ANY Pros/Cons Vitamin D3 ?

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sdino
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ANY Pros/Cons Vitamin D3 ?

Postby sdino » Sun Aug 20, 2017 8:52 am

Just looking for some input on taking Vitamin D. We reside in Western, NY 15 miles from Lake Erie which equals a lot of "dank days" here. Currently on a 3 month tour of duty of 5FU (pill)+Avastin. Has anybody seen any advantages of taking VD3 ? Ive read numerous online articles and our ONC seems wishy-washy on the idea. Just wondering whay experiences folks have had here. Looking at possibly 5,000 IU a day for my wife, thx ! Sdino
Caregiver for Wife 54 yrs old
DX:11/16-CC sigmoid colon
Lung Mets: 25+ Bilateral ranging 4mm-5.0cm
MSS, KRAS-G12D; TP53
iTCR TIL Trial NCT03412877 4/19 to 7/19 Off trial, - Sept. 2019 TIL trial NCT01174121
CT Scans: 7/2020 lung met shrinkage 36%, 3 lung mets left, two Liver mets destroyed by TILs
Brain tumor removal 3/2020
CEA:16-11/16; 5 -9/18; 63 -8/19; 1 -1/20; 0.8-5/20

Beckster
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Re: ANY Pros/Cons Vitamin D3 ?

Postby Beckster » Sun Aug 20, 2017 11:27 am

sdino wrote:Just looking for some input on taking Vitamin D. We reside in Western, NY 15 miles from Lake Erie which equals a lot of "dank days" here. Currently on a 3 month tour of duty of 5FU (pill)+Avastin. Has anybody seen any advantages of taking VD3 ? Ive read numerous online articles and our ONC seems wishy-washy on the idea. Just wondering whay experiences folks have had here. Looking at possibly 5,000 IU a day for my wife, thx ! Sdino



I just finished 6 months of chemo, and when I ask my oncologist from MD Anderson, he said that D3 is the only supplement he feels is important. He told me to take 1000-2000 IU per day.

In addition, the following links provides information on Vitamin D3 and colon cancer:
http://www.hopkinscoloncancercenter.org ... 3959A6F3F5

http://www.cancernetwork.com/asco-stree ... tal-cancer

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014 ... l-oncology
57/F
DX:(CC) 10/19/16
11/4/16- Lap right hemi(cecum)
CEA- Pre Op (1.9), Pre Chemo (2.5)
Type: Adenocarcinoma
Tumor size:3.5 cm x 2.5 x 0.7 cm
Grade: G3
TNM: T3N0M0/IIA
LN: 0/24
LVI present
Surgical margins: clear
MSS
12/27/2016 - Capeox, anaphylactic
1/2/17 to 6/9/17- Xeloda
6/17,12/17,6/18,12/18,6/19,12/19,12/20,12/21 CT Scan NED :D
CEA- 6/17- 3.6, 9/17- 2.8 12/17-2.8, 3/18-3.1, 6/18-3.0, 9/18 2.8, 12/18 2.5 3/19 3.1 6/19 3.1 9/19 2.6 12/19 2.8 6/20 3.0 12/20 2.7 6/21 2.9,[color=#000000]12/21 2.7[/color]
Clear Colonoscopy 10/17, 11/19,11/21 :D

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JJH
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Cons for Vitamin D3 ?

Postby JJH » Sun Aug 20, 2017 12:00 pm

I don't have any personal experience with vitamin D3, but I noticed that under certain circumstances it is possible to have too much, especially if you already have liver or kidney problems. If you decide to supplement with Vitamin D3. I think that you would probably have to do periodic blood monitoring to insure that you are not overdosing yourself.

Here is an article from Mayo Clinic that discusses this topic.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/vitamin-d-toxicity/faq-20058108
"The darkest hour is just before the dawn" - Thomas Fuller (1650)
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JJH
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Re: ANY Pros/Cons Vitamin D3 ?

Postby JJH » Sun Aug 20, 2017 12:21 pm

Beckster wrote:...
I just finished 6 months of chemo, and when I ask my oncologist from MD Anderson, he said that D3 is the only supplement he feels is important. He told me to take 1000-2000 IU per day.

