Probiotics

Nana b
Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Any one take Probiotics and know if they are safe for us to take? Are we considered to have a compromised immune system, even we we are not currently on chemo and NED? I have read the web but they of course refer you to your doctor if you do have a compromised immune system.....just wondering if anyone has done any research and/or talked to their doctor. 2bhealed??

Comments

  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #2
    I do
    I didn't do chemo, so maybe it doesn't apply, but I take probiotics every day. My doctor thought it was a good idea, because I've had so many "intestinal" troubles since the resection.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #3
    Probiotics
    I was told not to take them during chemo, but I've taken them regularly since stopping chemo (40 billion cells/day) and they've helped my gut tremendously.

    If you send an email to the Integrative Medicine Group at Memorial Sloan Kettering, they will advise you.
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #4
    abrub said:

    Probiotics
    I was told not to take them during chemo, but I've taken them regularly since stopping chemo (40 billion cells/day) and they've helped my gut tremendously.

    If you send an email to the Integrative Medicine Group at Memorial Sloan Kettering, they will advise you.

    Question
    Any side affects to your bottom. yeah your bottom! I took one yesterday and today and feel like maybe it's secreting through my urine. My bottom feels raw! That's what got me questioning my use. Ouch! Not walking much today :-)
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #5
    Nana b said:

    Question
    Any side affects to your bottom. yeah your bottom! I took one yesterday and today and feel like maybe it's secreting through my urine. My bottom feels raw! That's what got me questioning my use. Ouch! Not walking much today :-)

    No such side effects noted
    I do take a combination of Acidophilous and Bifidium that are supposedly good for digestion.

    I also "reset" my gut after surgery by taking GI Revive for 30 days. I haven't had a gut problem since. Prior to that, constipation was a frequent issue; colace and senna were fairly routine. Haven't used either in months.
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #6
    Nana b said:

    Question
    Any side affects to your bottom. yeah your bottom! I took one yesterday and today and feel like maybe it's secreting through my urine. My bottom feels raw! That's what got me questioning my use. Ouch! Not walking much today :-)

    I take them
    and have never had issues that I've NOTICED regarding burning on exit through urine or stool. It does a good job of regulating my bowel movements, though.
    mary
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #7
    Wondering that too
    I just bought some activia yogurt hoping that my constant bathroom issues would lessen. Does it come in a pill form and how much should you take?

    Kim
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #8
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Wondering that too
    I just bought some activia yogurt hoping that my constant bathroom issues would lessen. Does it come in a pill form and how much should you take?

    Kim

    Happy Mother's Day
    I take one capsule a day and it's 10 billion live active bacteria.
  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    #9
    Nana b said:

    Happy Mother's Day
    I take one capsule a day and it's 10 billion live active bacteria.

    me too
    I take em and love em.....I think they really help with digestion

    mags
  • HollyID
    HollyID Member Posts: 946 Member
    #10
    Hey there!!
    I do take probiotics. It's a pill called Culturelle. I told my onc I take a probiotic and he said... after thinking for a second ... "Yeah, that's probably a good idea." Funny guy.
  • victory10
    victory10 Member Posts: 75
    #11
    HollyID said:

    Hey there!!
    I do take probiotics. It's a pill called Culturelle. I told my onc I take a probiotic and he said... after thinking for a second ... "Yeah, that's probably a good idea." Funny guy.

    Hi Nana B
    I have taken Probiotics from the Health Food store throughout my chemo drug treatments (12th one on the 17th and I am soooooo glad to have officially slayed that giant evil invader called cancer)

    Anytime we are on antibiotics or any drug that destroys bad cells should take a probiotic to replace and redeem the good cells. It also helps with thrush. (Probiotics and yogurt)
    Thats what the owner of the Health food store that have beat cancer 3 times. So I figured he would be a good person to listen to!!!!!!

    I do eat Activia almost every day for my digestive system. Strawberry is the only flavor I can do though.

