Which supplements are members using f... - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

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Which supplements are members using for advanced prostate? I take curcumin and others. I want to know more.

Cebubob profile image
101 Replies

I am diagnosed stage 4 adeno carcinoma of prostate.

Receiving Erleada and injections of Leuprolide.

I want to supplement with everything known to fight this thing.

Who has a list?

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Cebubob profile image
Cebubob
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101 Replies
6357axbz profile image
6357axbz

curcumin, green tea extract, melatonin, metformin, Zyflamend

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply to6357axbz

kewl, thanks

6357axbz profile image
6357axbz in reply toCebubob

I don’t know that these supplements will have a positive effect on my cancer and I take them for other anti-inflammatory benefits, however that’s not to say they don’t have a positive effect on PCa. There simply is not enough time or money to do clinical trials on then, besides big pharma won’t invest in potential beneficial drugs that are dirt cheap. I do stop all supplements a week ahead of labs to minimize any impact on PSA and other markets. I suggest you read Creating Anticancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber.

mrscruffy profile image
mrscruffy

Nothing for cancer, all for muscle growth and bone health

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen

No supplements are known to fight PCa, although some (like curcumin) may mask rises in PSA.

prostatecancer.news/2019/04...

SierraSix profile image
SierraSix in reply toTall_Allen

Yikes. What do you do if you are on a statin

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen in reply toSierraSix

CV disease is 20 times as deadly as prostate cancer -- I'd stay on statins.

SierraSix profile image
SierraSix in reply toTall_Allen

Could you stop taking your statin a week before your PSA test? And resume afterwards?

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen in reply toSierraSix

I don't think it's worth stopping.

Nugger profile image
Nugger in reply toSierraSix

Research statins & that will give you your answer, nuf said!

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply toSierraSix

Web site statins.com is out there to help your research.

vintage42 profile image
vintage42 in reply toTall_Allen

Looks like curcumin does cause inaccurate PSA readings. I have been shaking turmeric powder on a salad everyday, and I see that turmeric powder contains 2-8% curcumin. Maybe used as a spice, turmeric has no effect on the body like a concentrated supplement would.

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen in reply tovintage42

Right! Big difference between foods and supplements.

TC007 profile image
TC007 in reply toTall_Allen

Hearing this broken record from Tall Allen since last few years! curcumin masks PSA! What's the logic of this? NONE! By same logic is PSA remains low on drugs and Progression found in Scans why don't he say "drugs masks PSA"?

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen in reply toTC007

You would have to, you know, actually READ the article.

TC007 profile image
TC007 in reply toTall_Allen

Personally, its a dumb logic with no "Science" behind it. Even if its true it makes no difference if someone is taking Cucumin consistently. Even "Masked" PSA will show movement (if any). It not going to stay at a constant number.

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen in reply toTC007

Science does not depend on your personal brand of logic, only on empirical observation. Masking an important biomarker is dangerous because the masking is inconsistent, and there is no proven benefit.

Biotin is another Pan-Assay Interference Compound (PAIN):

In late November 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a safety alert to make the public and healthcare practitioners more aware that biotin can “significantly interfere with certain lab tests and cause incorrect test results…” According to the safety alert, there has been “an increase in the number of reported adverse events [injuries associated with medical care], including one death, related to biotin interference with lab tests.”

TC007 profile image
TC007 in reply toTall_Allen

What curcumin has to do with Biotin? They are not even closely related! Does that mean you were giving wrong advice to people on Cucumin for years? I have seen lot of people commenting in the past that they stopped taking curcumin before PSA based on your ill advice

Cucumin, also known as curcumin, is a compound found in turmeric. It is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Biotin, on the other hand, is a B-vitamin (vitamin B7) that plays a role in the health of the skin, hair, and nails, as well as in metabolism.

Curcumin does not contain biotin. They are two distinct substances with different chemical structures and functions. If you're looking to get biotin in your diet, you would need to consume foods rich in biotin, such as eggs, nuts, seeds, and certain vegetables, or consider a biotin supplement.

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen in reply toTC007

Both Biotin (which is a common supplement) and curcumin and other supplements are known to be Pan-Assay Interference Compound (PAINs).

You can read about curcumin as a PAIN in this peer-reviewed article in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry:

pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ac...

I mentioned it because the FDA issued a warning that Biotin interferes with RadioImmunoAssays - tests which I helped develop many years ago.

