Vitamin supplements during chemotherapy

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alanams
Posts: 242
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Location: East Newark, NJ

Vitamin supplements during chemotherapy

Postby alanams » Fri Nov 30, 2012 9:20 am

Good morning,

I realize that certain vitamins have strong anti-oxidant properties, and therefore, can interfere with the function of chemotherapy drugs. I am interested in supplements such as zinc, iron and B Complex; now that I'm commuting in crowded conditions during cold weather months, I would like to enhance my defenses. I'm currently undergoing a Folfox 6 and Avastin regimen.

Thank you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
49 yr old M, metastatic adenocarcinoma of colon
colon bypass surgery performed 7/2012
PT/CT scans showed tumor cells in liver, lungs and lymph nodes
Fulfox started 9/10/2012, Fulfox and Avastin administered subsequently
alanams
51 M, Stage IVb CRC; Colon bypass surgery 7/12. Mets to liver, lungs and lymph nodes; 12 sessions of Folfox 4/13 & 12 with Folfiri & Avastin 2/14. Biliary blockage delays chemo treatments; ERCP with 3 stents, and 2 biliary catheters (7/14).

livingbyfaith
Posts: 430
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 5:06 pm

Re: Vitamin supplements during chemotherapy

Postby livingbyfaith » Fri Nov 30, 2012 11:23 am

Research the supplements. My husband has taken supplements since the beginning with the approval of the oncologist and other doctors involved. Same is great mood enhancer, he takes immune building supplements, ip-6, many others.
Hubby 72 cc
Resctn colon 07 stage 3/11 15 cm liver met CEA 3000+
CPT 11, 12 xelox kras wild gall blddr rem 7-12 & abltn
liver stents bi-mo gilbert lng mets , cpt-11 3-13, 2 hernia surgeries2013 & liver abltn went to heaven 10-24-13

SkiFletch
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Re: Vitamin supplements during chemotherapy

Postby SkiFletch » Fri Nov 30, 2012 11:31 am

Ask your doc about all suppliments as there are some that have negative effects with chemo. B12 is one that should NOT be taken on days you're being infused with 5FU as it amplifies the effects of 5FU by causing it to stay in the system longer and do more damage to all of your dividing cells. Excess side effects is a common thing when you suppliment B12 while on 5FU. My oncologist told me to not take my multivitamin any days I had the pump on. He said other days were fine since B12 is a water soluble vitamin and doesn't linger that long in the system.

Iron is fine on chemo, many folks that are mildly anemic as a result of diagnosis/surgery are perscribed it even. I prefer getting my iron through my diet though cause the pills constipate the HELL out of me. Egg yolks with OJ worked better than iron pills, was far tastier, and did not constipate me. It's important to mix the citric acid, vitamin C, and the yolks all together. The constipation was giving me anal fissures with the chemo. Zinc I have no knowledge of whether it's good/bad/indifferent with chemo. Ask your doc the dose you're planning on taking
11/13/09 5cm Stage IV 9/25 lymph nodes w/2cm peritoneal met at 29 YoA
12/15/09 LA right hemi-colectomy
6/16/10 Folfox FINISHED
8/10/10 Prophylactic HIPEC
10/9/10 got Married :D
Still NED and living life to the fullest

"Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life."

SoConfused
Posts: 1027
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2012 2:40 pm

Re: Vitamin supplements during chemotherapy

Postby SoConfused » Fri Nov 30, 2012 11:44 am

I was told to limit my supplements to a daily multi-vitamin during chemo. Later on, my Onc agreed to adding Turmeric, D3 and calcium/magnesium to my list.

Warning on the calcium/magnesium ... be careful with taking that in combination with D3 as together, they can lead to hypercalcemia. That was remedied by stopping my supplements for a couple of weeks.

Good luck.
Stage IV CC

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CRguy
Posts: 10473
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: Vitamin supplements during chemotherapy

Postby CRguy » Fri Nov 30, 2012 11:59 am

Came across this reference Here while checking for effects of my Dad's chemo regimen. Thought it may play into this discussion as it was done with CRC patients on chemo.

also found a neat biochemistry tutorial on folate B12 if you are stuck inside on a rainy wet coast day like I have here !

