Hi! I’m wondering if I can take a lions mane supplement alongside letrozole, it’s supposed to be good for mood and concentration
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Hi Laney2
Thanks for posting.
Many people ask about vitamin and herb supplements as they want to do as much as possible to be healthy or to help manage the side effects from treatments such as letrozole. There is often the belief that vitamins and herbs are safe as they are considered natural.
However, herbal treatments don’t have to comply with the same regulations or rigorous testing that conventional medicines do. For many products there is a lack of research to support their use, and some can interfere with conventional medicines including cancer treatments.
It’s important to speak to your breast care nurse, treatment team, GP, or a pharmacist before taking any supplements.
You can search this American website, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, for information about individual herbs and vitamins including Lions Mane. There are sections on existing evidence and what known interaction there is with other medications. You may find that that some herbs have different names in America. You can also search herbal products and supplements on the European website Complementary and Alternative Medicine for cancer and on the American website Medicine Plus.
You mention that you are considering this supplement to help with mood and concentration. If you haven’t already done so we would encourage you to talk to your breast care nurse or GP about how you are feeling. You may also be interested in our information about Low mood following breast cancer treatment and Cognitive impairment. The emotional impact of breast cancer will be explored in more depth during one of our Speakers live events on the 3rd June.
We also offer a range of free supportive services for anyone who has had a diagnosis of breast cancer which you may be interested in. They include face to face and online courses and events.
You are welcome to call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to additional support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks.
The number is 0808 800 6000. If you have hearing or speech difficulties prefix our number with 18001 and the call will go through Relay UK. Our helpline has access to telephone interpreters if language translation is required.
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Best wishes
Val
Breast Care Nurse
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