Thank you...

hummingbyrd
hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
to all who replied regarding dietary supplements. Whether you agree or not my main concern is patient awareness at this time.
Granted the 12 supplements they are pulling may be dangerous and that's great that they are looking out for the public. My concern is, as patients, we apparently think we know certain substances help our body heal. A lot of us take the same things, so I'm thinking there must be something to this, otherwise we wouldn't all be so consistent. Now I'm speaking of vitamins (which can be toxic if taken in excess). Most of us seem to agree on CoQ10, green tea, vitamins A,C & E, calcium, etc. So, if in general the same supplements keep showing up why aren't they doing large clinical studies to test these supplements?
Besides that, I find it hard to believe any supplement has much more of a worse side effect than chemotherapy.
The point is traditional medicine poo-poo's dietary supplements as being really effective. They keep saying further studies need to be done to prove safety and efficacy, but they are slow, basically not doing studies involving nutrition, at least not compared to the trials of chemo, etc. Only 1% of the money set aside by the federal government goes toward alternative med studies.
The article can be found in USA Today - 12 Dangerous Dietary Supplements Identified by 'Consumer Reports'
I have no problem with the ones they are pulling, however I am concerned with the statement...
'...the National Institutes of Medicine says flat out that the FDA doesn't need direct evidence of human harm to stop the sales of dangerous supplements. It's enough to establish the danger using animal or test-tube studies, or even with reports of problems from similar products.'

I am concerned about that statement! Personally I don't want to lose something like CoQ10, it's an antioxident similar to green tea. If they suspect Q10 has 'dangerous side effects' are they going to pull green tea also? Food for thought ladies.
hummingbyrd

Comments

  • mssue
    mssue Member Posts: 242
    #2
    Ms Hummingbyrd,

    My hats off to you(just don't look,Ha HA). Really your contributions are always enlightening.Please keep us posted and thank you for your courage and stamina.You're a great Lady-GOD BLESS YOU!

    w/love
    Sue
  • maggs
    maggs Member Posts: 164
    #3
    mssue said:

    Ms Hummingbyrd,

    My hats off to you(just don't look,Ha HA). Really your contributions are always enlightening.Please keep us posted and thank you for your courage and stamina.You're a great Lady-GOD BLESS YOU!

    w/love
    Sue

    Hi, Hummer! Thanks for the update on the USA Today article. I will try to find it. We are so fortunate to have you looking out for us! Hope you are having a happy Spring break this week. Happy Easter, too! You are wonderful!!!
  • lindatn
    lindatn Member Posts: 229
    #4
    Hummer, How I agree with you on dietary supplements. Also a nice wonderful letter. Is that arm healing that you can type easier? We are all praying for you. How is your brother? I think of him often with a husband with prostate cancer hopefully controlled with vitamins and herbs. Linda

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