This alert in Nature warns that many patients are duped by PAINS:

nature.com/articles/513481a

MoonRocket profile image
MoonRocket

I used to take supplements, now I take no supplements. It's a complete waste of money.

TC007 profile image
TC007 in reply toMoonRocket

depends what you are trying to acheive, what you are taking and its therapeutic dose. I have seen my father struggle for first 4 months but after 18 months he is doing well...don't think ADT kept him well but additional supplements he takes helped keep his immune system strong. I am least bothered if any supplement NOT reducing the PSA pr Tumor size. I do believe taking right supplements is helpful. Also doses matters. 1 cap of anything wont move the needle!

MoonRocket profile image
MoonRocket in reply toTC007

but additional supplements he takes helped keep his immune system strong

How do you even know this to be the case? Did you do testing on your father's immune system?

If one is deficient in a vital mineral or vitamin, supplement, but to take supplements thinking it's going to have an impact on the cancer is wishful thinking. I was a wishful thinker and now I'm not.

TC007 profile image
TC007 in reply toMoonRocket

what you believe in? Clinical trials data which can be faked? Just like what Pluvicto did? In this capitalist world they will sell you everything including manipulated Clinical trial data. nature.com/articles/s44276-...

MoonRocket profile image
MoonRocket in reply toTC007

Uh oh.... triggered. What does this have to do with my reply? As for the Pluvicto issue, that's about the control arm treatment. It's not fake science, it's just choosing a control arm....which by the way is advertised at the beginning of the trial and is approved by the FDA.

The supplement industry does not operate outside the "capitalist system", many snake oil sales in that space.

TC007 profile image
TC007 in reply toMoonRocket

Not triggertriggered at all! Your life your choices. My choice is to be open minded and make use of both traditional and modern science. Till yesterday, Pulsed Magnetic therapy was considered as "Snake oil" but now its part of cutting edge science. So Science changes everyday. Its upto you how much you want to research for urself or solely be dependent on FDA approvals on everything

MoonRocket profile image
MoonRocket in reply toTC007

Pulse Magnetic therapy is FDA approved. Please leave me alone...your comments are tiresome and nonsensical.

Derf4223 profile image
Derf4223

I take vitamin exercise.

London441 profile image
London441

Exercise. Without it, all the supplements you can consume won’t help you. With it, you will thrive, especially if you eat well. Supplements are the least important metric, exercise the most.

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply toLondon441

Thanks

icanwintwice profile image
icanwintwice in reply toLondon441

when you say eat well. Could you be more specific…

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply toicanwintwice

Sure, leafy green salad every day with nuts and dried cranberry, chicken, many different kinds of fish, green tea daily, avoiding dairy and sugars. Nothing fanatical.

London441 profile image
London441 in reply toicanwintwice

You asked! I'll try.

There are countless opinions on what that means, and easily hundreds of books on the subject of specific foods you should eat. My opinion is just one, and I am not a writer, expert or authority of any kind. I don't think my diet is necessarily ideal at all-certainly not the most original. But it's pretty good.

I eat food, basically. Cooked and uncooked. I choose specifically what is known as 'whole' food, simply meaning unprocessed. In many different recipes and combinations.

What I don't eat, as far as possible:

Food with Dyes, artificial flavors and colors, preservatives, added sugar, sodium, fat, etc etc. Corn syrup is but one example of a nutritionally empty food that is added to the vast majority of food products in the average supermarket. Not only not nutritious but harmful. There are many, many more. Most of the chemical additives are completely unfamiliar to consumers even if they read labels, which mostly they don't. I don't go crazy though. If I'm in a restaurant where such products may be used, then I don't worry about it because I choose restaurants for the quality of food they claim to serve, and if they go astray sometimes it's insignificant, if only because it's a small percentage- I mostly eat at home, or at the home of like-minded (nutritionally) friends and family.

What I do eat:

Vegetables, leafy, cruciferous all of them. Beans. Nuts. Eggs. Select fruits, fish. Some meat, dairy and poultry-organic and local sourced where possible, which fortunately I can afford. Oats, rice. Fresh juices, water. I am not vegan or vegetarian. Herbs and spices. Teas and coffee. Few sugars and carbohydrates in general but I do enjoy them occasionally. Protein supplementation where needed-I believe older people especially often don't get enough. I definitely believe in enjoying meals (especially in a social setting) and not being too strict-what I eat the majority of the time is what matters, not depriving myself. Select vitamin supplements if they are specific to my health.