In addition, the following links provides information on Vitamin D3 and colon cancer:
http://www.hopkinscoloncancercenter.org ... 3959A6F3F5

http://www.cancernetwork.com/asco-stree ... tal-cancer

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014 ... l-oncology

Beckster - Thanks for posting the three links. They're very informative and very useful.
Here's another article to add to the list -- this one from Life Extension Foundation:

Startling Findings about Vitamin D Levels in Life Extension Members
http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2010/1/startling-findings-about-vitamin-d-levels-in-life-extension-members/page-01
"The darkest hour is just before the dawn" - Thomas Fuller (1650)
●●●

sdino
Posts: 85
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Re: ANY Pros/Cons Vitamin D3 ?

Postby sdino » Sun Aug 20, 2017 4:51 pm

Thanks for the input gang, I think my next step is to include my wife's blood makeup to include VD3 results. Then I can speak with some intelligence to our ONC . Cheers ! sdino
Caregiver for Wife 54 yrs old
DX:11/16-CC sigmoid colon
Lung Mets: 25+ Bilateral ranging 4mm-5.0cm
MSS, KRAS-G12D; TP53
iTCR TIL Trial NCT03412877 4/19 to 7/19 Off trial, - Sept. 2019 TIL trial NCT01174121
CT Scans: 7/2020 lung met shrinkage 36%, 3 lung mets left, two Liver mets destroyed by TILs
Brain tumor removal 3/2020
CEA:16-11/16; 5 -9/18; 63 -8/19; 1 -1/20; 0.8-5/20

benben
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Location: Washington State

Re: ANY Pros/Cons Vitamin D3 ?

Postby benben » Sun Aug 20, 2017 6:23 pm

VIT D3 was the only supplement my Onc told me I should take.
I only have a handful of supplements that he didn't scratch from my list.
D3 I take 2000mg daily.
----------------------
3/29/17 diagnosed CRC - 44 y/o Male
4/17/17 ULAR - Straight anastomosis - no ostomy.
Path: low grade T3n1m0 - moderate diff.
KRAS - NO, MLH1/PMS2/MSH6/MSH2 - Normal.
5/3 med port install
5/22 folfox - first treatment.
3rd treat, delayed - low ANC - reduced to 90% OXI
zarxio all treats
Treat 7 - 75% OXI
Treats 8-12 - NO OXI, Luke & 5FU
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mhf1986
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Re: ANY Pros/Cons Vitamin D3 ?

Postby mhf1986 » Sun Aug 20, 2017 6:52 pm

DH started extra D in June after we read the article that came out at ASCO. Onc said he hadn't read it but didn't have a problem with us trying. DH takes 2 vit D capsules in the afternoon with a snack (4000 total) and then his regular multi vitamin with dinner has 1000 more. He also walks every day (trying for at least 6000 steps a day) so is getting some sunshine too. Blood work done Mondays before chemo on Tuesdays appears to still be OK.

My own dr found I was vit D low a couple of years ago and told me to take 1 capsule so we had them on hand anyway.

M
Caregiver to DH, dx @ 50, mets to liver/lungs, MSS, wild
9/16 CEA 114, blockage, left hemi, perm. colostomy
11/16 port in, FOLFOX + Avastin
6/17 CEA 15, 5FU + A only due to neuropathy
11/17 CEA 38, CAPOX + A
1/18 CAPOX = hi bilirubin/bad hfs, back to FOLFOX + A
5/18 growth; Vectibex + 75% Irinotecan
7/18 CEA 23, shrinkage
10/18 CEA 28, growth of 2 liver tumors/shrinkage of few and lung nodes
11/18 Lonsurf, looking at spheres, proton, trials
11/19/18 Peace

NHMike
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Re: Cons for Vitamin D3 ?

Postby NHMike » Mon Aug 21, 2017 5:12 am

JJH wrote:I don't have any personal experience with vitamin D3, but I noticed that under certain circumstances it is possible to have too much, especially if you already have liver or kidney problems. If you decide to supplement with Vitamin D3. I think that you would probably have to do periodic blood monitoring to insure that you are not overdosing yourself.

Here is an article from Mayo Clinic that discusses this topic.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/vitamin-d-toxicity/faq-20058108


Taking 50,000 international units (IU) a day of vitamin D for several months has been shown to cause toxicity. This level is many times higher than the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for most adults of 600 IU of vitamin D a day.

It doesn't seem like 1,000 IU would cause problems.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

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Maia
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Re: ANY Pros/Cons Vitamin D3 ?

