Calcium & D3

[Chubby42]

Hi guys

After a bone scan I have been told by my Onc to take Calcium & D3 tablets as my bones had started to show signs of thining at my Hip & Spine.

When I went to the Chemist he suggested I just take the vitamin D3 as I already drink enough milk for the calcium, I drink the equivalent of 400 to 600ml a day should I be taking the extra calcium or not.

He suggested it as D3 helps the calcium bind to the bones.

Cheers

[Tall_Allen]

You should be taking enough to keep your blood levels normal. Have your blood tested first.

[Chubby42 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Ok will do thanks m8

[Pleroma]

Despite your daily intake of milk, your onc is concerned enough to want you on calcium supplements. So, I would go with his leading rather than the chemist's.

[Hidden]

I too have entered osteopenia after RT and adt starting over four years ago . My MO gave me my first of four bi-annual shots of Prolia . Good advice to start bone health nutrition now .. I also take strontium ,magnesium and boron under advice from my naturalpathic oncologist. Carpe diem

[tallguy2]

I have yogurt every day but have osteopenia (thank you, 7 years of ADT). So I take a calcium/mineral supplement twice a day (Prosteon; available via mail order), plus a Prolia shot every 6 months.

[timotur]

Check out almond milk, the better brands have about 45% drv of calcium per cup, more than milk..

[MateoBeach]

Yes: Prolia is the strong answer. -as long as your teeth are in good condition. Get a dentist exam before starting if it has been awhile. Then you will need more calcium than the typical recommendation for men as you will be actively building up bone mineralization. With lab monitoring of calcium, especially initially.

[Sillymary73]

My husband’s Onc told him 8,000 of D3 and Calcium

[pjoshea13]

When osteopenia/osteoporosis occurs with ADT, why suspect calcium or vitamin D deficiency? The obvious place to look is at estradiol [E2] levels. If E2 is below 12 pg/mL there will likely be bone loss. Men need E2 for bone health. We make E2 from testosterone.

I suggest getting E2 tested & asking for the lowest dose E2 patch, if necessary.

If E2 is OK, don't forget to add vitamin K2 to the calcium & vitamin D.

-Patrick

[Muffin2019]

I have been taking extra calcium for years, doc told me that is why the Mets we're not as severe and they are healing. I would listen and take it, it cannot hurt and helps the build the bone. Exercise also builds bone density so I walk almost every day when not working my part time job, I am 68.

[Chubby42 in reply to Muffin2019]

Thanks m8 will do, I walk the dog every day some times twice.

[chipler]

Take your Vit D3 with the fatty foods meal of the day for better absorption.

Your goal is 50 -80 on blood level check.

I am also reading that Mafnesium 400 mg helps absorption too.

[chipler in reply to chipler]

Anyone been told to use any thing besides Tums 500 mg daily?

[Break60 in reply to chipler]

I was never told that. I was taking calcium tablets and D tablets. No longer.

[chipler in reply to Break60]

My bone scan showed osteoporosis and osteopenia so Vit D3, Tums, and Xgiva shot (double strength Prolia) quarterly for me.

Bone scan #2 one year later and #3 another year later show are improving. Yay.

[kaptank]

See PJ's comment above. Low E2 may be a contributing factor. But I think anyone on ADT needs to watch calcium levels and bone thinning. Ca should be taken with magnesium (helps absorption) and with D3 (5000 IU or above). Also as Patrick says don't forget vitamin K2. It promotes Ca transport to bone (rather than hanging around in arteries calcifying). There are several forms of K2. The ones you want are K2MK4 and K2MK7.

[Break60]

I thought no you should be getting xgeva shots if you’re not already.

[chipler]

Dogma (set by big pharma) has doctors giving Xgiva monthly. My Onc feels that quarterly is sufficient. At the last ASCO Meeting many docs have moved to quarterly shots.

[monte1111 in reply to chipler]

Very interesting. I get monthly xgeva shots. I do have extensive bone mets though. That may make a difference?

[chipler in reply to monte1111]

Monte, your extensive mets is probably why.

[JimVanHorn]

I was on Lupron for 6 1/2 years and afterwards my Vitamin D3 was extremely low even though I was taking 2000 IU daily. It turns out that there is a reserve in the body of vitamin D3 and when this reserve is low it is had to build up your levels. On a prescription I am taking 100,000 Units per week of Vitamin D3 for the last 6 months. My level is 27 now and I have way to go. I recommend to everyone to make a notebook of all of your lab results so you can g back in time and see levels of all of your tests. My doctors allow me to print out my labs on my home computer.