Let's Talk About Supplements

[ams5796]

What's everyone taking since diagnosis? And, what time of day do you take your supplements?

Thanks
Ann

[justme123]

In the AM:
Calcium 600 mg
Vit. D 1200 iu
Milk Thistle 1000 mg
Zyflamend 1 softgel
B-12 1000 mcg
Culturelle 1 capsule

In the PM:
Calcium 600 mg
Vit. D 1200 iu
Milk Thistle 1000 mg
Zyflamend 1 softgel
Vit. C 1000mg

I also have daily:
1 Tablespoon Turmeric mixed with 1 Tablespoon Olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 cups sencha green tea
4 Tablespoons flax seed which I grind as I use it and add to my meals

I eat fruit, walnuts and organic yogurt for breakfast. (strawberries, peaches, plums, cherries, blueberries) Topped with flax seed.
For lunch and dinner I eat raw vegetables:
brussel sprouts, broccoli, garlic, onions, carrots, beets, apple and fresh mint. I put it all in a food processor and serve it on a bed of raw spinach and arugula. Top it with black beans, kidney beans, flax seed balsamic vinegar , soy sauce. Sometimes I have salmon. I also make pizza with tomato paste and sauteed garlic spread on a whole grain flatbread topped with a little Parmesan and mozzarella.
I snack on dried cranberries and red or black grapes.
I have a square or two of 72% dark chocolate daily.
I do not drink any alcohol.

This is my usual routine. Of course I deviate sometimes and would eat whatever at a party or special occasion but for the most part this is my routine and its all very yummy and healthy.

Nancy

[ams5796]

Thank you, Nancy. That's great information. I'm trying to figure out what to take. I've been reading the Anti Cancer book. It has recommendations that are very similar to what you're doing.

[weisssoccermom]

AM -supplements

4 Rx meds - including levoxyl, Triamterene, Nexium)
1 Multi vitamin (includes 400 mg Vitamin D)
2 - 2000mg Vitamin D3
2 - Resveratrol tablets (400mg resveratrol + grape seed extract)
1 - 5000mcg Biotin
2 - 1000 mg Flaxseed Oil
1 - Mucinex D (12 hour)

Then I need to wait at least an hour (for the levoxyl) so with breakfast - anywhere from 1 -2 hours later

2 Viactiv (500IU Vitamin D, 500mg calcium, 40mg Vitamin K in each )
1 Sustenex (probiotic)
1 Vitamin C - 500 mg
1 -81mg aspirin
1 - Daypro (Rx anti-inflammatory for arthritis/neuropathy in my feet)

With dinner:
1 Daypro
1 - 12 hour Mucinex (no Mucinex D this time)

At bedtime:
1 - 300 mcg Melatonin

I was having trouble with menopause related sleep issues. Didn't like the Leunesta type drugs and tried something different to 'set my internal clock' but was nervous about the potential side effects (weird things like sleep driving, sleep cooking, etc.) so have opted for the plain melatonin half an hour before bedtime.

I don't know if I really need all of these, but I figure the docs are ok with all of them, my cardiologist (I have an irregular heartbeat so see him once a year) has recommended the flaxseed, aspirin and the resveratrol, my onc also was pro resveratrol and aspirin for the rectal cancer and since my vitamin D level has been low, he put me on the vitamin D supplements. We're still 'tweaking' that one. Other than that, the priobiotic worked wonders during chemoradiation and chemo so I'm a believer in that. Biotin has truly helped with the hair issues (I use a biotin shampoo as well) - the thinning from chemo - so I'm also sticking with that as well.

I also make it a point to get at least three glasses of milk a day. Will eat chocolate whenever I can if it weren't for those nasty calories!! and don't drink (I just don't like the stuff).
Jaynee

[ams5796]

Jaynee,

Thank you. What's the Mucinex for? I know that it's a decongestant but is that what you use it for?