Postby Maia » Mon Aug 21, 2017 4:05 pm

One of the important news at ASCO 2017, this past June, were the final results of the trial SUNSHINE.
In short: results from a phase 2 clinical trial known as SUNSHINE indicate that a high dose of vitamin D supplementation significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) by about 2 months compared to a low dose.

The presented Abstract: SUNSHINE: Randomized Double-Blind Phase II Trial of Vitamin D Supplementation in Patients with Previously Untreated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Presented Monday, June 5, 2017 Abstract #: http://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/147292/abstract

Take-Home Message
- This multicenter, double-blind phase II study included 139 previously untreated patients with mCRC who received mFOLFOX + bevacizumab and were randomized to receive concurrent HiVitD (vitamin D3 orally 8000 IU/day x 2 weeks as loading dose followed by 4000 IU/day) or LowVitD (standard vitamin D3 400 IU/day) until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, or withdrawal. The median compliance with vitamin D capsules was 98%, and the median follow-up was 16.1 months. Significantly longer progression-free survival was reported in patients receiving HiVitD compared with LowVitD (12.4 vs 10.7 months, respectively). Although response rates were similar in both groups (58% HiVitD vs 63% LowVitD), the disease control rate was significantly higher in the HiVitD group (100% vs 94%).
- This was the first randomized trial investigating interventional vitamin D use in addition to standard chemotherapy in mCRC. A larger phase III trial is warranted.
from: http://www.practiceupdate.com/content/a ... ncer/53616

rp1954
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Re: ANY Pros/Cons Vitamin D3 ?

Postby rp1954 » Mon Aug 21, 2017 6:14 pm

My wife has taken vitamin D at 10,000 - ca 60,000 iu per day over the last 7+ years, mostly 25,000-40,000 iu. No problems when balanced on magnesium, vitamin K2 and less calcium. The potential problems mentioned for preventive management were mainly calcium toxicity, and deficiencies of magnesium or vitamin K2. We monitor blood calcium on every draw, a little conservative on caution.

In the first month, before surgery and chemo, along with a number of immune modulating supplements and cimetidine, she had an intense immune reaction to her peritoneal dissemination - a localized complete response there, fully necrosed at surgery. Since she was obviously vitamin D deficient in retrospect, I mentally give the vitamin D3, up to 17,000 iu per day, partial credit. To do it again, I'd use more.

During her first year, we sometimes maintained calcium at the high normal level, ca 10+ mg/dL, for a while, then we used a more depositional formulation with lower blood levels of calcium. One of her lung thingies petrified and turned to stone. Perhaps cancer cells can't pump out calcium as well during chemo+IV C+ everything else.

In the second year after vitamin D ramped up to ~40,000 iu per day, a strange breakup and dissolution of liver lesions (not biopsied) occurred. Perhaps including the immune attack effects mentioned by Dr JJ Prendergast. Our radiologist commented a lot about this.

Her osteoporosis got better and her teeth stayed good despite all the years of chemo. This last year, after taking less supplements, she's had more dental work...
Last edited by rp1954 on Mon Aug 21, 2017 7:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
watchful, active researcher and caregiver for stage IVb/c CC. surgeries 4/10 sigmoid etc & 5/11 para-aortic LN cluster; 8 yrs immuno-Chemo for mCRC; now no chemo
most of 2010 Life Extension recommendations and possibilities + more, some (much) higher, peaking ~2011-12, taper chemo to almost nothing mid 2018, IV C-->2021. Now supplements

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Maia
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Re: ANY Pros/Cons Vitamin D3 ?

Postby Maia » Mon Aug 21, 2017 7:13 pm

rp1954 wrote:My wife has taken vitamin D at 10,000 - ca 60,000 iu per day over the last 7 years, mostly 25,000-40,000 iu. No problems when balanced on magnesium, vitamin K2 and less calcium. The potential problems mentioned for preventive management were mainly calcium toxicity, and deficiencies of magnesium or vitamin K2. We monitor blood calcium on every draw, a little conservative on caution.

In the first month, before surgery and chemo, along with a number of immune modulating supplements and cimetidine, she had an intense immune reaction to her peritoneal dissemination - a localized complete response there, fully necrosed at surgery. Since she was obviously vitamin D deficient in retrospect, I mentally give the vitamin D3, up to 17,000 iu per day, partial credit. To do it again, I'd use more.

During her first year, we sometimes maintained calcium at the high normal level, ca 10+ mg/dL, for a while, then we used a more depositional formulation with lower blood levels of calcium. One of her lung thingies petrified and turned to stone. Perhaps cancer cells can't pump out calcium as well during chemo+IV C+ everything else.

