Your doctor is right (about supplements, not about remission) and his statement (about supplements) is 100% supported by real science! Buying supplements is a waste of money. There are no "magic pills" that can replace or enhance regular healthy foods. Do something nice for that money instead!
My primary doctor, who is widely regarded as one of the best in the area, just recommended to me today that I supplement with Vitamin D3 as my lab result for Vitamin D came back at 22.4 ng/mL. This is well below the reference range of 30 - 100 ng/mL.
In addition, this same primary doctor recommended to me red yeast rice to reduce my total cholesterol which has been running over 250 for the past few years. She gave me an ultimatum. A statin or a red yeast rice supplement. I've been on red yeast rice (one she recommended for its safety/efficacy) for 6 months. My first cholesterol blood work after 3 months came back at 160, and my latest (6 month marker), came back at 180. My cholesterol had been running high for years. I literally changed nothing else in my routine.
I eat healthy (usually organic), weigh 150 lbs. (not overweight), don't smoke/rarely drink and lead a very healthy (albeit a bit sedentary lifestyle).
My point being is that it is of my opinion that your statement is disingenuous. Supplements can in fact, help. There are NIH studies that support this as well (at least in the case of Vitamin D).
Awesome. By the way, for anyone interested in supplements, I recommend subscribing to ConsumerLaab.com, an independent lab that reviews supplements and other products. They don't review every product, or every brand for every product reviewed, but they do let you know which products tested contain correct amounts and which don't. For each product, there is a wealth of background info on what it is, what it (supposedly) does, etc. Well worth the $48/year.
Thanks i had not seen that. I'll be curious how thorough all that testing will be. Swanson, for example makes a ton of supps, but only 4 or 5 have been tested by CL. Ditto for every major supp. brand. I wrote Swanson and they said they do their own testing, so the only products tested by CL are ones CL chooses to test.
In your situation I would be tempted to give up on red yeast and get a prescription from my doctor for Lipitor, possibly the most effective of all statins. Red yeast is in the marketplace of statins labeled lovastatin. It’s one of the least effective of the statins. Lipitor and Zocor outperform it in clinical trials.
I've been taking supplements to help with atrial fibrillation for decades. CoQ10, Magnesium citrate, L-Arginine, L-Taurine. In preparing for a-fib ablation surgery I discontinued these (wanted to be in a-fib). Prior to the ablation surgery they told me my magnesium level was low and gave me a slug of magnesium so don't lay that blanket "supplements are all bad and worthless" bleep on me. I took iodoral, an iodine/iodize supplement that cured my peyronies that likely resulted from being on ADT for six months. iodine deficiency is very likely if your diet doesn't resemble those who live in Japan. Salt is 'iodized' so they are forcing iodine supplementation on all of us. I take several supplements to help battle prostate cancer. Can I prove that they work? No. Can you prove that they don't?
For me, changing my lifestyle after diagnosis, i.e. vegetarian diet, yoga exercise, meditation, supplements, etc. Was a way of taking back control of my life. I do not claim any of this cures cancer. But to continue the same old habits is like continuing to smoke while crying to the doctor to cure you of lung cancer.
Making all of these changes goes a long way to improving physical health and mental attitude, which cannot be bad for cancer. For 28 years it worked for me.
Oops, sorry for rant. If you would like some recommendations on suppliments, vitamin D3, IP6, selenium+vitamin E, Essiac tea. I know there are those who will disagree with me on some of these. My advice is do your own research and do what feels right for you.
There is a psychological benefit to feeling like you have some control over the situation. As long as whatever you're taking is safe and doesn't interfere with tests or drugs that have proven benefit, what's the harm?
Possible side effects of "harmless" supplements, as suggested in psychological studies, are that many of those who take supplements make less healthy diets, exercise less, etc. Do you think such negative effects are outweighed by the feeling of control?
I see the opposite in patients I work with - those who take harmless (and probably useless) supplements also improve diets, exercise more, and make other positive lifestyle changes. The same motivation - to wrest a semblance of control - motivates all of those behaviors. But I agree that there is definitely a danger that one will think a handful of pills from Amazon is all one needs. I think that the best approach to treating cancer is holistic, meaning body, mind, and spirit. If someone gets a spiritual boost by magical thinking (i.e., taking an unproven supplement), why not? I believe in engaging the body (real medicines, good diet, exercise and lifestyle) and the mind (e.g., mindfulness, psychotherapy/psychomeds, positive thinking) and spirit (e.g., religion, friends and family, support groups, entertainment, sports, art, magic, etc.).
