Breast Cancer and low Vitamin D
Can someone tell me how low Vitamin D is associated with Breast Cancer. I am on 5,000 mg. gel pill onced a week and PC doc is going to increase it more. I forgot to ask the nurse when she called to how much more. I was on 5,000 mg. before I knew I had Breast Cancer. Probably had it then but did not know. Anybody else that has had or have Breast Cancer have you had to take vitamin D and what is the reason for. I appreciate your responses. Hugs, Pixie
Comments
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Vitamin D
Please let us know what they tell you when you call them about it tomorrow. I was prescribed 1200 mg per day by my Onc.....because it helps you absorb Calcium...and all women over 40 need Calcium Citrate for their Bones. Our Bones are super important for the bone marrow making our blood or something like that .... I've never heard of a Vit D Gel pill and never heard of only 5000 mg per week either. We have to be sure to take the Calcium Citrate and not the Carbonate............
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why do we have to take theGlowMore said:Vitamin D
Please let us know what they tell you when you call them about it tomorrow. I was prescribed 1200 mg per day by my Onc.....because it helps you absorb Calcium...and all women over 40 need Calcium Citrate for their Bones. Our Bones are super important for the bone marrow making our blood or something like that .... I've never heard of a Vit D Gel pill and never heard of only 5000 mg per week either. We have to be sure to take the Calcium Citrate and not the Carbonate............
why do we have to take the calcium ctirate and not carbonate, glow more? where did you learn about it?
I found this at http://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/features/calcium-supplements-pills
Osteoporosis Health Center
Confused About Calcium Supplements?
Experts share their advice about what to consider when choosing a calcium supplement.By Gina Shaw
WebMD FeatureReviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MDAre you getting enough calcium in your diet? Maybe not, especially if you're a woman or a teenage girl. Although Americans have improved at this in recent years, we're still not getting enough calcium to maintain our bone health.
How much is that? It depends on your age. According to the Institute of Medicine, the recommended daily amount of calcium to get is:
- 1-3 years: 700 milligrams daily
- 4-8 years: 1,000 milligrams daily
- 9-18 years: 1,300 milligrams daily
- 19-50 years: 1,000 milligrams daily
- 51-70 years: 1,200 milligrams daily for women; 1,000 milligrams daily for men
- 71 and older: 1,200 milligrams daily
The Institute of Medicine says that most in the U.S. get enough calcium, except for girls 9 to 18 years old. Although women’s recommended calcium needs to increase with menopause, postmenopausal woman taking supplements may also be at greater risk of getting too much calcium.
"We know that peak bone mass occurs around age 30, so it's very important in childhood and adolescence to have a healthy intake of calcium early on," says Marcy B. Bolster, MD. She is a professor of medicine in the division of rheumatology and immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina and director of the MUSC Center for Osteoporosis and Bone Health.
"After age 30, we start to gradually lose bone, and that loss accelerates for women at the time of menopause. So it's very important to stave off bone loss with adequate calcium intake."
Your health care provider may recommend calcium supplements. But with so many choices of calcium supplements, where should you start? Here's what you need to know.
What kind of calcium supplement should you take?
"I tell my patients to take the kind that they tolerate best and is least expensive," Bolster says. She says she recommends calcium carbonate because "it's inexpensive, won't cause discomfort, and is a good source of calcium."
Some people's bodies may have problems making enough stomach acid, or may be taking medications that suppress acid production. For them, says J. Edward Puzas, MD, a calcium citrate supplement might be better because it "dissolves a little better than calcium carbonate for these people." Puzas is a professor of orthopedics and director of orthopedic research at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York."
But I guess I will ask my docotors about this and see what they say.
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Calcium Citratecinnamonsmile said:why do we have to take the
why do we have to take the calcium ctirate and not carbonate, glow more? where did you learn about it?
I found this at http://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/features/calcium-supplements-pills
Osteoporosis Health Center
Confused About Calcium Supplements?
Experts share their advice about what to consider when choosing a calcium supplement.By Gina Shaw
WebMD FeatureReviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MDAre you getting enough calcium in your diet? Maybe not, especially if you're a woman or a teenage girl. Although Americans have improved at this in recent years, we're still not getting enough calcium to maintain our bone health.
