taste soon passes.  This product is rich in many B vitamins and trace minerals including Folic Acid.  Having a high level of serum Folate (Vitamin B9) is linked to a 25% reduced risk of recurrence of colorectal cancer ( http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0300060516650075 ) and a 50% reduction in initial occurrence of colorectal cancer ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4981802/
) A deficiency in folate is a special problem for people who drink alcohol, and low folic acid makes them particularly susceptible to colorectal cancer. (
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/133/11/3731S.full ) People who drink alcohol (that’s me) have an increased risk of a folic acid deficiency.  If you are going to enjoy your evening glass of wine, some Brewer’s Yeast at lunch may help.

Diet: What you eat has impact on your risk of recurrence.  Looking only at initial occurrence of colorectal cancer, a pesco-vegetarian diet (vegetarian diet plus fish) produces a 43% lower rate of cancer compared to a non-vegetarian diet.  ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4420687/ ) For colon cancer recurrence, a “Western diet” characterized by high intakes of meat, fat, refined grains, and dessert was 3.25 times more likely to lead to recurrence as opposed to a “prudent diet” characterized by high intakes of fruits and vegetables, poultry, and fish. (  http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/208423 ) I have adopted a pesco-vegetarian diet to optimize my odds.

Curcumin/Quercetin/Reservatol: There’s a packet of plant derived products that show great promise in both helping with chemotherapy and acting alone to attack cancer.  The problem is that the research is very preliminary and deals mostly with test tubes and rats.  Nonetheless, there is justification in considering supplementing your regime with these chemicals. 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5386596/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3837545/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3836443/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5411934/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5104244/
https://www.omicsonline.com/open-access/anticancer-activities-of-resveratrol-in-colorectal-cancer-0974-8369-1000317.php?aid=76773&view=mobile

Wine: After a long day of exercise and sun-tanning, you may be tired.  Enjoy a vegetarian dinner made with Turmeric (curcumin) and then have a glass or two of wine.  Although alcohol consumption may be related to the initial incidence of colorectal cancer, having one or two drinks a night (especially of red wine) is related to a lower recurrence of CRC, and in at least one 2017  article, an 11% better overall survival and disease free survival. http://abstracts.asco.org/199/AbstView_199_193741.html

Melatonin: Once you head to bed, consider some melatonin.  One study says 20 mg. of melatonin reduces chemotherapy side effects and increases one year survival rate by 23.85% (general cancer, not colorectal specific).  Melatonin is absorbed in the colon, an area that may have been compromised by surgery or cancer. Supplementing with melatonin seems promising, but has not yet been studied much.  But it is part of my regime.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22271210

Please let me know what supplements and strategies you have found to increase your odds.  I have found that my doctors say nothing about these issues, yet there is solid evidence that lifestyle strategies and supplements can make a big difference in one’s chances of colorectal recurrence and mortality.  This is my life we are talking about and I am very serious about learning all I can to stay alive.  Let me know what you have learned.

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Comments

  • Cindy225
    Cindy225 Member Posts: 172 Member
    edited June 2017 #2
    Go Jogging!

    Hi SandiaBuddy - Great read!!!  Have been doing many of the above recos before I was dx with rectal cancer but that said continuing to do them after chemo. Have been a runner so just now getting back into it but have been walking continuously.  Given chemo increases sunburn have been lathering the sunscreen as it is still in my system for a month.  I am a 12+ year survivor of melanoma so also mindful of those risks. My Onc has encouraged vitamin D as well as running for overall exercise.  Still managing the ileostomy so careful about core exercises due to risk of getting a hernia. He poo-poo'd glucosamine but I still take it for my joints. Great if it helps against recurrence!  He also downplayed tree nuts/butter as it goes with a healthy lifestyle which overall improves survivability but I'm globbing almond and cashew butter on my english muffins. Enjoying third cup of coffee now so on that path!  Just need to drink tons of water to counteract too much of it! Have been relaxing with 1-2 glasses of wine in the evening on off chemo weeks but since just learning NED (for now) enjoying a bit of champagne instead. Laughing

    Thanks for shaing your links to various research papers.  It's encouraging... now time to go running!  