I don't fast, I don't do diets. I do eat less as I age, but so far my activity level is good enough to maintain a healthy weight and body composition-the amounts would definitely be not recommended for someone sedentary. The biggest challenge as I age is to restrict calories-if one is aging well and wants to have the best chance to live long that way, less food is non-negotiable. We'll see which way I go.

I wrote all this to say the list of what comprises 'eating well' for me obviously contains some foods others would say are toxic, harmful. I don't mind. Let them eat what they want, I'm tempted to judge when it comes to overeating, especially processed food-people should know how unhealthy and addictive it is. Yet some do it all the time and damn the torpedoes. Again, different strokes etc.

Yes we sometimes contract diseases, and ultimately die anyway. I eat well much more for quality of life than longevity. That said, the majority of what I eat is on the list of recommended 'longevity' foods by nearly all nutritionists, health experts etc. It's not mysterious, and in a society where we have the choice of pretty much any food we want, the freedom for so many to be able to diversify their diet in a healthy way is unprecedented. An incredible gift.

I hope I answered your question!

London441 profile image
London441 in reply toLondon441

I thought I was the one being asked. Oh well, as with everything have some if you like.

Fisherman2 profile image
Fisherman2

I was advised not to drink green tea while having chemo. It is a strong antioxidant and will reduce the effects of chemo on the cancer. I was also advised not to take curcumin because, as TA says, it may mask rises in PSA - better to know what the true reading is. My MO thinks that most supplements are a waste of time while undergoing cancer treatment.

TC007 profile image
TC007 in reply toFisherman2

I have noticed a trend in this sub that those people quitely taking many supplements after reseach remained hormone sensitive for longer time. They usually dont speak because they dont know what's working for them but what i noticed most takes good amount of supplemnts.

Lizzo30 profile image
Lizzo30

You should look into phytoestrogens My husband has Evening Primrose oil bc it is a DHT blocker

He has red wine and watermelon every evening - water melon for nitric oxide as well as lycopene

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply toLizzo30

thanks, will look into the Primrose oil.

KocoPr profile image
KocoPr

My opinion is to buy the nutra eval test from genova diagnostics before wasting lots of money and taxing your liver/kidneys. If this tests shows a deficiency then address it by studying that deficiency and i don’t mean to read one article and then just buy any supplement. You also need to study that supplements bioavailability, contra indications and more.

I take a two a day but i take it one or two per week. I also take a B9/B12 lozenge once a week. I don’t take vitamins by the suggested daily intake.

I guess what i am trying to say is don’t start taking all kinds of supplements till you know your deficiencies.

Oh and try to correct those deficiencies through food first.

your on a long journey of discovery so embrace the new knowledge!!!

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply toKocoPr

Thanks for your comments

RMontana profile image
RMontana

I have posted the link before and I still stand by its results. Statistically the efficacy vitamin D is very convincing. There are other studies that have been posted here to the contrary but their statistical significance is nowhere near as good as is presented here.

healthunlocked.com/active-s...

There is no guarantee that any of these supplements will work for everyone. Epidemiology is statistical. This means there are outliers for whom these supplements will do nothing or everything. Then there is the statistical probability that for most (a standard deviation ) they will work to some degree. I look for studies with good tight statistical significance and then I roll the dice and hope that it works for me. There is more posted on my site for diet and other supplements. If you’re interested take a look. I am traveling it is hard for me to find everything on my phone. Good luck.

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply toRMontana

Thanks for your comments

KocoPr profile image
KocoPr in reply toRMontana

Good point on vit D. I always try to get a measurement in late winter then address my vit D deficiency if necessary.

I also bought an iguana lamp several years ago and always during winter, fall, and spring put my mushrooms gills up under the lamp for several hours. This increases vit D dramatically!

Explorer08 profile image
Explorer08

My MO said the only supplement worth taking is lycopene.

KocoPr profile image
KocoPr in reply toExplorer08

Never listen to your doctor when it comes to nutrition and supplements. They aren’t trained in it.

dhccpa profile image
dhccpa

Goodness. I've taken at least 40 different ones over the last 5 years. However, I have generally rotated on and off of different mixes of 15-20.