Cheers
CRguy
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

rp1954
Posts: 1853
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 1:13 am

Re: Vitamin supplements during chemotherapy

Postby rp1954 » Fri Nov 30, 2012 2:53 pm

Natural folates need to be carefully distinguished from synthetic folic acid in common multivitamins and enriched (wheat) products. Folic acid meant increased stomatitis to us, whereas natural folates enabled higher 5FU levels and leucovorin with less problems than lower chemo doses with folic acid content present. Zero folic acid content in food and supplements was the best answer for us. Some supplements have folinic acid (leucovorin) or natural type folates in them, instead.
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

Breezy
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Joined: Fri Nov 30, 2012 3:02 pm

Re: Vitamin supplements during chemotherapy

Postby Breezy » Fri Nov 30, 2012 3:23 pm

I've been involved with my dad's cancer treatment since January. He has stage 4 colon cancer in the mesentary (no organs though), 78 yrs old.

We've been using the following which are indicated to have direct anti cancer effects ..
curcumin
vitamin D3 & k mix (he was quite low but we've finally been able to get his levels up to a high range)
melatonin 3 mg
liposomal vitamin C (specially mixed powdered C in lethicin) for 12 grams of vit C a day (equiv to about 50 grams of normal C)
Coriolus mushroom
Lunsin XP (a long chain soy peptide)
green tea extract
whole grape extract (resvertrol, etc)
saffron for liver protection

In addition we're also keeping his immune system up with a B complex, NAC, ALA, CoQ10, fish oil, and more. Also some prescription based cancer fighters too like metformin, cimetidine, and just trying out Celebrex.

He's going thru 5-FU with Avastin now. As you can see I subscribe to the shotgun approach. We won't have a second chance to fight this cancer off. So far he's doing well but he did come down with a very nasty bout of shingles recently which required the chemo to stop for a few weeks.

Hope this gives you some ideas for tings to possibly use in your treatment. Good luck to all!

Edit: I want to add that there are NO studies showing that vitamins interfere with chemo treatments. Quite the converse, actually. A lot of "old school" oncologists just adapted that attitude based on the precepts of chemo.
managing my father's stage 4 colon cancer, metastasized to the mesentary sack. Father is 78 yrs and otherwise healthy. I've been studying adjudicative therapies to his chemo.

Busymamaof3
Posts: 193
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2012 1:37 pm

Re: Vitamin supplements during chemotherapy

Postby Busymamaof3 » Fri Nov 30, 2012 5:36 pm

My oncologist said nothing on infusion days otherwise as long as I didn't do anything with blood thinning properties or heavy antioxidants was fine. I am all about trying every angle possible!
Dx Stage IV CRC 8/12, 40yrs old
3 kids under 10
10/5/12 1 met to liver
folfox w/avastin 4 rds
Folfox alone 4 rds
HIPEC/CRS 2/13/13
PT3N1cM1
Back on Folfox 3/12 - 4/23/13
It is back 8/23/13
FOLFORI 9/13-1/14 cea up
Folfox 1/13
Hipec w crs #2 2/27/14

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Lara239
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Re: Vitamin supplements during chemotherapy

Postby Lara239 » Sat Dec 01, 2012 11:38 pm

alanams wrote:Good morning,

I realize that certain vitamins have strong anti-oxidant properties, and therefore, can interfere with the function of chemotherapy drugs. I am interested in supplements such as zinc, iron and B Complex; now that I'm commuting in crowded conditions during cold weather months, I would like to enhance my defenses. I'm currently undergoing a Folfox 6 and Avastin regimen.

Thank you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
49 yr old M, metastatic adenocarcinoma of colon
colon bypass surgery performed 7/2012
PT/CT scans showed tumor cells in liver, lungs and lymph nodes
Fulfox started 9/10/2012, Fulfox and Avastin administered subsequently
alanams


Hi there! It is very good to research all suppliments before just taking them as some of them will really interfere with chemo. Some other enhance it and made side effects easier. We have created our own homemade "protocol" by reading 6 different anti-cancer books but two of them outlined herbs/supplements/vitamins that were good to take and specificially with certain chemo meds. They also explained what NOT to take(this is very important). We have a very good system now and my husband is doing so well that on his 5th treatment his oncologist actually increased his Oxaliplatin dosage this time around because he has been handling it so well. His onocologist has approved everything we are taking and we believe it really helps him. PM me and I will tell you our specific protocol. It has kept his WBC AND as of this week his platelet count went up.
wife of DH (age 41) DX 8/3/2012 with 10 cm tumor in decending colon
pre-surgery CEA 4.4, no spread to other organs
8/22 - resection DX stage 3c 9/44 positive nodes
10/3/2012 CEA 1.3
Lynch test negative, tumor IS MSI-H
Folfox 10/3/2012 w/Yance protocol