    Cindy

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    Thank you so much for taking

    Thank you so much for taking the time to condence this information and for sharing it with us! When I was at the cancer weekend in the fall they were really extolling the virtues of exercise, too. I think I'm going to try the Brewer's yeast but I'm going to take a capsule. I just can't do some kind of yucky drink. I'm a gagger. I have a hard time drinking plain water. For some reason it tastes like wet rocks to me. But I have to drink a big glass of it once a week to take my pill for my parathyroid. Your list really gives us something to think about!

    Jan 

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    edited June 2017 #4
    Cindy225 said:

    Go Jogging!

    Hi SandiaBuddy - Great read!!!  Have been doing many of the above recos before I was dx with rectal cancer but that said continuing to do them after chemo. Have been a runner so just now getting back into it but have been walking continuously.  Given chemo increases sunburn have been lathering the sunscreen as it is still in my system for a month.  I am a 12+ year survivor of melanoma so also mindful of those risks. My Onc has encouraged vitamin D as well as running for overall exercise.  Still managing the ileostomy so careful about core exercises due to risk of getting a hernia. He poo-poo'd glucosamine but I still take it for my joints. Great if it helps against recurrence!  He also downplayed tree nuts/butter as it goes with a healthy lifestyle which overall improves survivability but I'm globbing almond and cashew butter on my english muffins. Enjoying third cup of coffee now so on that path!  Just need to drink tons of water to counteract too much of it! Have been relaxing with 1-2 glasses of wine in the evening on off chemo weeks but since just learning NED (for now) enjoying a bit of champagne instead. Laughing

    Thanks for shaing your links to various research papers.  It's encouraging... now time to go running!  

    Cindy

    Congratulations!

    Cindy:  Congratulations on the NED!  It is great to hear that your strategies are working.  I raise an (imaginary) glass of champagne to you!

    Initially I did not have wine with chemo, but after reading about it, I see no harm--maybe someone will enlighten me.  If the wine opens up the small capillaries and carries the chemo further, wouldn't it be beneficial?  I know the medical community is awfully conservative about alcohol, so the advice is generally against it, but what is the basis of that advice?

    Hopefully we can all learn more from one another.

    Buddy

     

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    JanJan63 said:

    Thank you so much for taking

    Thank you so much for taking the time to condence this information and for sharing it with us! When I was at the cancer weekend in the fall they were really extolling the virtues of exercise, too. I think I'm going to try the Brewer's yeast but I'm going to take a capsule. I just can't do some kind of yucky drink. I'm a gagger. I have a hard time drinking plain water. For some reason it tastes like wet rocks to me. But I have to drink a big glass of it once a week to take my pill for my parathyroid. Your list really gives us something to think about!

    Jan 

    Brewer's yeast

    The capsule makes real sense.  The powder is really unpalatable.  But I am a creature of habit and have grown accustomed to it--maybe its a bit like vegemite.

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member

    Brewer's yeast

    The capsule makes real sense.  The powder is really unpalatable.  But I am a creature of habit and have grown accustomed to it--maybe its a bit like vegemite.

    Vegemite? What the heck is

    Vegemite? What the heck is that stuff, anyway? Are you located in Australia? Ha ha! I'll try things that are easy and don't cost much. Can't hurt.