Yea .... add me to the “ take back control “ illusion too. Nal caused me to eat that mountain of fruit pectin every day and I peeked at Scott’s pill rack and copied almost everything he had that you can get otc. I know it’s probably worthless but I’m following the guys that have had unusually long , strong, and unexpected runs here ... I feel like I’m doing something , at least a little bit and those guys are walking advertising for their regimen. Like you said “ what’s the harm “ .... except for all those fruit bats and honey bees that pester me when I’m walking around outside ...
My working rule is that any alternative must be relatively simple and inexpensive. I haven't done IV-C, I don't make my own RSO, or ship up my own Liposomal C, or buy expensive "proproetary" blends of supplements at triple the price. I don't have a naturopathic doctor, either. I also rotate onto and off of various supplements regularly, so I don't take 100 pills per day.
I hear that. There is nothing inexpensive about several of the “ supplements “ I take. That modified fruit pectin, alone, is pretty costly. I think I take around 25 pills every morning including prescriptions, and additional pills during the day. I’m out of the cannabis world now, banished by my opiate abuse contract with Kaiser. They check my blood monthly along with numerous “ surprise “ DAP “ pee tests. Just had another one this week. A lot of guys here are deep serious about their supplements, they talk about it now and then but mostly are relatively quiet about it .... lots of clashing thoughts related to supplements here. I don’t really know “ Jack “ about them , so I just find the guys that are doing long term amazing and emulate them , hoping for the same success that they feel they get as a result of their regimen. Like TA said , it gives me a sense that I may have a hand in things . Other than the “ mini-arm “ growing out of my chest, they seem harmless. Yayahahahaya yayahahahaya.
I assume at this late date there is a comprehensive list of supplements/off-label meds that conflict with ADT, Zytiga, Xtandi, chemo, etc., as demonstrated in clinical trials on humans, and that oncologists are generally familiar with that literature.
Aye, there's the rub... that's exactly why I wrote "As long as whatever you're taking is safe and doesn't interfere with tests or drugs that have proven benefit." You can be sure that none of the supplements/off-label meds have been tested against any of the standard-of-care meds. In fact, there are many conflicts. See, for example:
Even the one supplement that I think may have some benefit (sulforaphane) should not be used with radiation or chemo. In fact, all supplements should be avoided with radiation or chemo until tested with them (e.g., the test of iv ascorbic acid with docetaxel).
We are just beginning to learn about the importance of the microbiome in health and disease. Many supplements overwhelm the protective effect that has co-evolved with us over millions of years.
Most supplements you see mentioned in this forum and on the internet have only lab or mouse studies, epidemiological studies, or observational studies as "evidence." Those kinds of studies are only meant to spur hypotheses for real evidence. 9 times out of 10 they fail to show benefit and may show harm when examined in clinical trials. If there is any evidence in early studies that there may be harm, they should be avoided.
My husband believes in his food and exercise changes - our daughters see it as Dad wants to live his best life and is doing everything he can to stay healthy and hopeful. 🏃♂️😷🥬🥒🌶 🧘
I'm sure that they learn little about supplements in Med school. I can also be cynical and suggest that since they can't make money off supplements they can't be bothered researching or considering them.
interesting. Dr Marc Scholtz was talking in favor of supplementsRegarding markers he suggested try supplements if you feel better keep going otherwise stop
There is no harm ...if supplements are quite known..
There is no one fit all supplement
On this forum we can share how it works for me...not sure it will work for you...
Karmaji, My research on supplements over the last 27 years with PCa and 22 years after BCR and mets (2017)are at this website under Peter's note at rvaprostatecancersupport.orgI have germline TMPRSS2-erg mutation and my PSA is 0.056 in Oct. 2020 .