And I've been on Lupron for even longer, so hard to know what, if anything, the supps and off-label meds have done.

PELHA profile image
PELHA

We try to have a pitcher of brewed green tea always on hand. Husband liked .the occasional soda pop and this cuts out a lot of sugar.

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply toPELHA

Very good idea, I will try this with filtered water. I think they add flouride here in Vancouver WA.

JohnInTheMiddle profile image
JohnInTheMiddle

Supplements! I made a list of things one needs to be concerned about it and to take responsibility for if one is going to take supplements. It's a crazy long list; I think there are 40 things that you need to check. Here are a few of them.

1. What are typical contaminants of a given supplement, such as heavy metals or arsenic? This applies to herbs especially, but also calcium if it is made from bones (lead).

2. What is the reputation of the manufacturer? Do you know where the facility of the manufacturer is?

3. What is the absorbability in the gut of a particular supplement? Some supplement are laughably not absorbable.

4. Are there any contraindications between supplements or your meds? For example my understanding is that it's a bad idea to take magnesium and calcium at the same time. Because they compete for absorbability. Have you checked all the permutations and combinations of say 10 supplements? And your meds!

5. If your doctor or someone asked you why do you take such and such, can you answer? Can you say the specific pathway or mechanism your supplement is affecting? Not just "it helps fight metastatic prostate cancer"?

6. Is your supplement biodegradable with time or heat? How do you know your supplement was not exposed to heat in a truck and degraded?

7. Are you totally up on the correct way to take your supplement, in terms of empty stomach or with a meal? With fat or not? What about biorhythms and time of day? Such as first thing in the morning or is it okay before you go to sleep?

8. Do you really know your dosing? Not just I think I'll take "two pills".

9. Many elemental supplements come in different forms, such as magnesium. Can you say why you are taking a particular supplement form?

10. How do you know that the supplement you're taking isn't contributing to a progression or resistance? It would be sad to find out too late.

11. What blood markers, either directly or further along, may be affected by your supplement? Are you getting these markers regularly checked?

12. Is there any risk from the supplement to liver or kidneys? Or brain?

13. What is the cost per dose and cost per month?

14. What are the potential side effects? Do you feel fatigued? Is it possible that your supplements are causing fatigue? How would you even know? There are so many things going on.

15. Can you explain the pharmacokinetics of your supplement? This means how fast it is metabolized in your system. And how long is it persistent for? Is the desired effect of your supplement affected by blood concentration? What is the method of metabolism of your supplement? Is it liver etc? What about overdose? A good example of overdose risk is plain old everyday acetaminophen, where one can go into liver killing overdose very easily.

16. What is the quality of research that supports the claims for your supplement? Let's assume there are no RCT clinical studies. Do you know how to check if a medical journal is a predatory journal? Do you have confidence in articles published in MDPI or other second tier journals?

17. Taking a supplement is not only a monetary expense, but also in terms of time and focus. You have to think about it and plan it in terms of shopping and storage and adherence to your dosing schedule. Is it really worth it? Also you don't want to be known as a crazy pill popping person. Especially if there are teenagers in the house it's a good idea not to leave your pills around in view. It's depressing.

18. There are a lot of details here. Especially understanding the specific mechanisms by which supplement is purported to work. Have you written all this stuff down?

19. You may trust your manufacturer but how do you know you aren't getting counterfeit supplements, especially if ordered over the internet and especially if they are expensive?

20. If you are fighting metastatic prostate cancer, you should really know the therapeutic context of any supplementation. And even the bigger picture which is just the basics of metastatic prostate cancer itself, and the concepts of evolution, resistance and progression. Do you understand your basic therapy such as doublet therapy or triplet therapy? The difference between GnRH suppressors, ARPI and AR antagonist therapies. Are you familiar at least with the basics of the big studies like STAMPEDE, ARASENS, LATITUDE, CHAARTED? And new developments. Given the pressures on us and the inclinations of each individual it's not reasonable to think that the average person will be directly familiar with these studies. However if one is going to take supplements seriously, it's worth trying to understand the context.

21. etc. etc. etc.

I do take several supplements. I also find it's so easy to read an article and such and such a supplement is claimed as impacting something positively with metastatic prostate cancer.

But supplements are drugs and some of them - even some of them discussed by enthusiasts on this forum, seem to be actually dangerous. There's a certain magical thinking around supplements.