Fede

Re: Vitamin supplements during chemotherapy

Postby Fede » Sun Dec 02, 2012 9:08 pm

Hi at all,

@ Hi, SoConfused

Calcium could help our inmune system to encysting the lesions ... I like it.
@ Hi, alanams

Could you check about VITAMIN E so as to get a strong anti-oxidant properties

@ Hi, My friend ...SkiFletch

Iron=> respect to the Eggs yolks with OJ worked better than iron pills...totally agree but It could damage my liver added to a lot of pills?
It's important to mix the citric acid, vitamin C, and the yolks all together. where I could get the citric acid? are you talking about lemons or oranges or what ???

@Hi, rp1954

Zero folic acid content in food and supplements was the best answer for us. Some supplements have folinic acid (leucovorin) or natural type folates in them, instead.

I wish to know wich are the foods or supplements containing Zero folic Acid ? I gave at my grandfather folic acid but bought it in the pharmacy, not sure if it is?

@Hi Breezy,

I was researching a lot of anti cancer effects devices too, in order to help at my father too... I found interesting some products you have mentioned.
I am trying to be carefull with some of them, but trying to use my ideas and my friends ideas => mixing some of the devices you well-described.

Respect to Vitamins it would be interesting to open a new thread ... no??

1. curcumin
2. vitamin D3 & k mix (he was quite low but we've finally been able to get his levels up to a high range)

It could be ....Coriolus mushroom, the problem is to get it with high quality and this specific type of mushroom.

3. green tea extract ... only if it has a high quality
4. Reverastrol => whole grape extract (resvertrol, etc)
5. saffron for liver protection

In addition we're also keeping his immune system up with a B complex, NAC, ALA, CoQ10, fish oil, and more.
PERHAPS HERE EXISTS SOME KEYS...
Also some prescription based cancer fighters too like metformin, cimetidine, and just trying out Celebrex.

Respect to B complex it helps, but as far as my friend Sky told us, be careful with B12.

He's going thru 5-FU with Avastin now. As you can see I subscribe to the shotgun approach. We won't have a second chance to fight this cancer off. So far he's doing well but he did come down with a very nasty bout of shingles recently which required the chemo to stop for a few weeks.

MY FATHER IS UNDER XELOX NOW and I am subscriber to the shotgun too.

A lot of "old school" oncologists just adapted that attitude based on the precepts of chemo SHOULD LEAVE THIS CAREER, THEY WERE A TOTAL FAILURE, in the lastest 4 decades no improvements in this f..cking disease. The GLOBAL ONCOLOGY SHOULD BE RESCHEDULE, WE HAVE EVERYDAYS PROOFS THAT IT IS NOT WORKING.

@Hi, Lara

Could I write you other PM ... I wish to read your own specific protocol too, so interesting work, reading 6 books so as to help chemo for working better.

Great post, evidently the INMUNE SYSTEM and its FUEL, is perhaps other KEY TO SOLVE THE CRAZY MUTUATIONS AND ADN DAMAGES.

Fede

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Lara239
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Re: Vitamin supplements during chemotherapy

Postby Lara239 » Mon Dec 03, 2012 1:15 am

Fede, of course, PM me and we cam discuss it!
wife of DH (age 41) DX 8/3/2012 with 10 cm tumor in decending colon
pre-surgery CEA 4.4, no spread to other organs
8/22 - resection DX stage 3c 9/44 positive nodes
10/3/2012 CEA 1.3
Lynch test negative, tumor IS MSI-H
Folfox 10/3/2012 w/Yance protocol

rp1954
Posts: 1853
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 1:13 am

Re: Vitamin supplements during chemotherapy

Postby rp1954 » Mon Dec 03, 2012 7:48 am

Fede wrote:@Hi, rp1954 ....Zero folic acid content in food and supplements was the best answer for us. Some supplements have folinic acid (leucovorin) or natural type folates in them, instead.

