No, they can't cure anything, once cancer is bullying your body. But yes, they can boost the mojo of your immune system, which is compromised by chemo, and they can bolster the health of your bones, which is critical for me, since b.c. spreads most commonly to liver, lungs, and bone.
Consensus among medical groups seems to be that making sure you are maxed out (though not above that, which can compromise the effectiveness of chemo) on vitamins A, C and D, plus calcium is a very good idea. All have been tested w b.c. patients, and have made a difference.
Also, CoQ-10 and flaxseed oil have been tested w b.c. and are recommended. The onco docs have ok'd my use of both. CoQ-10 does 3 things: boosts immune system, protects the heart from the probable damage that adriamycin will incur, and acts as an antioxidant. Flaxseed has been proven to reduce the growth ofr cancer cells.
Am investigating dietary recommendations, but haven't found much beyond the above. My feeling is that getting these nutrients from food as opposed to pills is a good idea... but it remains to be seen whether I can deisng a diet regimen that will actually give me enough of it w/o needing supplements.
Meanwhile, have added Co-Q10, flax, a multivitamin and a calcium supplement (how ridiculous is it that even the multivitamins meant for women over 50 include HALF the daily recommended amount of calcium? Look it up.).
Lise: I just love reading this because a) you are such a delightful writer, and b) because it makes me feel as if you are actually talking to me--WHICH YOU NEVER DO! AGH!!! Kisses to the bunny!
ReplyDeleteHi, on the vitamins, check out a company called XYMOGEN ... they're vitamins are pharmaceutical grade. I take their ActivEssentials, which is a packet that combines a bunch and their Ossopan MD, which is the Calcium with D. I go through the nutritionist I see. Bottomline, not all vitamins are created equal :-)
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ReplyDelete@LisaRB - Thanks. I know. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteJoan - Thanks.