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Vitamin D in conjunction with Tarceva???

sojourner
0 Recommendations

Hi Everyone,

This topic may have been covered before but I am newish to the site and thought I would bring it up again.

I have stage IIIb nsclc (BAC). Inoperable. I had 5 rounds of carbo/taxol and have been on Tarceva since January 2009. So far the Tarceva is keeping the tumor stable and I'm able to do pretty much everything I want to do. I wasn't able to use Avastin because cancer is too close to mediastinum and Dr. feared bleeding.

Question: My son-in-law is constantly on the search for "the cure" and is convinced that if I took high doses of Vitamin D, it would shrink the tumor. I do take all my vitamins but I don't megadose and I'm not inclined to start.

Looking for input. Thank you.

Donna

Explore topics in this discussion:

Cancer Tarceva Avastin Prostate cancer Celebrex

13 replies

Ellen_in_PA

Hi Donna.

You might want to post this on www.cancergrace.org, where a bunch of saintly oncologists answer questions quickly and knowledgeably. (And, if they don't know the answer, they say so and usually go check it out.)

Good luck.

Ellen

sojourner

Thanks Ellen.

drawing3d

Vitamin D3... only D3...is the form he is refering to and the answer is YES!!!!!
But do not megadose on this supplement unless you are under the strict supervision of a doctor who actually knows something about vitamins and supplements. Most do NOT know a thing on this topic and will only tell you to "eat your peas and carrots", or to "eat a balanced meal".
You should be taking 2,000IU per day. ESPECIALLY if you cannot get outside, exposing at least 50% of your body to sunshine for a minimum of 20-30 minutes per day.
D3 is sunshine basically. But it is an extremely important nutrient that helps ward off cancer, infections, is great for building the immune system, etc.
I have been taking 4,000IU per day for some time now but I also get my VitD levels checked every 3 months or so because too high a dose is toxic...
God bless,
Ellen

sojourner

Thank you Ellen,

I do take Vitamin D - will double check the dosage - and I also make it a point to get into the sunshine and collect my D the natural way. Appreciate your input.

Blessings, Donna

drawing3d

I am talking specifically about D3, not just D. We are probably talking about the same thing, just want to double check...
Love,
Ellen

summeron2001

I have a friend who is also encouraging me to take mega doses of Vitamin D3 - I take double dose of Vitamin D. I love the sunshine and get in it as much as I can - I truly believe it is a healer!

Sylvia

sojourner

Thank you Sylvia, Megadosing on anything just doesn't seem to be a way for me to go. I also love the sun and get into in at every opportunity. If I read correctly, Dr. West from Cancer Grace suggests that there is still not enough evidence to state positively that Vitamin D3 is as effective as it is claimed to be. He suggests that the natural remedies should be put through the same tests as any man made drug that is put on the market.
As long as I feel good doing what I'm doing, I'm going to stick with it. I have always felt everything in moderation. My son-in-law wants to cure me and won't accept that at this point in time "cure" is not an option.
Blessings, Donna

Alisa

Vit. D3 is proving to be an excellent anti-cancer supplement. There is a lot of research published. Go to pubmed.com or lef.org. There are many doctors that would strongly disagree with Dr. West.

But I don't know about taking it with Tarceva ... I hear there are different restrictions with Tarceva than with other chemos, but not quite sure.

Alisa
single mother of twin boys
diagnosed at 43 yrs. old
NSCLC dx. July 2000, Stage 3a
August 2000 -lobectomy
September 2000 to January 2001
adjuvant chemo 6 cycles taxol/carboplatin
followup w/traditional chinese medicine
(consisting of chinese herbs and many vitamins)
Celebrex 400 mg/day
Getting CT Scan of Chest Every Six Months
Lost Mother/Grandfather/Aunts and Uncles all to nsclc
LostFather to prostate cancer that spread to the lungs

No Evidence of Disease since lobectomy

"When we think about living in balance, it often does not include spirituality, quiet time, healthy time, and rest. All too often, it means balancing the tasks that "have" to be done."

Keepnlucky

This is the first I've heard about vitamin D or D3. I know that with certain oral chemos (including some in test) they are very specific about supplements and rx's that cannot be taken with them. May be best to check with your onc. Bob

sojourner

Thanks for the reply on the vitamin D3. I don't take anything that isn't onc. approved and so far he has just said "don't megadose". I think I'm really looking for someone to give me some info that can convince my son-in-law to back down. I know he cares but he drives me nuts with everything he finds on-line and has a different "cure" for me every time I turn around. The latest is the D3.

Donna

heartlandjen

Donna,

I'm not sure what doses are being suggested to you..."megadosing" is kind of a subjective term. :) Your body will make at least 20,000IU of D3 per day by staying in the sun for 15 - 20 minutes in mid summer in the middle of the US. Just enough for your skin to lightly pink up but not burn. That is a "natural" dose, you might say. Most people are not out every single day of the year and so you can assume that amount is stored and used as needed.

A more leveled dose would be around 5000 IU per day - and you do have to have your blood levels monitored. As a cancer warrior, you'll want levels to stay above 50ng/ml at least - and some doctors say 70 ng/ml while you are fighting the cancer is better. Above 150ng/ml is considered toxicity.

So, the answer isn't necessarily the dose, it's your blood "serum" level. Whatever doses you take to get your serum level up to a place where it is effective and doesn't interfere with kidney function is where you want to be.

VitaminDCouncil.org is a good resource - is non profit and has wonderful research from clinical journals to reference.

God bless!!!

Jen

dusteerose

Hi Donna,

I just added vitamin D3 to my regime. I also take taxol/carbo. I have been taking a womens multi vitamin, flaxseed gelcap, turmeric gelcap, and immune booster called imm power and now added the D3.

I will see how it works.

Jen

drawing3d

In addition to what Heartlandjen kindly posted, here is another link regarding VitD3, sunshine, the correct way to test, etc.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/10/10/Vitamin-D-Exp erts-Reveal-the-Truth.aspx

God bless us all,
Ellen

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