I drink probably two cups of green tea everyday. Apparently this is for the catechins. My sense is that this is not a risky thing to do, it's low cost, and various authorities I like are positive about it.

Overall though taking a supplement is a big responsibility. My list of supplement concerns is actually double the list I have here! I cannot answer off the top of my head key questions for the supplements I'm taking.

The cliche is that the person who acts as their own doctor has a fool for a patient. At the same time, concerning the lack of RCTs, "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence". So I think that supplements could be helpful but one has to be super careful.

How about this for a rule? If you think you should take a supplement because so many people are doing it, maybe you should start from a position of skepticism and even fear.

And maybe even more importantly, as several people in this thread have pointed out, exercise is the most important supplement! Aerobic and resistance exercise. And within reason probably more volume is better. One person stated that exercise is better than all the supplements together! This may be true!

P.S. - a few days later I'm thinking how do I know the supplements I'm taking are helping or hurting? I'm doing really well on triplet therapy, I know you could say it's doublet therapy now because the chemo is done. Psychologically it's really difficult to just stop taking my supplements! I did do an experiment stopping when supplement at a time for a week and nothing changed. Once you start taking supplements it's hard to stop.

You can read about people on this forum who take a very large number of supplements. And some of them are dangerous for sure. I have not had anyone review my supplements - I think the chances of finding a doctor who knows supplements and metastatic prostate cancer, or a holistic therapist who isn't a quack, is near zero. SOC it's pretty rigid.

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply toJohnInTheMiddle

Thanks for your excellent comments. I'm sure many of us have not considered these things.

Jpburns profile image
Jpburns in reply toJohnInTheMiddle

These are great points. I am deeply suspicious of weird supplements but my arguments are a heck of a lot less cogent (“Don’t be a rube!”) .

I know folks here are desperate and always looking for an easy answer, but unfortunately there may not be one.

JohnInTheMiddle profile image
JohnInTheMiddle in reply toJpburns

[Facebook style alert ⚠️] LOL😂.

And the "Don't be a Rube" rubric (LOL. My wife is a teacher), is a great rubric for supplement taking!

Per your comment JP, I shared with my wife that I had written my supplements comment on HU. She was more kindly and sympathetic to people who are just looking for answers. Not even just easy answers. But answers. And time.

Jpburns profile image
Jpburns in reply toJohnInTheMiddle

Yeah, just to be clear… I’m sympathetic… but enough of a cynic to not believe there’s a magic answer out there, undiscovered by modern medicine. We would all like to not deal with this disease, but I give a lot more credence to science than folk remedies.

That said, I take vitamin D (my doctor tested me and said it was low), vitamin C, have been trying to rarely eat red meat (trying to eat/drink more soy), and have cut my alcohol consumption way back (mostly because of weird stomach issues (meds?).

But beyond that, I figure Orgovyx, Abiraterone, and Prednisone is plenty for me.

JohnInTheMiddle profile image
JohnInTheMiddle in reply toJpburns

You have the best most advanced doublet therapy!

I can't remember if you've been involved in the discussion here in part triggered by Tall Allen's comments on red meat. He stated that the research shows that there is zero evidence that red meat is bad for people with prostate cancer or metastatic prostate. I completely agree.

And great that your doctor tested your vitamin D. I take vitamin D and have red lots of good things about it. But nobody's ever tested me. Bravo.

tunybgur profile image
tunybgur

Rather than take supplements I would concentrate on starving the cancer cells.

Cancer cells need carbohydrates and glutamine to survive and grow.

Reducing carbs is relatively simple, and they can be virtually eliminated by following a keto diet, but glutamine is one of the most common amino acids in our bodies, and is more difficult to reduce.

An effective way of reducing glutamine is exercise, muscles are hungry for this amino acid and use it up at a fair rate when working hard, however, you mustn't make the mistake of following a gym session with protein powders or energy drinks as these will almost certainly contain glutamine and carbs, just water is the best post workout drink for cancer sufferers.

As far as supplements are concerned, I personally don't take any as I'm never sure that I'm not also feeding my cancer as well as the rest of my body.

I try to limit carbs as much as possible, no pasta, rice or potatoes, and definitely no simple carbs or sugars, although I found it too difficult to go completely without bread, (we do need some carbs) so I limit myself to a few slices of wholewheat a day, otherwise just a healthy diet and lots of green vegetables seems to be best, but what do I know? It makes me feel better.