I use these Drugs, many off label, ( Casodex 150mg, Dutasteride, Proscar, doxycycline 100mg/day, Dostinex, Femara, Metformin, Vitamin D3 17,000 IU as i am a poor absorber of vitamin D3 ( blood level = 100 ng/ml) besides tons of Supplements I have researched . All the best, RVA Luna
Yes, that and also other supplements that lower a man's testosterone might help fighting PC: chips, chocolate, cookies, cakes and other pastries, and soda! More serious: humor therapy can help you feel better by making you less stressed and worried.
You have seen how widely diverse the opinions on supplements are among APC patients here. Here is mine. There are no known supplements that can effectively treat advanced PC. However there is a lot of sound science that suggests that some supplements (things added to SOC) or combinations of supplements MAY help to slow the trajectory of progression of prostate cancer. These are not proven in randomized clinical trials and nor are they disproven in most cases. There is just very much sound laboratory (cell cultures and animal models) to consider. When you do your own investigation you should stick with peer reviewed scientific papers by searching on sites such as PubMed and not just on Google. Pjoshea13 has already done very much groundwork to hat you can search his posts for links on this forum. Worth following. LearnAll and some others also are well informed and open minded on science based supplements.
I am currently supplementing with the medications atorvastatin, metformin and celecoxib. And also the nutritional or plant based supplements of Curcumin, Pterostilbene, Quercetin, Zinc, Vit D3 with K2, and EGCG for example. I can make no claims for them. They might or might not be helpful. But they are doing no harm. So I choose to take them. They will not be tested in my lifetime in controlled trials and I have but one life to live. That’s my view.
Myself very little knowdgable.However following this forum and reading published research work with caution as some publications may be cut and paste for professional CV
I take with knowledge of my docs
5 mg tadalafil
500 mg metformin
10 mg atorvastatin
vit D K 100000 iu/m
aspirin 200 mg/d
and on my own
glucosamine msm Ip6
melatonin 3 mg
walking in hills 1h30 plus daily
veg diet with ginger curcumin cayenne red rosé wine coffee no sugar as suits my stomach
1.5 l water with high sod bicarb
to help Ph
No marker to say if they do any dommage ...listen to my mind body..'
On adt every 3 month
had RT 20 sessions with pelvic RT
T3B with 2 metas on pelvic gl 8
BMI 19 stable
age 80...non white
apc since may 2018 psa 30
Since a year psa < 0.03
over all ok..tired without being tired...some blood clots once a while....pipi 1 or 2 at night
I already was having good diet, good BMI and was doing a lot of sport, so no life style change !
Here are my treatments:
A) Hormone, the exact opposite of usual ADT: injection of Testosterone Enanthate 250mg every 2 weeks (prescription by my urologist !)
+ Arimidex (bought in Thailand) 0.5 mg every other day (I'm probably wrong with Arimidex)
B) LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone) 4.5 mg /d, cycle of 3 days ON, 3 days OFF
Vitamin D about 10k IU/d
C1) Joe Tippens Protocol
Fenbendazol 500mg X 3 each day during 2 weeks. Now: 250mg/d as Joe.
Curcumin
CBD
C2) Metabolic treatment
Sodium R lipoate
Garcinia Cambogia
Lithothamn
Berberin
Bromelain
Phycocyanine
C3) Artemesinin + Artemisia annua by one week cure (beware of your red blood cells!) + Hydroxychloroquin (bought in Tanzania)
It's alot ! But it suceeded ! I am unable to know which one is effective. Because my PSA is low, it cannot be used to monitor progression or regression of PCa, so I'm blind.
Notice:
A) Is permanent. I was on T before the first MRI. As soon as PCa was suspected, I stopped T, but after 6 weeks, I restarded it, adding Arimidex. Better have an androgen sensititive cancer than an insensitive one.
B) Is permanent.
Because ART is oxydative, curcumin and C2) have to be stopped 2 days before and 2 days after C3.
Now, because the thread is vanishing I am to alternate C1, C2, C3 every 2 weeks.
Before, I was using all these treatments at the same time (except C3 of course).
After 3 months of this treatment, a second MRI showed that there is probably no more PCa, and my prostate shrank.
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Mets to lungs and lymph nodes need some advice 
Calcium supplements needed?
Need opinions regarding sbrt prior to Lu 177
Questions regarding a lupron/Zytega “vacation” and regarding Zometa with Celebrex. 
