What's the buzz on Vitamin D?

• By Nanamom
• Reply 645048
• December 1, 2009 at 10:22 am
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Yes! My dietician recommended 1000 iu of vitamin D3 for cancer patients. The normal recommendation is 400 iu. One of my oncs says that women in sunny, tropical areas have a lower incidence of ovarian cancer. He said that it was due to the presence of vitamin D from the sun. I also find that my leg pains are less of a problem when I take vitamin D3. I have been taking 1000 iu for several month.

You can get tested to determine you levels. This is a vitamin where too much may cause problems.

• By Milashka
• Reply 645119
• December 1, 2009 at 10:55 am
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I had routine blood work last month and they now check for vitamin D deficiency, and lo and behold I am deficient. My doctor said he himself takes 1000 iu a day, so that's what I started taking. I think everything up to 2000 iu is safe, but I also heard that some cancer patients get injections of up to 50,000 iu (obviously under supervision).

• By FavoriteAunt (Inactive)
• Reply 645299
• December 1, 2009 at 1:07 pm
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I've been taking Vitamin D in Fosamax and in daily supplements for years, but it is for osteoporosis, not cancer. My onc. has approved that I can continue taking that while in treatment, but not other supplements.

• By NINE-LIVES
• Reply 645463
• December 1, 2009 at 3:00 pm
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Vit D is not just helpful for cancer it is also good for general health. I take 2,000 units a days every day.

Most Americans avoid the sun and are deficient....Everyone should ask for a Vit D test every 6 months until they are level.

They have a RX form that they gave my healthy Mom - who was deficient - 50,000 unts per week - in one pill.

Jane

• By Brown_Eyes (Inactive)
• Reply 645657
• December 1, 2009 at 5:46 pm
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Wow, I'm so glad you posted this discussion. I started to the other day and was too tired to type anything coherant...

I just started taking Vit D3 last night and it has ALREADY helped my mood, my patience, my energy.... I was told that it is very helpful for seasonal depression and I'm really hoping the improvement trend continues!!! I've been really depressed and irritable and tired and grouchy and just felt like the sky was falling all the time... And I felt worse when it started getting darker earlier outdoors. I was able to be more positive/less irritable/more relaxed with all of my little elementary school aged art students today. I'm thrilled. I'm curious to see how I feel in another week or so.

I'm taking 1000units in the morning and the same in the evening to equal the 2000 per day...

Thanks again for posting this discussion :)

• By tomd
• Reply 645758
• December 1, 2009 at 7:40 pm
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Not just plain D but D3.

tomd

• By lifeisgrand
• Reply 645797
• December 1, 2009 at 8:07 pm
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I saw my gynecologist today for my annual exam and asked him to do the vitamin D test. I've been taking 1000 D3 along with my calcium (800 mg which also has another 200 D and magnesium) and am quite curious to see what my levels are. I stayed off of everything during my chemo. My doctor did tell me to take the calcium along with the D3 and to take it twice a day and not just the once I had been doing. I'm also getting the bone density study on Friday.

• By lifeisgrand
• Reply 645798
• December 1, 2009 at 8:08 pm
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I saw my gynecologist today for my annual exam and asked him to do the vitamin D test. I've been taking 1000 D3 along with my calcium (800 mg which also has another 200 D and magnesium) and am quite curious to see what my levels are. I stayed off of everything during my chemo. My doctor did tell me to take the calcium along with the D3 and to take it twice a day and not just the once I had been doing. I'm also getting the bone density study on Friday.

• By Jen457
• Reply 646118
• December 2, 2009 at 1:29 am
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My understanding in that it is not uncommon for cancer patients to have a vitamin D deficiency.

• By fightgirlandi
• Reply 646204
• December 2, 2009 at 7:37 am
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WOW ladies! Thanks for the GREAT info. I will have a vitamin D test done w/my blood on Monday.

• By Magdeline
• Reply 646233
• December 2, 2009 at 8:06 am
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My doctor checked my D level and it was low. She put me on a prescription strength D. I took it once a week for six weeks. I will have new labs done in two weeks. I have felt much better. I live in Chicago and it is not sunny today. We are going to get rain and snow. when I was in Chemo they told us to stay out of the sun. Best to all God Bless Maggie

• By Debofil
• Reply 646280
• December 2, 2009 at 8:45 am
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Thank you for posting this ! I too will ask my doctor to call in a test when I get my blood test next week .
I had hear this before too - about vitamin D deficiency,
but was conflicted about it because I heard that people shouldn't take too much either. I do go outside every day and walk, but not sure if that is enough.

Deb

• By laberg777
• Reply 646303
• December 2, 2009 at 9:00 am
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I just got tested for Vitamin D deficiency. I'm not, thankfully.
This is something that a friend of mine sent to me on a study here's the link. Its quite informative.

Click on address below, I would read it first,the video is a bit long but very good.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/10/10/Vitamin-D-Exp erts-Reveal-the-Truth.aspx

• By lovemnms
• Reply 646313
• December 2, 2009 at 9:07 am
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I was prescribed 50,000 units per week of Vit. D.
Maybe it's making a difference but I don't see or feel a change.

• By Doreen0511
• Reply 646328
• December 2, 2009 at 9:17 am
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I was in GNC a few months ago getting Turmeric Curcumin which is supposed to help with cancer. While I was there this elderly couple was telling the sales clerk that they had just left their physician and he told them to take D3 to prevent the flu. I bought it on the spot and been taking it since then. I have been having lots of problems with neuropathy and my oncologist prescribed neurontin and otc B6. The neurontin and B6 has made me 95% symptom free in one week. I feel almost human again.

• By ldianne
• Reply 646330
• December 2, 2009 at 9:19 am
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I have been taking 6,000 units of vitamin D per day and now I will cut back to 4,000. I have not seen a dramatic
difference but I know that before I was diagnosed
with Ovarian Cancer, I had virtually no vitamin D in
my system.

My CA 125 remains at 9......perhaps this is helping.

In any event, my nutritionist says that the recommended
daily doseage is way to low especially for cancer patients....

• By Milashka
• Reply 646338
• December 2, 2009 at 9:23 am
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I will take my blood work results to my oncologist in two weeks and ask him about the D deficiency, and if he thinks I should be on prescription strength.

I swear it makes a difference with my moods, irritability, etc when I take it, although it may also be the vitamin B stress supplement I recently added. I think I am deficient on many levels...

• By nnavarro
• Reply 647082
• December 2, 2009 at 5:35 pm
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I am so thankful to all of you ladies and this site; I have gotten so much information in the last few weeks since I signed on. Didn't know about D3--will check out the health foods store for it when I'm there next. Thank you so much!

• By RhodaLois
• Reply 647121
• December 2, 2009 at 5:59 pm
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I, too, was Vitamin D deficient and am taking D now but will look into D3 now that I've read these posts.

For depression, take 1 oz. of DARK chocolate a day for at least 14 days....I'll let you know if it works. 13 more days to go. But how does one stop? :-)

• By lifeisgrand
• Reply 647137
• December 2, 2009 at 6:08 pm
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There is really no reason to stop Rhoda. Dark chocolate (get the 62% or higher) is full of antioxidants and a anti-cancer staple. Along with a glass of red wine. Heh I'm not arguing either recommendation :)