That's my twopenneth for what it's worth.

Good luck

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply totunybgur

Thanks for your comments

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply totunybgur

Excellent comment and aligns with many of my findings on the web. I am basically looking for supplements or off label meds to interfere with the glucose metabolism of cancer cells. We seem to need glucose attached to an Easter Egg of anti cancer meds. Is there one out there?

JohnInTheMiddle profile image
JohnInTheMiddle in reply totunybgur

Bravo the exercise Tuny. As for keto or low carb I have done keto in the past quite strictly, with the proof in the test strip. Glutamine I haven't figured out. But the whole "starve cancer" proposition is still very problematic. There's lots written on the Warburg effect and people have been very enthusiastic to put that in to affect against prostate cancer. But apparently it never actually works. Among the reasons I've heard is that cancer figures out a different energy source. Also if one is going to tackle this then understanding it gets kind of complicated. And there's the whole business of energy source via fermentation versus energy source via oxidization. I would love for this to be true but I haven't found anybody authoritatively who definitively says here's how it works and this is what to do.

tunybgur profile image
tunybgur in reply toJohnInTheMiddle

Yes those pesky cancer cells do have the ability to adapt, but there's no point in making it easy for them.

I'm still trying to starve them, I believe glutamine is very important, but I'm on hormone therapy at the moment and have had radio/brachy therapy which we know does kill cancer cells, still a while to go to see if it has worked.....every day's a bonus....good luck

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply totunybgur

Thanks. Please keep us posted. I read each comment and follow up to the best of my ability. I take Moringa and Soursop oils each day. I have observed users recover 100% from Hepatitis A in my Philippine village using these natural remedies. No, not cancer but amazing results none the less. Just sayin'

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply totunybgur

Many thanks for your input

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n

Chocolate chip ice cream (two scoops)...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

addicted2cycling profile image
addicted2cycling in reply toj-o-h-n

j-o-h-n wrote -- "Chocolate chip ice cream (two scoops)..."

However in my case the ideal substitute for 2 scoops is the bottle of red Organic Wine I'm having with the Curry Sardines tonight for dinner

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n in reply toaddicted2cycling

Chocolate chip ice cream, a bottle of wine and sardines...A feast fit for a King.....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

JohnInTheMiddle profile image
JohnInTheMiddle in reply toaddicted2cycling

Sardines! I eat them three or four times a week. Has been hard to find a good can though. Because of my usual vendor changed the source of supply and the quality dropped. Capitalist bastards.

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply toJohnInTheMiddle

Asian food stores always carry many varieties of sardines, cans and glass jars. Portuguese and Spanish taste the best and retain their oils.

JohnInTheMiddle profile image
JohnInTheMiddle in reply toCebubob

I've joined a couple of forums like on Reddit etc there are a lot of fans of the Portuguese and Spanish sardines. In Canada the same company owns Brunswick, the cheaper big woody sardines, and Cloverleaf which used to be smaller and not woody. But then they were not available for a while and then when they came back on the market they were sourced from a different part of the world. I find them inedible and don't trust the company anymore.

If I'm going to consume any kind fish product I want to understand the supply chain and the company 😃

traxcavator profile image
traxcavator

A few days ago Maxone posted something about a study on fish oil relative to PC. I looked further and found stuff on flaxseed oil and krill oil.

From my point of view, I'm not going to OD on fish oil or flaxseed oil. (Haven't seen krill oil locally.) I've been taking fish oil for a long time for other reasons. I like salmon, and eat it regularly. I also did a successful experiment to extract oil from salmon skin. It's not out of the question that fish oil may have had a delaying effect on my cancer.

I also have been taking Vitamin D for decades after finally figuring out that my chronic, running stress fractures were D deficiency. Since I don't get much calcium otherwise, I also take that as a supplement.

I take glucosamine chondroitin to preserve my running joints, I also take B12 because my level was low. It correlates to mental sharpness, according to my VA nurse practitioner.

John

MoonRocket profile image
MoonRocket in reply totraxcavator

Glucosamine is probably fine to take but I recommend nixing the chondroitin. It a possible prostate cancer spreader, for lack of a more precise wording.

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply totraxcavator

thanks for your input

Sagewiz profile image
Sagewiz

ACcording to studies published on the Moss Report, the only one they really endorse is Pectasol modified citrus pectin. Vitamin D is solid. Curcumin is great but only from food sources (some studies have shown negative impacts of high-dosage supplements).