I wish to know wich are the foods or supplements containing Zero folic Acid ? I gave at my grandfather folic acid but bought it in the pharmacy, not sure if it is?

It's the synthetic folic acid that is so toxic. There are about 8 forms of natural folate, many intermediate forms in foliage like you get from juicing. I think L5MTHF is the final natural folate of the human body. L5MTHF doesn't effectively compete with 5,10 methylene tetrahydrifolate (from leucovorin) to stablize the cancer inhibitory 5FU ternary product. The combination of 5-FU with the 5,10 methylene tetrahydrofolate Cofactor, from leucovorin, stabilizes the ternary complex of 5-fluorodeoxyuridine monophosphate-thymidylate synthetase-5,10 methylene tetrahydrofolate, increasing DNA inhibition and 5-FU cytotoxicity. We use leucovorin for the cancer inhibitory effect of 5FU, we use liver with L5MTHF for the health of the body. Juicers appear to be using the mixed natural folates from leaves, "foli"age, for far fewer chemo side effects in the cases.
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

tahiti99999

Re: Vitamin supplements during chemotherapy

Postby tahiti99999 » Tue Dec 04, 2012 11:46 am

Hi there. I'm on FOLFOX 6, currently pump connected with my 5th treatment (of 12).

I'm taking all the following supplements with dr's approval:

b-complex - 1xs day
b6 - 100mg (50mg 2xs day)
l-lycine - 1000mg daily (500mg 2xs day)
glutamine - 30grams daily (when I can, 30 is a lot to get in one day, I've made homemade glutamine pills to supplement and it's cheaper than buying in the store)
potassium - 1xs day

the top 4 are for neuropathy. the potassium is for foot and toe cramps which crop up days 1 and 2 of treatment.

since I don't have a baseline, I can't tell you if it's helping with neuropathy but i can tell you that 5 treatments in, it's definitely gotten worse, but worse is relative. it's only cold induced (and "cold" is really not that cold, i can't be in a room under 68 degrees without gloves) BUT it definitely subsides day by day, last time it was completely gone in 10 days but days 7-10 were extraordinarily mild. it doesn't interfere with my daily activities. i do have a feeling it would be worse w/o the supplements, so I gladly toss back sometimes upwards of 30 pills a day (that includes 20+ homemade glutamine).

:)
=========
tahiti
dx CC 7/12 age 44
resection 8/2012, path came back stage iib - age 45
folfox6 started 10/1/12, hope to be complete 3/13/13

Cb75
Posts: 1216
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2012 3:52 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Vitamin supplements during chemotherapy

Postby Cb75 » Tue Dec 04, 2012 1:33 pm

I've consulted with a natriopathic oncologist. I am taking supplements during chemo, when my stomach can handle it. Not sure if it will make a difference, but it's worth a try based on the research I have done and what I have been advised my my ND. Here is a list:

Curcumin
Vit d
Vit b6
Resveratrol
Omega 3
Milk thistle
Psk
Ahcc
Probiotic
Calcium
Co q10
I will also be staring icador mistletoe shortly. I have also considered iv vitamin c, but it is a bit costly and I'm not sure I can afford it.
39y female Stage IV
diagnosed April 2012
sigmoid resect May 2012
liver resect Aug 2012
Folfox Oct 2012
lungs Sep 2013
R and L laser lung resection Nov 2013/Feb 2014
FOLFIRI and Avastin Apr 2014 ongoing...

nicola smith
Posts: 1040
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2010 9:06 am

Re: Vitamin supplements during chemotherapy

Postby nicola smith » Tue Dec 04, 2012 2:29 pm

During chemo, I took Vitamin D, Calcium, Glutamine and Probiotics (VSL3). I also took either B6 or B12 but can't remember which ( :roll: ). These were all at my own initiative but the oncologist was aware and did not object.
UC history
11/09: Dx, CEA 2.9
02/10: colectomy, temp ileo; pT3N1Mx
10/10: 12 Folfox6
03/11: jpouch
2010/11/12/13/14: 6 PET and/or CT's - NED
quarterly 03/2010- 03/2015: CEA range 0.8-1.3
03/2015: discharged to GP :D


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