How much is that? It depends on your age. According to the Institute of Medicine, the recommended daily amount of calcium to get is:
- 1-3 years: 700 milligrams daily
- 4-8 years: 1,000 milligrams daily
- 9-18 years: 1,300 milligrams daily
- 19-50 years: 1,000 milligrams daily
- 51-70 years: 1,200 milligrams daily for women; 1,000 milligrams daily for men
- 71 and older: 1,200 milligrams daily
The Institute of Medicine says that most in the U.S. get enough calcium, except for girls 9 to 18 years old. Although women’s recommended calcium needs to increase with menopause, postmenopausal woman taking supplements may also be at greater risk of getting too much calcium.
"We know that peak bone mass occurs around age 30, so it's very important in childhood and adolescence to have a healthy intake of calcium early on," says Marcy B. Bolster, MD. She is a professor of medicine in the division of rheumatology and immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina and director of the MUSC Center for Osteoporosis and Bone Health.
"After age 30, we start to gradually lose bone, and that loss accelerates for women at the time of menopause. So it's very important to stave off bone loss with adequate calcium intake."
Your health care provider may recommend calcium supplements. But with so many choices of calcium supplements, where should you start? Here's what you need to know.
What kind of calcium supplement should you take?
"I tell my patients to take the kind that they tolerate best and is least expensive," Bolster says. She says she recommends calcium carbonate because "it's inexpensive, won't cause discomfort, and is a good source of calcium."
Some people's bodies may have problems making enough stomach acid, or may be taking medications that suppress acid production. For them, says J. Edward Puzas, MD, a calcium citrate supplement might be better because it "dissolves a little better than calcium carbonate for these people." Puzas is a professor of orthopedics and director of orthopedic research at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York."
But I guess I will ask my docotors about this and see what they say.
For one thing I take the Citrate because my Oncologist told me to.....and being an Oncologist he should know...... thanks for the link and the link usually is enough....we can go there and read it ourselves.
I wouldn't worry too much about it if I were you. I am guessing that you have been Diagnosed with Breast Cancer or you would not be here? BC is enough to worry about....taking Calcium is pretty minor.
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I am prescribed 50,000 iu weekly
I was told there is a link btwn, bc and low vitD. I have bone mets, my vit D levels were low, and am hypo thyroid (removed right b4 mets dx), and it helps the bones, guess you cant take too much. I also take sublingual vit b12, 1000 daily. Trust my endocrinologist and onconon this one.0 -
5,000 dailycamul said:I am prescribed 50,000 iu weekly
I was told there is a link btwn, bc and low vitD. I have bone mets, my vit D levels were low, and am hypo thyroid (removed right b4 mets dx), and it helps the bones, guess you cant take too much. I also take sublingual vit b12, 1000 daily. Trust my endocrinologist and onconon this one.I am on 5,000 daily and we have been checking vitamin D level every 3 months. Please ask your oncologist to run blood work to determine your current level. I think 5,000 weekly is a very low dose. good Vit D level is between 50 - 80.
I am taking Ca citrate too, as Glow I read that it better absorbed, however many supplements have ca carbonate too
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Thank all of you for your reponses
Cinn, thanks so much for your link in chat room and info on board. Everyone else thank you also for info. I still yet cannot get it in my head what low vitamin D has to do with breast cancer. It scares me. HUGS, Pixie
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Supplements
I find this all very interesting, and I sometimes wonder if I got bc from all the years I used sunscreen and avoided the sun. I live in Europe and the doctors here seem to frown on using supplements. I keep asking them about calcium and Vitamin D but they tell me not to take anything, esp vitamins (they say it will feed cancer cells). So I eat 3-4 dairy products daily and exercise in the sun almost every day. So far, no osteoporosis but I still wonder sometimes as I'm on tamoxifen.
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My doc said she doesn't
My doc said she doesn't bother to test for low Vit D because everyone seems to have it. She said to go ahead and take 2000 IU.
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Vitamin D improves immune systemPixie Dust said:Thank all of you for your reponses
Cinn, thanks so much for your link in chat room and info on board. Everyone else thank you also for info. I still yet cannot get it in my head what low vitamin D has to do with breast cancer. It scares me. HUGS, Pixie
Vitamin D improves immune response
Please do not be scared asked for blood test and identify a correct dose of daily or weekly vitamin D for you
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I have two non-cancerous butGlowMore said:Calcium Citrate
For one thing I take the Citrate because my Oncologist told me to.....and being an Oncologist he should know...... thanks for the link and the link usually is enough....we can go there and read it ourselves.
