Post treatment vitamins

sbmly53
sbmly53 Member Posts: 1,522
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I am 3 weeks after rads. I was told not to take anything until at least 2 weeks after. Of course, no suggestions as to what I should take...Reading up on the subject suggests 1000 - 2000 Vit D3; 1000mg Omega 3; 250 - 500mg Vit C and if rads on left breast (that's me!) CoEnzyme Q10 60 - 100mgs.

Neither onc had suggestions, nor surgeon and I don't see PCP until May. Get my meds through the mail, so no local Phamacist. I do plan to call my PCP about this so I can start soon - and see what would jive with my meds, but I was looking for ideas and suggestions to present to him.

What works for you? Also curious about Vit B - 6, 12, complex & with or w/o folic? As for Omega3 - Puh-lease! No fish burps! Which brand is best? And do you take everything together, break it up, etc?

Thank you!

Sue

Comments

  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #2
    Sue, I'll be interested to
    Sue, I'll be interested to see the replies here. My onco suggested Vitamin D3 and Calcium. That's all I take in addition to my Arimidex. I wonder if it has anything to do with our age...I'm 55. I'll continue to follow this post. Thanks.
  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    #3
    My rad onc. recommended
    My rad onc. recommended 2000IU of D3 in addition to Calcium plus D, as in Caltrate. Med. oncologist just recommended multi and Caltrate-type supplement.

    I have read recommendations for cancer survivors to take fish oil--buy the odorless to avoid that fishy burp. Will be seeing my med onc. in April and plan to ask. Will also add my info.
  • sbmly53
    sbmly53 Member Posts: 1,522
    #4
    Forgot to mention
    That I am 56 and will be starting Arimidex next week. I'm putting it off until after dexascan - at lesat that's my excuse. Also, waiting for a little warmer weather to help bones, muscles and joints - a little fibromyalgia here.

    So still hoping for some thoughts!!!

    Sue
  • dash4
    dash4 Member Posts: 303 Member
    #5
    confused
    Why can't you take vitamins with radiation? I am confused(which seems to be my normal state anymore)even with chemo-is there a problem with certain vitamins? I am just starting out with my chemo on Monday and rads will not be till August.
  • sbmly53
    sbmly53 Member Posts: 1,522
    #6
    dash4 said:

    confused
    Why can't you take vitamins with radiation? I am confused(which seems to be my normal state anymore)even with chemo-is there a problem with certain vitamins? I am just starting out with my chemo on Monday and rads will not be till August.

    Good question,
    but I can't remember the answer! Actually was told specifically no vits, supplements. No green tea. Onc said it could hinder the rads working as effectively as they should. I know someone will have a better /definative answer.

    Anxious to start something - it's a cold windy day here and I feel like I was hit by a truck, plus a lot of but one/get one in the ads.

    Sue
  • Flakey_Flake
    Flakey_Flake Member Posts: 130
    #7
    I'm a Wonderer ...
    My onc has me on 1500 mb Calcuim and 1500 IU D3 because I have started femera, which can deplete bone density. My FP has me on a B complex, with a script for folic acid because my memory was getting bad, and my red blood cells were fat. (Apparantly red blood cells are larger when they are first produced by the body, and after they hang out for a while get smaller. Mine were all pretty much large, meaning that I was using them up faster than normal.) My rad onc has never told me anything about not taking vitamins durring treatment. Every time I see any of my docs, they always go through the meds I am on, and if there were anything that was not compatible, I am sure they would have caught it. I also visit a website that checks for incompatible combinations of meds. I am also a left breast victim. No one has ever said anything that I should be taking any kind of vitamin because of that. What is the reason for it? Is the left breast somehow different? Am I missing something I should know about?

    Sharon - Wondering in Wisconsin
  • scorpio37
    scorpio37 Member Posts: 20
    #8
    dash4 said:

    confused
    Why can't you take vitamins with radiation? I am confused(which seems to be my normal state anymore)even with chemo-is there a problem with certain vitamins? I am just starting out with my chemo on Monday and rads will not be till August.

    confused also
    I need help in this area also about the vitamins as my white blood cells were too low for my 2nd chemo and was told to take super b-complex with vitamin c by a family member. I too will have radiation after 6 weeks of chemo.

