The trial I am considering is in the US, at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, and it’s very small, so I doubt anyone in the UK will have heard anything about it. I found it by accident, after reading some comments about it on a US forum. It’s a vaccine trial - there are quite a few going on, but I don’t know if there are any in the UK at the moment.
We haven’t extended our conversations here beyond diet to support chemo and all the other treatments. I can well understand in your position wanting to explore all avenues - but do please be very careful.
Hello all, in all the research we’ve posted on Vitamin D, I can’t remember if we’ve looked at the link with vit D and obesity.
The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Centre say:
‘It is thought that obese and overweight people have lower levels of vitamin D because the nutrient is stored in fat deposits. During weight loss, it is suspected that the vitamin D that is trapped in the fat tissue is released into the blood and available for use throughout the body.’
So losing weight can help to get vit D circulating. It looks like this could be one of the reasons that overweight/obese people are more prone to diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
Jo - you sound very busy! Well done for fitting in time for all your veg etc., that can’t be easy. With regard to veg, the fibre content seems to be important so although juicing is great, it won’t give you the fibre. But perhaps you’re also eating a lot of veg too?
we don’t tend to discuss supplementing to any great degree on this site because we’re not allowed to post any dosages. We do tend to look for research evidence if anyone finds something that might be of interest.
I’d also be wary of various theories out there unless they’ve been researched. The place to have a look is Pubmed which shows academic research - otherwise you could be forking out a lot of money for something that will have no effect.
Elinda x
Lack of Vit D is being linked to type 2 diabetes in research being reported on the radio today - I find it interesting that yet another link with Vit D and health is emerging and that several links between type 2 diabetes and BC issues are emerging (like others on this site my OH is type 2 so we are following lots of the same guidance and ideas…)
Hi Fran - It does seem like of all of a sudden there’s alot of info about vit D - would be wonderful if something as simple as that could have a significant impact on some of these dreadful diseases. I know there’s a way to go with the research but at least its under way.
Jo - another thought related to all this, it might be worth getting your Vit D level checked if you wanted to do something else. It does cost about £150 (or so some have been charged) and you’d probably be best having it done summer and then winter. The August copy of ‘Good Housekeeping’ has a very interesting article on it. I’m going to get my vit D level checked this winter.
Elinda x
My GP ordered a blood test that checked my Vit D levels (among many other things) on the NHS. I just asked her to add it to the request form. I was diagnosed with osteopenia and have been taking Vit D for about three years, along with calcium. My levels were within the normal range. So it is possible to have it done on the NHS, I would not have been able to afford the 150 pounds.
Hi RM, it seems to be patchy. I know of a couple of people who have asked and had to pay for it. Always worth asking to have it done on the NHS.
Good news that your vit D levels are within normal range when you’re supplementing. Out of interest, were you advised to supplement or was it something you decided to do yourself? Elinda x
I put myself on both supplements being aware of the risks of osteoporosis due to steroid use for Rh. Arthritis.
The Marsden wrote to my GP telling her I should continue them. My GP had already prescribed calcium for me because I told her I was taking it but said she could not prescribe the Vit D. When I discussed this with the hospital staff they said to ask her to prescribe the combination tablet that had both Calcium and Vit D.
I saw her yesterday with this suggestion and she told me that the combination tablet only has a very small amount of Vit D. I’m still thinking about this but as I have plenty of Vit D tablets left there is no pressure. I’ll ask about it -ie the appropriate doseage-on my next visit to the Marsden.
Thanks, i’d like to hear what they say. As you’re current dose is keeping you within normal range I expect your GP is wondering if lowering the dose won’t. Be very interesting to know the Marsden’s perspective. Elinda x
Hi Diana - I’d be interested too. Vitamin D was the only one of the supplements i’m taking that the Oncologist said was “worth it” - it didn’t stop me taking the others i take though. I’ve always been very curious about the dosage as i find the info is very contradictory. Thanks
Following on from the earlier discussion about weight loss and Lemongrove’s question as to whether it does in fact reduce oestrogen - this study is helpful:
It doesn’t look at weight loss specifically, but at very moderate amounts of exercise, and found that for post-menopausal women (50-74) just under 3 hours exercise a week reduces oestrogen levels and increases the levels of the binding protein that locks up oestrogen.
But this study looked specifically at weight loss in post-menopausal women at high risk for bc or recurrence, and found that it did indeed reduce oestrogen and improved various other biomarkers for breast cancer risk.
Hi Leadie - no I haven’t looked specifically for Scandinvian studies, but if they are published in English I guess they would be picked up by databases like Pubmed.
Thanks for info on oestrogen and exercise Flinty - now I know why exercise is the one life style change my Onc really encourages - will keep walking (or dragging myself “around” if it’s a low energy day…)!! It’s good to know the science behind the advice.
Looking at the research that Finty posted, I see the exercise needs to be moderate to vigorous. I was wondering that as about just under 3 hours a week doesn’t seem much and it would be hard to think that most people don’t do that anyway.
That will be quite a challenge for those of us with fatigue but I’m going to give it a go. I think dancing to music in my own house is where I’ll start - I can’t face an aerobics class! Elinda x
Hi
Whilst we’re on the topic of exercise/life style, I came across below initiative from Macmillan who established a ‘Physical Activity Expert Advisory Group for Cancer Survivorship’. Basically a group that has summarised published literature and research on the benefits of exercise and other lifestyle factors – the review was commissioned by Macmillan.
Don’t be put off by the length of the document, there is an executive summary at the start of the doc and evidence-based recommendations towards the end of the document. Also, only the first part of the document relates to bc – other cancers are also discussed.
Hope you’ll find it of interest.
Nikki x
It’s frustrating when they don’t say what the exercise is - but given the age of the group my guess is that it would mainly be walking. I’m pretty sure that if you walk at a pace that gets you a little breathless, that would count as moderate, and if you include some uphill work, that might even be vigorous. For what it’s worth my pedometer counts a brisk walking pace as aerobic if you keep it up for more than 10 minutes. I do hope it helps with your fatigue.
Nikki - that is progress - thanks. I just read the summary, but it makes clear why so few oncs give diet/lifestyle advice - they clearly feel very uncomfortable doing so.
I suspect that moderate and vigorous means different things to different bodies - at the moment a walk on the flat wipes me out and gets all organs pumping but I’m sure it would have no benefit for Paula Radcliffe…