I wouldn't worry too much about it if I were you. I am guessing that you have been Diagnosed with Breast Cancer or you would not be here? BC is enough to worry about....taking Calcium is pretty minor.
I have two non-cancerous but dangerous lung conditions (I lost 15% of my lower left lung to a mass of them) that require me on high dose prednisone for most of the year (which includes the tapering off). Because of this, I have the beginnings of osteoporosis (confirmed by the scan), so I am on Vit D (for low levels) and Calcium, and Allendronate. I consider it important. I have been in remission from bc since 1/11/11.
I have an inquisitive mind and like to know the why's about some things, although I do realize there are some things I just won't know why, but if I can find out the reasons behind stuff, I love the learning aspects. I like to know more than "because they told me to" if I can. Just being inquisitive. Like I said, I love learning.
I learned in 2012 during some lab work that my Vitamin E level was too high while I was taking Vitamin E pills. Now, I make sure that my levels get checked for vitamins or minerals I maybe taking. It is possible to take too much.
Very interesting topic to bring up, Pixie!!! I am glad you brought this up!
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Vitamin DNew Flower said:5,000 daily
I am on 5,000 daily and we have been checking vitamin D level every 3 months. Please ask your oncologist to run blood work to determine your current level. I think 5,000 weekly is a very low dose. good Vit D level is between 50 - 80.
I am taking Ca citrate too, as Glow I read that it better absorbed, however many supplements have ca carbonate too
New Flower. are you on prescription vitamin D. My doctor has raised it to 10,000 units weekly and I have to go back in for labs in 3 weeks. He does not what to raise it all at one time. I do not know yet what he wants to raise it to because it was one of his nurses that called me and told me she had called my prescription into pharmacy. I was told though by doc one time Vitamin D is better by prescription than OTC. Are you taking precription or OTC. What about everybody else taking Vitamin D. Just wondering because Vitamin D OTC is alot more cheaper. Wishing all Vitamin D sisters well. Maybe I am dwelling on this to much. HUGS, Pixie
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Hi PixiePixie Dust said:Vitamin D
New Flower. are you on prescription vitamin D. My doctor has raised it to 10,000 units weekly and I have to go back in for labs in 3 weeks. He does not what to raise it all at one time. I do not know yet what he wants to raise it to because it was one of his nurses that called me and told me she had called my prescription into pharmacy. I was told though by doc one time Vitamin D is better by prescription than OTC. Are you taking precription or OTC. What about everybody else taking Vitamin D. Just wondering because Vitamin D OTC is alot more cheaper. Wishing all Vitamin D sisters well. Maybe I am dwelling on this to much. HUGS, Pixie
Hi Pixie,
usually I am taking OTC Vitamin D3 softfels 5,000 IU. if my D3 is low 30-35 or after ilness like flu or shingles I am taking Rx 50,000 weekly to boost it up to a recommended level, which is between 50 -80 for breast cancer survivor/patient. I agree with you oncologist to trust Rx more, however it is more expensive. Everyone is different, however you need to incease your dose for sure. I live in California and always thought I should have enough sun to keep my levels normal. After we sstarted from 1,000 daily and found out that it did not work for me (bllod test was showing low). Then step by step we found my dose. You need to find your optimal dose and good supplement.
Keep us posted.
Hugs
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About the cost...
You may want to check the prices. I found I was paying a 10. co-pay per month for 4 vit D, 50,000 iu. Then I found I could go to Cost-co and I can pay cash instead of going thru my ins. for rx and I now get 16 pills and it runs about $17. And I dont use my insurance at all.
I was paying $40 using my ins benefits. So it saves me about $23 every 4 months, or $92 for the year.
Found that Costco was cheaper than Wal-mart and my ins. I have found that checking the cash price vs. ins benefits jas saved me so much on most all my meds by shopping around.
Takes a little time, but financially worth the effort.
Hugs,
Carol0 -
optimum Vit D level article
I got my vit D level back this morning, I'm at 52, which according to this article, http://vitamind3-cholecalciferol.com/optimum-vitamin-d-level/, I'm at an optimum level. I've been taking 2000 units a day of OTC D3 from CVS pharmacy for several months.
