Is there a list of supplements that are safe to take after initial treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. I see many different posts describing benefits and problems with taking supplements.
When I was originally diagnosed in 2017 at age 52 with metastatic prostate cancer, I was immediately proscribed ADT. I then went looking for help and went to a Natural Path Doctor. I was given a very long list of supplements to take. I probably only ended up taking half of what was on the list. During chemo and radiation treatments I was told by the Oncologist and Radiologist to stop taking most of these supplements. Since treatment I have added a few supplements back into my diet. I am fortunate to still be castrate sensitive with single ADT and would like to extend this with the help of supplements. Also to help with side effects of continuous ADT .
Thanks
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Islandboy2021
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Sulforaphane is the only supplement I've seen that has been clinically tested but hasn't been disproven. Avoid if getting radiation or chemo.
There are no supplements that have proven to extend hormone sensitivity.
I believe you should think about every bottle of supplement pills as a bottle of drug pills. The difference is that with pharmaceuticals, the drugs are tested for safety and efficacy. What is that pill doing in all the many systems in your body? You have no idea. How is it interacting with other drugs you are taking? You have no idea. What is actually in the bottle? You have no idea. Cancer weakens systems throughout one's body - is it a chance you want to take?
You can cause more harm than good with some of these supplements. Listen to your doctor.
I wouldn't take anything that isn't proven and I wouldn't listen to the people saying "Standard of Care Treatments are not enough, you need these other things in addition." You don't need anything that hasn't been tested clinically.
You should be cautious with supplements. 1. They are pretty much unregulated. So you really don't know if they in them what the bottle says they do. This is even a greater problem with lesser processed supplements whose active ingredients may vary substantially from harvest to harvest and grower to grower.
2. Many supplements may have effects and interactions that are unstudied and unknown. They could make things worse. This is more so if these are harvested supplements with a complex mix of natural substances that no one knows it is even composed of.
My concern regarding supplements in addition to those stated above is that the biology of our prostate cancers is so very variable and respond so different even to standard treatments available. I personally take none and follow only the advise of my MO at MSK, but that is only a personal decision and what works for me, so not recommending for you. The only “supplement” I engage in is daily vigorous exercise, and I mean vigorous (I know that wasn’t your real question). The expert on this forum and I believe in the world related to supplemental substances and prostate cancer is Nalakrats. Best probably to private message him.
The way I look at it is that you wouldn’t go to a urologist for gynecology issues so why would you go to an oncologist for nutritional advice. The argument guys have regarding the “not regulated” supplements don’t stand with us. GMO’s & Glyphosates are approved.
So get a team! We have naturopathic docs that run labs, nutritional genomes, and use my husband’s specific needs to help provide support.
Read “Eat to Beat disease” and “metabolic approach to cancer”. Both heavy in science.
Why would you only fight a battle with half the tools available??
I take an printed list of all prescriptions and supplements and vitamins to every doctor's visit. My list is a Spreadsheet which includes dose and time of day (Morning, Noon, Dinner, Bedtime), a comment column why I am taking it, and costs columns.
It is very important that we understand why we are taking a pill and what is in the pill. I take Preser Vision AREDS 2 for an eye problem per my retina doctor. Most nurses and doctors do not realize the amount of vitamin c and zinc (40 mg) in each pill and that a daily dose is one pill twice a day. This was important to me because I had a preop visit and the nurse said it was okay to take AREDS 2, but I asked about the zinc and she said do not take for 7 days before the surgery.
Looks like you've done well and that's great.
Unlike you, most people here have advanced prostate cancer (that's also the title of the forum). I had a friend with advanced prostate cancer who thought he could do alternatives and died soon after.
So it really depends on your situation. Someone in your situation can try things outside of the Standard of Care, as long as they are not harmful. But those with advanced prostate cancer need proven treatments.
I agree with most of the responses here. Focus on maintaining good general health ... a healthy diet, mostly plant based, few processed foods, get lots of exercise. Find an oncologist that you trust and follow his/her advice with regard to your cancer treatment. They are the experts. Don't complicate things by adding your own supplemental medication without their knowledge.
I also told you a few months ago you are in the advanced forum.It doesn't matter what you think your protocol will do for advanced patients.
You are replying in the wrong group period!
You dont ever add anything to the discussion except for one thing and one thing only------the N2000 supplement and poison outfit in Thailand that was fined and kicked out of the USA by the FDA.
There are plenty of people on this forum who don't even have prostate cancer or are not caregivers/advocates for those who do. They don't share their own cancer specifics or treatments, nor to they contribute anything positive to discussions, only their unproven alternatives agenda and bashing the Standard of Care and all of it's "terrible side effects".
Hopefully you can understand this.
Patients on an Advanced Prostate Cancer forum might not be impressed with someone who has very low risk Gleason 6 cancer and has (according to their own analysis) found success with their own alternative program.
We are knowledgable enough here to know that these patients can often do nothing and get similar results. Many of those here wish we were in that situation, so I'm really happy for you.
Just don't expect this audience to be impressed, in fact this kind of thing rubs some people the wrong way. Just sayin'.
Is that proven to suppress apca in humans as I have only seen it used mice ? Just kidding….
My Medical Oncologist, a researcher and professor of Genitourologic Cancers, told me in 2004, “Absolutely no supplementals and if you feel like you need, tell me first as too many interfere with treatment.” Those words were accurate then and are accurate today. Look there are some that take supplementals in this group, however, I select few coordinate with their treating physician. Very wise. Best of luck.
It discussed pros and cons of many items, tests many major brands for potency and quality, and gives pointers on saving money and cautions when purchasing. Well worth the money.
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