Metformin

chachacha
chachacha Member Posts: 25
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
I just read that Metformin has been seen to slow down the progress of certain cancers, including endometrial cancer. Has anyone had any experience with this. Metformin is a drug that has been used to control insulin with diabetics..

Comments

  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #2
    Metformin
    I just started using this drug for persistant insulin resistance. If you read the research closely, I believe it shows improved results for people who have diabetes, but not much benefit to patients who don't have this condition. I've heard it has other cancer fighting properties, but have not seen the research regarding this. I believe that if you have blood sugar issues, you will benefit from the drug. But if you do not, there will be little benefit in taking it. I'm on it now because my naturopath and I have been working hard to resolve my insulin resistance for over two years, to no avail. It is known for causing GI issues in patients, and being on only half a dose, I can attest to that. :)
  • chachacha
    chachacha Member Posts: 25
    #3
    Tethys41 said:

    Metformin
    I just started using this drug for persistant insulin resistance. If you read the research closely, I believe it shows improved results for people who have diabetes, but not much benefit to patients who don't have this condition. I've heard it has other cancer fighting properties, but have not seen the research regarding this. I believe that if you have blood sugar issues, you will benefit from the drug. But if you do not, there will be little benefit in taking it. I'm on it now because my naturopath and I have been working hard to resolve my insulin resistance for over two years, to no avail. It is known for causing GI issues in patients, and being on only half a dose, I can attest to that. :)

    User of Metformin
    Hi Tethsy,
    I have been using Metformin for 2 years now to regulate my blood sugar. I am hypoglycemic. In researching Metformin two days ago, I found out that the cancer community has discovered added uses for this drug which include using it to slow down the growth of cancer cell in several types of cancers including endometrial cancer. I was fascinated by this and wondered if anyone else has seen this research. It seems lie the cancer community is looking at this very carefully.
  • chachacha
    chachacha Member Posts: 25
    #4
    Tethys41 said:

    Metformin
    I just started using this drug for persistant insulin resistance. If you read the research closely, I believe it shows improved results for people who have diabetes, but not much benefit to patients who don't have this condition. I've heard it has other cancer fighting properties, but have not seen the research regarding this. I believe that if you have blood sugar issues, you will benefit from the drug. But if you do not, there will be little benefit in taking it. I'm on it now because my naturopath and I have been working hard to resolve my insulin resistance for over two years, to no avail. It is known for causing GI issues in patients, and being on only half a dose, I can attest to that. :)

    User of Metformin
    Hi Tethsy,
    I have been using Metformin for 2 years now to regulate my blood sugar. I am hypoglycemic. In researching Metformin two days ago, I found out that the cancer community has discovered added uses for this drug which include using it to slow down the growth of cancer cell in several types of cancers including endometrial cancer. I was fascinated by this and wondered if anyone else has seen this research. It seems lie the cancer community is looking at this very carefully.
  • chachacha
    chachacha Member Posts: 25
    #5
    chachacha said:

    User of Metformin
    Hi Tethsy,
    I have been using Metformin for 2 years now to regulate my blood sugar. I am hypoglycemic. In researching Metformin two days ago, I found out that the cancer community has discovered added uses for this drug which include using it to slow down the growth of cancer cell in several types of cancers including endometrial cancer. I was fascinated by this and wondered if anyone else has seen this research. It seems lie the cancer community is looking at this very carefully.

    Link to Metformin info
    http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/243718.php/
  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #6
    chachacha said:

    Link to Metformin info
    http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/243718.php/

    Metformin
    Thanks for the feedback. Yes, it looks like a promising drug. But I tend to think there is no silver bullet that will help everyone. It's the imbalances in your body that will determine whether this or that treatment will be of benefit to the patient. Sure, if you are hypoglycemic, you certainly ought to benefit from it. My naturopath seems to think that Metformin, combined with diet and other supplements, will reset my insulin resistance, and I should not need to take it indefinitely. Time will tell.
  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #7
    Tethys41 said:

    Metformin
    Thanks for the feedback. Yes, it looks like a promising drug. But I tend to think there is no silver bullet that will help everyone. It's the imbalances in your body that will determine whether this or that treatment will be of benefit to the patient. Sure, if you are hypoglycemic, you certainly ought to benefit from it. My naturopath seems to think that Metformin, combined with diet and other supplements, will reset my insulin resistance, and I should not need to take it indefinitely. Time will tell.