I was drinking dark colored juices: tart cherry, Pomegranate, Blueberry, etc. However, due to sugar content, I was redirected to take the supplements (Pom-T) which have all of the beneficial compounds but no sugars. I have a few opthers recommended by naturopaths, but have not found any documentation supporting them.

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply toSagewiz

I found the Moss website. I will study and take what I can from it. thanks

Sagewiz profile image
Sagewiz in reply toCebubob

They do have the ability to do some deep dives into topics. The founder has his own story of his PC journey.

lcfcpolo profile image
lcfcpolo

I throw quite a lot of additional medication and supplements into the mix in addition to Lupron injections and daily Enzalutamide. No idea if they work. The only additional supplement that I have considered is the modified citrus pectin but I have held this in reserve so far.

I currently take the following:

I started the Care Oncology Clinic (COC) protocol in January 2021, which includes Metformin, Atorvastatin plus Doxycycline alternated with Mebendazole. I also take 2mg of Melatonin at night, along with Mirtazapine, 30mg for anxiety. I also take some supplements including POMI-T, Prostaphane (a Sulforaphane supplement) and Your Gut+ a probiotic. I have also added 3 capsules of Senolytic Activator from Life Extension, once a week, to hopefully get rid of senescence cells. As stated, no idea if any work. I like many others have stage 4 advanced terminal cancer so it's a question of trying everything. De-stressing and exercise are important. I was like one of the other responders told that lycopene worked. Good luck. Please do discuss with your doctor though.

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply tolcfcpolo

I will research the Sulforaphane and the Activator, Many thanks

lcfcpolo profile image
lcfcpolo in reply toCebubob

I understand the sulforaphane is called BROQ in the USA.

Tinkudi profile image
Tinkudi in reply tolcfcpolo

What does senolytic activator do ?

lcfcpolo profile image
lcfcpolo in reply toTinkudi

Hopefully it gets rid of senescence cells, those cancer cells that have been put to sleep. No idea if it works.

The following is from the website:

When cells become old or dysfunctional, they are supposed to die off to make room for new cells. But as we age, many cells become senescent instead. Cellular senescence is other words a natural part of the aging process.

However, senescent cells can accumulate over time, affecting the day-to-day function of the healthy cells around them. They pump out toxic compounds that degrade nearby cells and incite chronic inflammation that causes systemic damage.

Cellular senescence has become a major target for anti-aging research, and studies show that compounds called senolytics can remove senescent cells and slow down or even reverse aging processes.

Tinkudi profile image
Tinkudi in reply tolcfcpolo

If one is not doing chemo , would it not be better to have the cells as senescent ?

lcfcpolo profile image
lcfcpolo in reply toTinkudi

healthunlocked.com/advanced...

Tinkudi profile image
Tinkudi in reply tolcfcpolo

Very complicated. Can’t understand. But thanks 😊

lcfcpolo profile image
lcfcpolo in reply tolcfcpolo

HiThe above link may shed some light but I have not had chemotherapy yet.

Unfortunately the poster who put me onto killing scenescent cells, Nalkrats, who was a forum legend, stopped posting here and deleted his posts. My thought process is to try and kill those prostate cells that are sleeping, those not touched by ADT. I have no real idea on if this is a good policy or not.

Please discuss with your oncologist. If you do find any additional information then please do start a thread and share your findings. Thank you.

NecessarilySo profile image
NecessarilySo

Lycopene in tomato-based food, V8 juice. Cardamom. Black pepper.

raoulmaher profile image
raoulmaher

I believe that alcohol affects the efficacy of most if not all medicines / treatments - I personally take Turmeric ( as in curry ) with pepper and ginger as a tablet that appear to have stopped the hot flushes and vitamin D3 with K2 that give me energy and motivate me - without these I feel like S*%T - I have tried to operate without them !!! - I am on the "Darling Xtandi - full strength" and Goserlin and just starting Tamoxifen so I wont need the Bra anymore - Hope this helps - Kindest Raoul

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply toraoulmaher

I get major hot flashed from Apalutamide, but the leg tremors have receded. I will research Goserlin. Many thanks.