    I want to be honest to help someone....Each cycle I noticed I would experience constipation and once the bowel was unplugged by the hard bowels coming out, soft bowels/diariah immediately followed....

    I am writing a book 'cancer is not a death sentence' where I am just being real and journaling because I put God as my cheif doctor and my oncologist and nurses were HIS hands extended, my experience has not been as bad as it could have been. (My friend said I made it all look so easy. That's not the case and I have to give God the credit for me, myself and I. O.k I'm off my tangent! :)

    Blessings and peace to all who have just begun the journey and those who are struggling in the journey...This too shall pass...not us....we shall live!!!!
  • C Dixon
    C Dixon Member Posts: 201
    #12
    Probiotics
    I took them all throughout 12 rounds of Folfox and then 12 of Folfiri. They helped with the diarrhea and helped regulate my bowel functioning. I get mine from www.vitacost.com. I think when you first start taking them, there is a period of adjustment.

    Catherine
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #13
    I do...
    Helps keep my 'new' plumbing working right...

    I can't eat the yogurt based stuff, because I'm still lactose intollerant, but they are also in pill form.

    Hugs, Kathi
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #14
    Nana b said:

    Question
    Any side affects to your bottom. yeah your bottom! I took one yesterday and today and feel like maybe it's secreting through my urine. My bottom feels raw! That's what got me questioning my use. Ouch! Not walking much today :-)

    probiotics
    Raquel,

    I've been taking probiotics and found they really help my digestive issues. I also remember reading somewhere that sometimes when you first start taking them, your body can "detox" a bit at first. Maybe that was what happened to you w/ the burning. Although I think it's more likely just something you ate or drank that caused it.
    I never even thought to ask my onc about taking probiotics during chemo or not, so I suppose I should mention it to him at my appt this Tuesday & see what he says. I'm just too darn independent, I guess- lol. I usually tell my onc what I'm doing instead of asking. BTW- use vaseline or even a diaper rash ointment on the raw bottom- esp before you actually go to the bathroom- I'd use apply it again right after each time you go.

    Lisa
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #15
    KathiM said:

    I do...
    Helps keep my 'new' plumbing working right...

    I can't eat the yogurt based stuff, because I'm still lactose intollerant, but they are also in pill form.

    Hugs, Kathi

    you know since taking them..............
    I have been having a bowel movement every time I use the bathroom. Soft and constant! WOW!!!! And the inital gas, was like OMG!
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #16
    Nana b said:

    you know since taking them..............
    I have been having a bowel movement every time I use the bathroom. Soft and constant! WOW!!!! And the inital gas, was like OMG!

    Oncologist
    Called my oncologist today and she said I could take them. I'm going for it. I need something to slow down my system, but I don't want loose bowels, just more formed and less often. It's worth a try. Don't think I want to go everytime I use the bathroom though - that would really be way to much for me to be going. Right now it's about 15 times without 1 1/2 hours. That's what I want to slow down.

    Kim
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #17
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Oncologist
    Called my oncologist today and she said I could take them. I'm going for it. I need something to slow down my system, but I don't want loose bowels, just more formed and less often. It's worth a try. Don't think I want to go everytime I use the bathroom though - that would really be way to much for me to be going. Right now it's about 15 times without 1 1/2 hours. That's what I want to slow down.

    Kim

    I hope I get there soon.
    I hope I get there soon. I am taking the GNC brand, hope they work. Mine are not the expensive ones that cost $35 for 30 a day supply. I got 100 pills for about $30, don't have them with me now. I am not sure I understand the strand thing......
  • scsunshine831
    scsunshine831 Member Posts: 1
    #18
    victory10 said:

    Hi Nana B
    I have taken Probiotics from the Health Food store throughout my chemo drug treatments (12th one on the 17th and I am soooooo glad to have officially slayed that giant evil invader called cancer)

    Anytime we are on antibiotics or any drug that destroys bad cells should take a probiotic to replace and redeem the good cells. It also helps with thrush. (Probiotics and yogurt)
    Thats what the owner of the Health food store that have beat cancer 3 times. So I figured he would be a good person to listen to!!!!!!