    Metformin Update
    Well, I was on 1/3 dose for two and a half days, and had to stop taking it. The GI issues kicked in with a vengence. My naturopath, coincidentally, is attending a conference, where an MD presented on Metformin. He said that for people with a sensitivity to the drug, they have to start very slowly, 100mg twice daily. I plan to start that tomorrow. I was taking 500mg the few days I took it, and the side effects were way too harsh. It seems that starting on a very low dosage, until you know how it affects you, is an important approach.
  • nerwin
    nerwin Member Posts: 2
    #8
    I'm not sure if it is the
    I'm not sure if it is the Metformin that attacks cancer (and I haven't read any articles) or if it is that it controls the sugar. Cancer cells love sugar and keeping it down will slow the growth.
  • barOMan
    barOMan Member Posts: 3
    #9
    Tethys41 said:

    Metformin Update
    Well, I was on 1/3 dose for two and a half days, and had to stop taking it. The GI issues kicked in with a vengence. My naturopath, coincidentally, is attending a conference, where an MD presented on Metformin. He said that for people with a sensitivity to the drug, they have to start very slowly, 100mg twice daily. I plan to start that tomorrow. I was taking 500mg the few days I took it, and the side effects were way too harsh. It seems that starting on a very low dosage, until you know how it affects you, is an important approach.

    My wife is starting on Metformin
    Hi Tethys41,
    I am searching for long term users of metformin that are not diabetic and used it for the anti cancer activity. Did you continue using it for a long time? Did you continue having side effects? did it help you?
    My wife is going to start using it after being on Olaparib for more than a year. She was diagnosed 5 years ago and had 2 chemo courses and the Olaparib. Now CA125 is growing and we are looking for an adjuvant that will prolong the time till she needs her next chemo course.
    Any thoughts?
    Thanks
    B
  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #10
    barOMan said:

    My wife is starting on Metformin
    Hi Tethys41,
    I am searching for long term users of metformin that are not diabetic and used it for the anti cancer activity. Did you continue using it for a long time? Did you continue having side effects? did it help you?
    My wife is going to start using it after being on Olaparib for more than a year. She was diagnosed 5 years ago and had 2 chemo courses and the Olaparib. Now CA125 is growing and we are looking for an adjuvant that will prolong the time till she needs her next chemo course.
    Any thoughts?
    Thanks
    B

    Metformin
    B,
    My naturopath tells me that for non-diabetics Metformin is intended to be a brief treatment, not long term. Frankly, I see consistantly remarkable results with integrative therapies, even for patients who have been receiving chemo for long periods of time. There are many options available, but I have learned that working with a skilled naturopath is the way to go. These therapies address specific deficiencies in the body. Therefore, you can randomly choose to use one type or another, but if the body doesn't have that imbalance, it will be of little benefit; just like giving cholesterol medication to someone trying to resolve high blood pressure. You need to identify the problem(s) and follow up with the appropriate integrative treatment. Things like Iscador (mistletoe), high dose IV vitamin C, and even Metformin show remarkable results, only if they are given according to the patient's specific needs.
    My Metformin experience was quite brief, 2 1/2 days. Turns out I'm one of the few who just can't tolerate it. My naturopath has an alternative to it, which I tolerate quite well. It is supposed to be equally as effective, but cannot be taken by patients who are on chemo. If you're interested in more information, feel free to send me a private message.
    Good luck!
  • Lynne24
    Lynne24 Member Posts: 1
    #11
    Tethys41 said:

    Metformin
    B,
    My naturopath tells me that for non-diabetics Metformin is intended to be a brief treatment, not long term. Frankly, I see consistantly remarkable results with integrative therapies, even for patients who have been receiving chemo for long periods of time. There are many options available, but I have learned that working with a skilled naturopath is the way to go. These therapies address specific deficiencies in the body. Therefore, you can randomly choose to use one type or another, but if the body doesn't have that imbalance, it will be of little benefit; just like giving cholesterol medication to someone trying to resolve high blood pressure. You need to identify the problem(s) and follow up with the appropriate integrative treatment. Things like Iscador (mistletoe), high dose IV vitamin C, and even Metformin show remarkable results, only if they are given according to the patient's specific needs.
    My Metformin experience was quite brief, 2 1/2 days. Turns out I'm one of the few who just can't tolerate it. My naturopath has an alternative to it, which I tolerate quite well. It is supposed to be equally as effective, but cannot be taken by patients who are on chemo. If you're interested in more information, feel free to send me a private message.
    Good luck!

    Metformin
    Could you give me the alternative to Metformim that your naturopath recommended,
    I would greatly appreciate it.

    Thanks,
    Lynne24
  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #12
    nerwin said:

    I'm not sure if it is the
    I'm not sure if it is the Metformin that attacks cancer (and I haven't read any articles) or if it is that it controls the sugar. Cancer cells love sugar and keeping it down will slow the growth.

    From what I've seen
    The Metformin regulates the sugar imbalance, in a patient who has sugar issues, and that is the benefit.

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