      

  • beaumontdave
    beaumontdave Member Posts: 1,280 Member
    Well I'm hitting about 95% of

    Well I'm hitting about 95% of all those things, starting with a couple cups of coffee in the morning. I was doing the multivitamin, baby aspirin, simvastatin, melatonin, beer every third day or so, I work outside most of the time in sunny SoCal, and it's physical stuff, with using an eliptical on the side for cardio. These were things I was doing at or just after diagnosis back in Sep. 2007, and I still had two reoccurances in my liver, so they don't guarantee anything, but maybe my cancer would have spread to a much greater degree had I not been doing them. I improved my diet with more fruit and veggies, less dairy[but I still love cheese on things]. Recently I've added the chondroitin/glucosamine for joints, milk thistle for liver health, almonds and walnuts for snacks. The multivitamin has 100% of daily folate required, along with whatever green veggie I'm having so I think I'm covered there. I read that one study suggested too much folate had risks as well, so I don't supplement more than what I'm already taking. Same with vitamin K which has a DV percentage of 38% in the vitamin and is present in the green leafy stuff. So I am following almost all the stuff on your list and am closing in on 3 years NED. The other point to note is I had one tumor in my sigmoid section, and haven't had a single polyp since, so perhaps the regimen helped there. I aim for fish and chicken with an occasional spurge of a cheeseburger or steak. So there you have my program, which I feel pretty good about, without feeling deprived of life's good stuff........................................Dave

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    Nothing

    I've never been a person to take supplimemts, so I take nothing but my thyroid meds.  I'm 3 years NED. 

    Tru

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    I have a friend who has been

    I have a friend who has been a vegetarian for over 30 years and she also tried very hard to be Vegan. She's had cancer. And I've mentioned before about our friend's horse that had a huge colon tumour. He never ate meat, I can guarantee that. So I really don't put much stock in the diet part other than to not eat a bunch of crap or processed stuff.  

  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    I don't metabolize D from sun exposure

    My D levels were low until I started taking high doses of D3.  Sun exposure doesn't help me.  Of note, my sisters also have low D-levels.  One is a farmer, always out in the sun, the other lives in Hawaii - always out in the sun.  Thus I think that we have a familial tendency towards low D levels.  We all have to take supplements to normalize D levels.  (Oh, and the prescription D2 of 50,000 units once or twice a week does nothing for me either.  I require D3, and take 10,000iu/day under my dr's supervision.)

  • Joan M
    Joan M Member Posts: 409 Member
    Thank you for sharing your research

    It's good to see all these great resources summarized in one post!  I have taken some of these supplements, and will work towards the exercise in the sun.  My Vitamin D levels are low, and have been taking supplements but probably need to switch to a different form.  Low vitamin D levels have been linked to several  health problems, including dementia.   

  • NewHere
    NewHere Member Posts: 1,427 Member
    Been Doing It For Years

    Optimizing the odds of avoiding cancer recurrence: Go jogging in your Speedo or bikini!

    All it does it gets me weird looks or psych evaluations.  May switch to a Speedo next time :)

    My oncologists mentioned many of the things, with the big ones being the aspriin and exercise as the most bang for the buck.  Meaning they said many things can help with improvements, but make sure to take the aspirin and exercise.  They also cautioned about adding supplements during chemo and even after - for the former due to counteracting chemo and the later to overdoing any good thing it too much.  

    Coffee is a food group for me so when I read about that awhile ago I was happy :)   My PCP is always big on vitamin D also and checks me for that even before this all happened.  You could tell for sure what time of the year it was (or whether I spend substantial time away in sunny places scuba diving) based on the results.  

    Another reason for people who smoke to give it up - it adversely affects Vitamin D 

    https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/does-cigarette-smoke-exposure-affect-vitamin-d-status/

    https://www.aaaai.org/global/latest-research-summaries/Current-JACI-Research/cigarette-smoke-vitamin-D3

  • Bellen
    Bellen Member Posts: 281 Member
    Aspirin and avastin questi

    Would aspirin still be recommended for anyone having chemo + avastin? Avastin causes me to have bleeding gums, nose bleeds/scabbing, and I believe bloody phlegm.  I think it may even cause clotting issues.  

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    Joan M said:

    Thank you for sharing your research

    It's good to see all these great resources summarized in one post!  I have taken some of these supplements, and will work towards the exercise in the sun.  My Vitamin D levels are low, and have been taking supplements but probably need to switch to a different form.  Low vitamin D levels have been linked to several  health problems, including dementia.   