In the second year after vitamin D ramped up to ~40,000 iu per day, a strange breakup and dissolution of liver lesions (not biopsied) occurred. Perhaps including the immune attack effects mentioned by Dr JJ Prendergast. Our radiologist commented a lot about this.

Her osteoporosis got better and her teeth stayed good despite all the years of chemo. This last year, after taking less supplements, she's had more dental work...


How great, rp1954! So nice to hear : )
You might want to like this recent retrospective analysis on vitamin D. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5396104/

NHMike
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Re: ANY Pros/Cons Vitamin D3 ?

Postby NHMike » Wed Aug 23, 2017 12:36 pm

I had a look at top sources of Vitamin D3 and fish and fish oil was a good chunk of the list. The longest-living areas of the world are usually pescatarians and Vitamin D3 may explain why.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

Cured
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Re: ANY Pros/Cons Vitamin D3 ?

Postby Cured » Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:23 pm

I added VitD to my regimen after my cancer. From this Club I learned that colorectal cancer people had low Vit D levels. I asked my Dr to check, and sure enough mine was low.
Ever since I take 2,000 to 5,000 per day. I will skip the supplement if I actually get a lot of sun that day. But most of us don't get enough sun and can't possibly get enough sun in the winter.

Guys I am not a scientific study, but I am Cured and here 9 years later. With my annual blood test they check my Vit D level.
7-18 Stg 4
5-08:Stg 3 Rectal: 6/14 Nodes
Ace Surgn Remvd 90%Rectm,lots of Colon-Full Incision
Ileo Rev'd 6 Mos.
Radian+5fu Pre-Surg
FOLFOX 8 Cyc,1-09
Clear Scope 8-17; CEA 2-18
Glory to God! Healed by prayers of many: for 10 yrs
7-18: tumor pressing brain Remove
Met to lung. CEA 6.9
Folfiri
CEA 4.5 after 1 chemo
8rds CEA 3 1.8, 2.3,1.7 then up:32
12rd Folfiri
Avastin ev 2 wks
Seizure Anti-seiz meds work-no driving for 6m
4-20PET: Lng spots=Chemo
2-21 tumr gth =Folfiri
Radiation 7-22

NHMike
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Re: ANY Pros/Cons Vitamin D3 ?

Postby NHMike » Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:38 pm

Cured wrote:I added VitD to my regimen after my cancer. From this Club I learned that colorectal cancer people had low Vit D levels. I asked my Dr to check, and sure enough mine was low.
Ever since I take 2,000 to 5,000 per day. I will skip the supplement if I actually get a lot of sun that day. But most of us don't get enough sun and can't possibly get enough sun in the winter.

Guys I am not a scientific study, but I am Cured and here 9 years later. With my annual blood test they check my Vit D level.


I'm taking 500 IU/day with calcium and are those pills huge! I'm also walking 3-5 miles per day outside and do get some sun but that will decline with the shorter days. I saw a note from someone that quoted a doctor at a cancer confab and he said that the proven anti-cancer things are:

Vitamin D, Exercise, Tree Nuts and Daily Regimen Aspirin. I'm doing the first three and planning on adding the fourth when chemo is finished.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

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susie0915
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Re: ANY Pros/Cons Vitamin D3 ?

Postby susie0915 » Fri Sep 01, 2017 10:37 am

Last week at my 3 month check with my oncologist, she asked me about taking Vitamin D. I told her I only take what is in my calcium supplement. She decided to check my vitamin D levels. They came back fine. But I assuming if the results were low she would've recommended a vitamin D supplement.
58 yrs old Dx @ 55
5/15 DX T3N0MO
6/15 5 wks chemo/rad
7/15 sigmoidoscopy/only scar tissue left
8/15 PET scan NED
9/15 LAR
0/24 nodes
10/15 blockage. surgery,early ileo rev, c-diff inf :(
12/15 6 rds of xelox
5/16 CT lung scarring/inflammation
9/16 clear colonoscopy
4/17 C 4mm lung nod
10/17 pel/abd CT NED
11/17 CEA<.5
1/18 CT/Lung no change in 4mm nodule
5/18 CEA<.5, CT pel/abd/lung NED
11/18 CEA .6
5/19 CT NED, CEA <.5
10/19 Clear colonscopy
11/19 CEA <.5


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