PSK- Questions about use, obtaining, links to studies?

I'm taking 3 g in divided doses (1500 mg twice a day.)  The MD who recommended it is an Integrative med specialist, and she steered me to the Mushroom Science Turkey Tail PSK (they also make PSP, but the PSK is the tested one.)  I had stopped for a while; my tumor came back.  Since resuming, my tumor growth rate has slowed.  Is it related?  I don't know, but I'm continuing to take it religiously. 

Note, she recommended that I start with 500 mg (1 capsule) twice a day, and add one capsule each week (i.e. week 2:  2 in the am, 1 in the pm; week 3:  2 am, 2 pm; etc. until 3 and 3)  I think I went a little faster.  

Alice

peterz54 said:

A word of caution about uninformed opinions

B,

Unless you are fortunate to have an oncologist who keeps up with resarch outside of standard of care you will likely get an uninformed response.  You may be even told something contrary to what the research points to. 

Mushrooms, in general, seem to have a positive effect on immune function which is what you want to increase.  At least one major cancer center has participated in research on mushrooms.

Dr. Reynolds (U of F, Reynolds Lab) has shown, with model animals, that a combination of EGCG (in green tea), sulforaphane (brocolli sprouts), curcumin (tumeric) has a clear positve effect on survival especially with a low carb diet (low carb meaning low in simple carbs and starches, not low in vegetables).   Here's a presentation if interested   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6RW1fv3KD8&t=1018s

There is also some evidence that you want to lower insulin as it is upstream of growth stimulatiing pathways (mTOR and IGF-1 for example).  You might want to track your metabolic markers like HbA1C, hsCRP, and insulin. You want all of these to be very low.   Your standard oncologist may not track these and may not be interested.   Again, you can take action on this by eliminating junk calories (sugary drinks and deserts) right away.  You'll also want to avoid excess protein (more than about 1 gm per kilo of normal body weight) as protein can be stimulatory to these growth factors as well. 

Moderate exercise and stress control will help too.

good luck

 

    

 

 

 

Just wanted to point out I notice Alice referenced she is seeing an integrative medicine specialist. I work with both a traditional and integrative Oncologist. Peterz is correct that most traditional Oncologists will not be very knowledgeable about alternatives.

Also, I am taking 1200mg twice a day. Hoping to see good results. 

B,

Unless you are fortunate to have an oncologist who keeps up with resarch outside of standard of care you will likely get an uninformed response.  You may be even told something contrary to what the research points to. 

Mushrooms, in general, seem to have a positive effect on immune function which is what you want to increase.  At least one major cancer center has participated in research on mushrooms.

Dr. Reynolds (U of F, Reynolds Lab) has shown, with model animals, that a combination of EGCG (in green tea), sulforaphane (brocolli sprouts), curcumin (tumeric) has a clear positve effect on survival especially with a low carb diet (low carb meaning low in simple carbs and starches, not low in vegetables).   Here's a presentation if interested   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6RW1fv3KD8&t=1018s

There is also some evidence that you want to lower insulin as it is upstream of growth stimulatiing pathways (mTOR and IGF-1 for example).  You might want to track your metabolic markers like HbA1C, hsCRP, and insulin. You want all of these to be very low.   Your standard oncologist may not track these and may not be interested.   Again, you can take action on this by eliminating junk calories (sugary drinks and deserts) right away.  You'll also want to avoid excess protein (more than about 1 gm per kilo of normal body weight) as protein can be stimulatory to these growth factors as well. 

Moderate exercise and stress control will help too.

good luck

abrub said:

Added note

My Integrative Med physician was part of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Integrative Med department, and worked with my traditional oncologists,etc.  And yes, she is an MD.

Mine is an M.D. as well. But I don't discredit other alternative practitioners. I think it's fantastic that MSK offers this. Wish all were open to do so.