    Vitamin D

    Joan:  Some of the most recent information says that taking a vitamin D pill is not enough.  My assumption is that means one needs to get at least some from the sun.

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    Aspirin

    I just saw a new oncologist and he brought up the bleeding issue and said I should not take aspirin during the chemo.  When I told him I already did, he said obviously bleeding was not an issue, so I could continue.  But with your issues, it sure sounds like it would not be a good idea.  Of course, the oncologist would be the source of the best advice.

  • beaumontdave
    beaumontdave Member Posts: 1,280 Member
    Bellen said:

    Aspirin and avastin questi

    Would aspirin still be recommended for anyone having chemo + avastin? Avastin causes me to have bleeding gums, nose bleeds/scabbing, and I believe bloody phlegm.  I think it may even cause clotting issues.  

    Aspirin effects are totally

    Aspirin effects are not totally understood yet, I've read. It doesn't directly thin blood like other compounds, they say it makes blood "slippery" The wife took Avastin and nothing was said about aspirin at the time. Being it's main job is to cut off blood supply to tumors, I don't believe Avastin is the culprit with your side effects. Either way, I'd skip aspirin until your clear of chemo. Studies say aspirin has to be taken over a long period for anti-cancer properties to be realized, maybe 5 years or more................................................................................Dave

  • Tunadog
    Tunadog Member Posts: 235 Member
    Last time I saw my Oncologist..

    He told me to keep taking Aspirin 81 mg

    I'm on Xeloda and Avastin 

  • PamRav
    PamRav Member Posts: 348 Member
    edited June 2017 #18
    Thanks

    SandiaBuddy for another great post.   Are you taking all these supplements while on chemo or waiting till you're  finished?   I just started round one of four mop up chemo flofiri and avastin.  After I'm finished with these I think I'll start with some of the supplements.  I've been on vit d for years, drink coffee, and love me some wine. I've been an active person but certainly can stand to boost that up.   I must say the thought of me running in a bikini?...in public???....that just makes death not so scary!lol

     

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    edited June 2017 #19
    PamRav said:

    Thanks

    SandiaBuddy for another great post.   Are you taking all these supplements while on chemo or waiting till you're  finished?   I just started round one of four mop up chemo flofiri and avastin.  After I'm finished with these I think I'll start with some of the supplements.  I've been on vit d for years, drink coffee, and love me some wine. I've been an active person but certainly can stand to boost that up.   I must say the thought of me running in a bikini?...in public???....that just makes death not so scary!lol

     

    speedo

    Well, I actually do not run in a speedo.  Actually, I do not run.  But on sunny days I wear shorts and take off my shirt in the open space areas (but not in the neighborhood).  I am on capecitabine and I am taking all the supplements.  It seems they have helped take some of the edge off the chemo.  Some people have voiced concerns about the antioxidants protecting the cancer cells and I do know there is some research on this particulalry anti-oxidant vitamins.  One of the stregnths of the curcumin/reservatol/grape seed extract group is that they are supposed to actually make the chemotherapy more effective.  For example, "Curcumin is nontoxic in nature and has been proposed to increase the therapeutic efficiency of chemotherapeutics as it inhibits ABC transporter function and increases the oral bioavailability of chemotherapeutics.11 Curcumin is being used as an antioxidant since the ancient times.8,12 Recently it has been shown that curcumin inhibits tumor growth by inhibiting cell cycle progression or by inducing apoptosis; by inhibiting angiogenesis, the expression of antiapoptotic proteins, multiple cell survival signaling pathways and their cross-communication; and by modulating immune responses.7,13,14 Curcumin induces the initiation of both p53-dependent and p53-independent G2/M phase cell cycle arrest,13,15–17 thereby restricting cell proliferation and tumor progression."  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28435333

    I have not gone back and added the grape seed extract, so I will just post some information on that here pending my getting time to edit the original post:

    Grape seed extract:

    Promising: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25280404
    Test tube: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4977641/
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4217504/
    Mice: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3710656/
    Generic: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5248468/
    Preventative, test tube: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2728696/