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Vitamin D
Hi Pixie Dust:
Ok. As you know, I am from the uterine board, but several months ago I was tested for my Vitamin D. It was a 14. So I was prescribed 50,000 units x2 a week for 4 weeks and then once a week after that I finished the prescription and went on. Retested and numbers went to 46. Was done with the prescription. However, recently, my new PCP ordered the test. This time it was a 26 and my PCP ordered 1000 units daily.
Vitamin D helps relieve inflammation When I took the mega dose, a lot of my little achyness went away. It also helps with the kidneys. I found out that decreased Vitamin D can cause kidney problems. My kidneys have recently been causing problems which led to increased blood pressure for now I am taking medicine. Now my B12 is messed up and my PCP says although it is within limits, it is the lower end and she wants me to take a daily dose of it. Now I was ordered a bone density scan and found out I now have moderate Osteoporosis. (I am 54 years old) My PCP wanted me to take some treatment but it causes stomach problems and a bunch of other stuff which I am already experiencing so I said no. I don't want to take the extra Calcium either because my calcium levels are normal.
Vitamin D is essential for the following:
Promotes calcium absorbtion, promotes bone growth, reduces inflammation, and modulation of cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function. It can also cause you to be tired. It can cause an increase in blood pressure - increase of blood pressure can cause kidney problems. It can cause depression
Vitamin B12
Is essential for metabolism and maintenance of the central nervous system. Deficiency in this vitamin can cause
fatigue, numbness/tingling in arms and legs, mental fog, weakness, and depression.
It is still unclear as to how Vitamin D relates to cancer, but there have been research done and people with deficient Vitamin D seem to have a increase of cancer. - Nothing is conclusive at this time though.
Hope all is well with you.
Kathy
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Interesting subject ......CaseyK said:Vitamin D
My Oncologist has me taking 50,000 Units of Vitamin D for 3 months then I will have blood work taken to determin if I will need to take Vitamin D at this high dosage.
researching a few items -- I may need to incorporate vitaim D into my daily routine, no doubt. dosage ?
Vicki Sam
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DosageVickiSam said:Interesting subject ......
researching a few items -- I may need to incorporate vitaim D into my daily routine, no doubt. dosage ?
Vicki Sam
Vicki Sam,
My oncologist has had me taking 2000 IU's a day for the past 4 years. That has my levels up to within the acceptable range. I think you should first get tested to find out where you are without the extra. While nearly everybody has "low levels" of vitamin D (especially in the winter), you should first find out where you stand before you start taking extra. Nevertheless, I think that 1000 IU's a day for anyone would be fine. Anyway, just my take on it. I'm sure others will have more informed ideas.
Best,
Clem
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My Vitamin D levels are always checkedClementine_P said:Dosage
Vicki Sam,
My oncologist has had me taking 2000 IU's a day for the past 4 years. That has my levels up to within the acceptable range. I think you should first get tested to find out where you are without the extra. While nearly everybody has "low levels" of vitamin D (especially in the winter), you should first find out where you stand before you start taking extra. Nevertheless, I think that 1000 IU's a day for anyone would be fine. Anyway, just my take on it. I'm sure others will have more informed ideas.
Best,
Clem
When I was diagnosed, my number was 13. It had been low for a long time and in spite of the recommendation by my pcp, I simply couldn't remember to take Vitamin D, so of course, it never got any better. Then I got cancer. My medical oncologist ALWAYS checks it and sometime after chemo, put me on the mega dose. It improved and then dropped again. Oncologist said "there's no science behind this, but we've found with some patients that Vitamin D in the liquid form works better", so I got liquid (which I can no longer find). I was taking between 4000- 5000 IU daily and my labs got into the normal range again. Then CVS stopped carrying the liquid and I went back to pills, taking 2, 2000 IUs daily. I have no idea how that worked. Then one morning at 3:00 a.m. I was awake and watching an infomercial for a spray vitamin D, that you spray inside your cheek and it's supposed to be absorbed better. Of course, I ordered it (what else is there to do at 3:00 a.m.?). I have been using it for around 6 months now and I will have my levels checked again in April. I'm anxious to see if there is any difference/improvement as my levels are within the normal range, but at the low end of normal. And if they're not, I'm going to finish what I have and look a little more for liquid D because this spray stuff is pretty expensive.
On my first visit to my oncologist, she also said "15 minutes every day in the sun and don't tell the dermatologist".
I do believe Vitamin D is important. Now having had cancer, I see no reason not to do whatever it takes to keep myself within the normal range.
Suzanne
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