Ann

[weisssoccermom]

It's not a decongestant - but rather something that I take along with a decongestant to keep my mucus, etc. from getting too thick. For whatever reason, it also helps keeps my ears from 'gumming' up with thick fluid and the subsequent ear infections. People who have recurrent sinus infections, like I do, oftentimes take Mucinex to help keep the mucus from thickening up. There was a study about the mucus in the colon, being thick, etc. in some patients. I don't know if the Mucinex has any effect on that, but it certainly can't hurt. I also know that I have serious problems with chest problems - have had repeated bouts of bronchitis and pneumonia - as I have mild asthma - and taking Mucinex helps keep all of those problems at bay.

[Surroundedbylove]

Good thread.

AM:
162 mg aspirin
1000 mcg B-12
2,500 IU D3
750 mg Bromelain
500 mg Cucumin phytosome capsules
1000 mg Turkey Tail capsules (Fungi Perfecti brand specifically)
400 mg cimetidine (trying to use alternative treatment during waiting time before scan (suspicious lung spot in case its a met) - onc is OK with this)
1 black cohosh tablet (specifically Remifemin brand per oncologist)


Lunch (more than 2 hours after above and more the 2 hours before below): 800 mg calcium

PM:
2,500 IU D3
750 mg Bromelain
500 mg Cucumin phytosome capsules
1000 mg Turkey Tail capsules (Fungi Perfecti brand specifically)
400 mg cimetidine
1 black cohosh tablet (specifically Remifemin brand per oncologist)
Vitamin C (500 mg) IF I didn't get enough vitamin C naturally during the day through diet

I am specifically NOT taking a multi-vitamin because they all have folic acid. My folate levels were and are very, very high and my oncologist is tending to agree with Dr. Lenz's research and comments about folic acid perhaps being a cause/risk factor/problem for colorectal cancer. I also limit my enriched flour intake for this reason - I try to get my grains through other sources rather than breads using enriched flour.

[joeyooser]

I just finished chemo monday and am now taking this starting this morning:

AM
Calcium 750mg
Magnesium 400mg
Benfotiamine 80mg
Vit D3 - 1000

PM
Aspirin 325mg
Vit C 1000mg
benfotiamine 80mg

Some of the posts here scared me off of my multivitamin due to folic acid, so I just pulled those out of the PM box of my pill sorter.

Still considering taking curcumin or DCA, but not sure. DCA has some side effects, but the doc I got the prescrip from thinks it may be good to take it for a year to keep the cancer from recurring. Not sure what to do with that one.

[Hawaii]

AM
thyroid tab 25mg
Juice Plus tablets-2

Noon
Juice Plus tablets-2

PM
Lipitor 20mg
Juice Plus tablets-4
iron tablet-5mg

[butterfly]

I find this so interesting. Thanks for sharing.

I take daily:
1 Culturelle
1 Multi vitamin with high B complex
600 mg. Calcium with 400 mg. Vitamin D3 added
500 mg. vitamin C
1000 mg. D3
300 mg. Fish oil (krill oil) supplement
400 mg. vitamin E
iron supplement as needed once a month
6000 ORAC antioxidant supplement

What other supplements are good for colon cancer prevention?

[weisssoccermom]

butterfly,

baby aspirin (studies show the best benefit from 81 mg - 162 mg -1 or 2 baby aspirin/day)
resveratrol (the heart healthy stuff in red wine)

exercise has also been proven to have an effect on most cancer recurrences with the most benefit coming from people who previously did NOT exercise - regardless of weight.

Jaynee

[Annb]

I take Immunopower 4.0, produced by Patrick Quillin (Beating Cancer with Nutrition) because it has everything plus the kitchen sink in it and if he doesn't know what I should be taking, I can't figure out who does. Plus, I am eating a vegan diet (plus some eggs). And walking most days, up to 2 miles. I feel much, much better now, 15 months after ending FOLFOX treatment. Still am bothered by hand weakness and stiffness, but otherwise, getting to feel pretty normal.

Ann

[livingbyfaith]

My husband takes also Avemar, flax oil and cottage cheese, selenium (supposed to be good for colon cancer), essaic tea

[Ivona]

While I was researching Iron supplements, I came across this helpful website:

http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov ... ments.aspx

[MonaL]

After diagnosis, Dad continued to take his selenium supplement daily, upped his multivitamin from a 1/2 pill to a full pill (he's not one for supplements), and added the Enzymatic Therapy's IP-6. Finally, months after the completion of chemo, he has added a B-50.