     

  • NewHere
    NewHere Member Posts: 1,427 Member
    edited June 2017 #20

    Aspirin effects are totally

    Aspirin effects are not totally understood yet, I've read. It doesn't directly thin blood like other compounds, they say it makes blood "slippery" The wife took Avastin and nothing was said about aspirin at the time. Being it's main job is to cut off blood supply to tumors, I don't believe Avastin is the culprit with your side effects. Either way, I'd skip aspirin until your clear of chemo. Studies say aspirin has to be taken over a long period for anti-cancer properties to be realized, maybe 5 years or more................................................................................Dave

    Slippery Regarding Heart

    Aspirin helps impair platelets (clots) from forming by preventing them from clumping (essentially slippery, a great description), while other things (heparin) slow the bodies reaction of doing things that result in clots forming.  The drugs are all kind of similar/related.

    In heart attack situations what happens is the plaque from fats build up.  When the plaque tears off, the body thinks it is a wound and tries to seal it off by forming platelets.  When the platelets form a big enough clump, blood cannot pass through.  Making the platelets slippery helps stop a clot from forming. For a bit Foot in Mouth  So if you ever have signs or symptoms of heart attack, call 911 and chew an aspirin in most cases.  People should speak to their Doc about that. In some cases such as stomach bleeding history or allergic reactions, it may not be the proper move.  And people should chew the aspirin.  While some aspirin is uncoated, many are designed with coatings to slow down release in the stomach.  You want it to get into your system as quick as possible.  Needs to be aspirin, not Tylenol or Advil.

    As to cancer side, you got me, no idea why it works as anti cancer drug Foot in Mouth  I am not sure if I started aspirin during chemo or waited until after, but chemo would seem to trump the anti-cancer potential of aspirin and definate call from oncologist if bleeding issues.   Kind of a bummer about the 5 year build up time on aspirin.  I wonder if I take a bottle a day it would build up quicker Sealed (joking of course)

    EDIT:  Not sure what is what happening with the weird emojis. Used standards ones and they look standard when typing, when posted they looked weird.

     

    EDIT 2: After posting first edit, they changed.  They are now cat images if you blow them up.  Too funny

  • mysweetheartrusty
    mysweetheartrusty Member Posts: 19

    Well I'm hitting about 95% of

    Well I'm hitting about 95% of all those things, starting with a couple cups of coffee in the morning. I was doing the multivitamin, baby aspirin, simvastatin, melatonin, beer every third day or so, I work outside most of the time in sunny SoCal, and it's physical stuff, with using an eliptical on the side for cardio. These were things I was doing at or just after diagnosis back in Sep. 2007, and I still had two reoccurances in my liver, so they don't guarantee anything, but maybe my cancer would have spread to a much greater degree had I not been doing them. I improved my diet with more fruit and veggies, less dairy[but I still love cheese on things]. Recently I've added the chondroitin/glucosamine for joints, milk thistle for liver health, almonds and walnuts for snacks. The multivitamin has 100% of daily folate required, along with whatever green veggie I'm having so I think I'm covered there. I read that one study suggested too much folate had risks as well, so I don't supplement more than what I'm already taking. Same with vitamin K which has a DV percentage of 38% in the vitamin and is present in the green leafy stuff. So I am following almost all the stuff on your list and am closing in on 3 years NED. The other point to note is I had one tumor in my sigmoid section, and haven't had a single polyp since, so perhaps the regimen helped there. I aim for fish and chicken with an occasional spurge of a cheeseburger or steak. So there you have my program, which I feel pretty good about, without feeling deprived of life's good stuff........................................Dave

    beat himself up for getting cancer

    hi beaumontdave, My husband was very active and had a healthy lifestyle before his stage IV CRC dx too. he was so upset wondering what he could have done to prevent it...but I told him the same thing: it may have been much worse if he hadn't been so careful before. He has really bounced back well from his surgeries too which I contribute to him taking such good care himself.