    Another question is regarding the drugs after chemo and radiation was told I would be on but not which one. Does it matter if you have had a total hysterectomy which drugs you will be placed on? My cancer was hormone fueled.

    thanks
    scorpio37
  • aisling8
    aisling8 Member Posts: 1,627 Member
    #9
    Flakey_Flake said:

    I'm a Wonderer ...
    My onc has me on 1500 mb Calcuim and 1500 IU D3 because I have started femera, which can deplete bone density. My FP has me on a B complex, with a script for folic acid because my memory was getting bad, and my red blood cells were fat. (Apparantly red blood cells are larger when they are first produced by the body, and after they hang out for a while get smaller. Mine were all pretty much large, meaning that I was using them up faster than normal.) My rad onc has never told me anything about not taking vitamins durring treatment. Every time I see any of my docs, they always go through the meds I am on, and if there were anything that was not compatible, I am sure they would have caught it. I also visit a website that checks for incompatible combinations of meds. I am also a left breast victim. No one has ever said anything that I should be taking any kind of vitamin because of that. What is the reason for it? Is the left breast somehow different? Am I missing something I should know about?

    Sharon - Wondering in Wisconsin

    Confused, again
    Hmmm...

    I saw my medical onc Thursday and she gave me a prescription for Arimidex and told me to start the calcium and Vitamin D3, and I asked "Even during rads?" and the answer was yes. But I haven't asked the rads onc the same question. I go for my second placement appointment end of this week so I'll ask her then.

    I'm curious now too.

    Victoria
  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    #10
    dash4 said:

    confused
    Why can't you take vitamins with radiation? I am confused(which seems to be my normal state anymore)even with chemo-is there a problem with certain vitamins? I am just starting out with my chemo on Monday and rads will not be till August.

    Vitamins During Chemo
    Hello all, my medical oncologist advised that I could take a regular multivitamin during chemo--but NOT the extra antioxidant formulas. Apparently, there is some belief that antioxidants can help the cancer cells as well as the normal ones. My radiation oncologist advised the D3 as I mentioned earlier.

    There seems to be quite a difference of opinion among oncologists on taking supplements during treatment. I just always stick with the recommendations/instructions given to me by my docs--and hope they're right!
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #11
    Moopy23 said:

    Vitamins During Chemo
    Hello all, my medical oncologist advised that I could take a regular multivitamin during chemo--but NOT the extra antioxidant formulas. Apparently, there is some belief that antioxidants can help the cancer cells as well as the normal ones. My radiation oncologist advised the D3 as I mentioned earlier.

    There seems to be quite a difference of opinion among oncologists on taking supplements during treatment. I just always stick with the recommendations/instructions given to me by my docs--and hope they're right!

    I was also told nothing but
    I was also told nothing but a multivitamin durning Chemo and Rads.
  • sbmly53
    sbmly53 Member Posts: 1,522
    #12
    Flakey_Flake said:

    I'm a Wonderer ...
    My onc has me on 1500 mb Calcuim and 1500 IU D3 because I have started femera, which can deplete bone density. My FP has me on a B complex, with a script for folic acid because my memory was getting bad, and my red blood cells were fat. (Apparantly red blood cells are larger when they are first produced by the body, and after they hang out for a while get smaller. Mine were all pretty much large, meaning that I was using them up faster than normal.) My rad onc has never told me anything about not taking vitamins durring treatment. Every time I see any of my docs, they always go through the meds I am on, and if there were anything that was not compatible, I am sure they would have caught it. I also visit a website that checks for incompatible combinations of meds. I am also a left breast victim. No one has ever said anything that I should be taking any kind of vitamin because of that. What is the reason for it? Is the left breast somehow different? Am I missing something I should know about?

    Sharon - Wondering in Wisconsin

    I read that
    because of rads on the left side, and the heart being on the left side, coEnzyme Q10 would be something to consider taking to strenghten heart, blood vessels.

    I have not yet spoken to my PCP about this... I was just inquiring what others are doing.

    And, apparently, and maybe it is because of the varying rads machines, scheduled number of treatments, onc opinions etc, the advice on vitamins, supplements and antioxidents vary, oo.

    Sue

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