    I do eat Activia almost every day for my digestive system. Strawberry is the only flavor I can do though.

    I want to be honest to help someone....Each cycle I noticed I would experience constipation and once the bowel was unplugged by the hard bowels coming out, soft bowels/diariah immediately followed....

    I am writing a book 'cancer is not a death sentence' where I am just being real and journaling because I put God as my cheif doctor and my oncologist and nurses were HIS hands extended, my experience has not been as bad as it could have been. (My friend said I made it all look so easy. That's not the case and I have to give God the credit for me, myself and I. O.k I'm off my tangent! :)

    Blessings and peace to all who have just begun the journey and those who are struggling in the journey...This too shall pass...not us....we shall live!!!!

    Probiotics?
    Hi There! A close family member of mine just got diagnosed with esophagus cancer and underwent his first chemo treatment last weekend, I saw your post and you said that you've been taking probiotics throughout your chemo treatments and I'm wondering what kind of probiotics you took and where we could go about getting some? Any information you could help us out with would be much appreciated!!! Thank You So Much! Love Life! :)
  • thxmiker
    thxmiker Member Posts: 1,278 Member
    #19
    There are 7 porbiotics
    There are 7 porbiotics naturally in your system. Most pills only give the primary 4. Check OrthoBiotics. Their Probiotic contains all 7 probiotics and at high concentrations. When ever we have an upset stomach we take a probiotic. Now that I am sick I take one every morning and one every evening. (My doc's recommendation.)

    Best Always! mike
  • bala07
    bala07 Member Posts: 25
    #20
    Nana b said:

    I hope I get there soon.
    I hope I get there soon. I am taking the GNC brand, hope they work. Mine are not the expensive ones that cost $35 for 30 a day supply. I got 100 pills for about $30, don't have them with me now. I am not sure I understand the strand thing......

    Probiotics along with chemotheraphy
    Hello,

    My mother just completed her 1st chemo and radiation for colorectum cancer stage 3c. Surgery has been done and tumour removed.

    She needs to continue with the 2nd chemo. Can we take Probiotics along with chemotheraphy ?

    There were some threads saying that probiotics should NOT be taken along with chemotherapy and it will reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy destroying the cancer cells.

    Could you people please guide us?


    1. We're in a confused state on this whether to take probiotics along with chemo ?

    2. If probiotics taken along with chemo, will reduce the chemo side effects as well ?

    3. What is real advantage of taking Probiotics ? How far will be beneficial in the short and long term life for cancer patients ?


    Your guidance & help will be much appreciated ... Thanks in advance.
  • bala07
    bala07 Member Posts: 25
    #21
    thxmiker said:

    There are 7 porbiotics
    There are 7 porbiotics naturally in your system. Most pills only give the primary 4. Check OrthoBiotics. Their Probiotic contains all 7 probiotics and at high concentrations. When ever we have an upset stomach we take a probiotic. Now that I am sick I take one every morning and one every evening. (My doc's recommendation.)

    Best Always! mike

    Probiotics along with chemotheraphy
    Hello,

    My mother just completed her 1st chemo and radiation for colorectum cancer stage 3c. Surgery has been done and tumour removed.

    She needs to continue with the 2nd chemo. Can we take Probiotics along with chemotheraphy ?

    There were some threads saying that probiotics should NOT be taken along with chemotherapy and it will reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy destroying the cancer cells.

    Could you people please guide us?

    1. We're in a confused state on this whether to take probiotics along with chemo ?

    2. If probiotics taken along with chemo, will reduce the chemo side effects as well ?

    3. What is real advantage of taking Probiotics ? How far will be beneficial in the short and long term life for cancer patients ?

    Your guidance & help will be much appreciated ... Thanks in advance.

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