NanoMRI profile image
NanoMRI

Lots of opinions and 'data'. I PSA test frequently and have done my own evaluations with stopping before next test - no significant changes in PSA occurs. I have no proof supplements help me, no proof they hurt me, all I know is for past three years holding 0.03X, no ADT. So ya, maybe wasting some money - but then I do what seems right to me to defer going back on ADT. This is one article I find interesting: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/321...

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply toNanoMRI

Thanks for your reply. Appreciated. I will read your link. We continue our journey. Mine is documented in my book on Amazon KDP if you like to read: Monkey Rodeo

Derf4223 profile image
Derf4223

Some supplements affect PSA. But the supplements with the best record of affecting PCa mortality is vitamin exercise.

Professorgary profile image
Professorgary

2800 mg curcumin with black pepper extract daily, 400 mg of magnesium daily. 2000 mg vitamin d daily, 4 mg melatonin daily, 20 mg atorvastatin daily, 100 mg of CoQ10 daily. God bless.

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply toProfessorgary

My MO told me that ADT could affect my bone density and recommended Cal/Mag supplements which I added to my regimen. Why take CoQ?

Professorgary profile image
Professorgary in reply toCebubob

I take a statin drug which can deplete CoQ10 enzyme. As far as Cal/Mag supplement, I only take magnesium. My cal levels are fine and you need a proper balance between the two. Too much calcium and you have a whole new set of problems.

MrG68 profile image
MrG68

TBH, I would consider getting anything a supplement can give you naturally from food or proper sun exposure.

I'm not against supplements but I believe there are potential problems with their misuse. If you're deficient in something, a supplement may be a good option to rectify that.

But, if your body doesn't regulate something, like a supplement, you run the risk of having an imbalance.

A good example is vitamin D3, which is actually a hormone not a vitamin. Hormones are quite powerfull things and can have a dramatic effect. D3, for example, will increase your calcium absorbtion. You may benefit from that, or not. Everyone is different and will have different calcium levels. Now that may be known to you already, but what you may not know is that D3 via natural sunlight is created as a series of processes which will sulphate your cholesterol and the D3. The supplement doesn't do that. This has the effect of rendering the D3 water soluble and so more effective. So you could have less blood concentration of D3 from the sun but it's used more effectively.

D3 from sun exposure is regulated by your body. You can't really go wrong. If you're deficient, just get more sun exposure. A supplement, however, will bypass this regulation and this has the potential for creating imbalances.

I'm not saying never take supplements if that's what you want to try. There's everything on the table as far as I'm concerned. Just try to understand why you need it and if you can achieve the same thing with food or sun exposure instead. It's much safer and in line with your bodys processes. Otherwise every week you're going to read something else and find quite soon that you're on 20 different supplements without even knowing what the real effects are, if any, and could be introducing some additional unwanted effects as well.

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply toMrG68

Excellent post on D3. I take the supplement and get lots of sun. Many thanks.

VLBIV profile image
VLBIV

Rather than getting random answers from random people with different types of symptoms, I would strongly recommend talking to a qualified naturopath who can analyze your specific situation and make appropriate suggestions specifically for you. My oncologist recommended a naturopath to me and I have been quite pleased with his analysis. I wish you the best.

dmt1121 profile image
dmt1121

Mushroom capsules, D3, calcium, C, methyl folate, biotin, magnesium taurate, potassium chloride (prescription), Omega 3, B 12 are ones I take for general health, building bone density to offset bone density loss from treatments, and mushroom strains that have prostate and tumor fighting properties.

You do need to do your own research. There are NIH studies and others from universities for some supplements. I use consumerlab.com to determine supplement veracity, ingredients check for promised dosage, filler, heavy metals and absorption.

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply todmt1121

many thanks.

TC007 profile image
TC007

This is the list of supplement my father is taking.

Turmeric , Lycopene, AlgaeCal Plus , Berberine,Hawthorn Berry , SPM Active (Fish Oil), Ubiquonol, Broccoli , Vitamin K, Ginger, IP6 2x, Pectasol 2x, Mushroon Mix 2x (AHCC,Reshi,Turkey Tail,Chaga)

There is no way to tell if it's helping with Mets but i have seen my father doing good and improving in last 3 months.

Cebubob profile image
Cebubob in reply toTC007

All those sound helpful. The mushroom mix sounds the most promising. I will look into the shrooms. How about the Rick Simpson oil? Tried that?

Boywonder56 profile image
Boywonder56

ive done lupron or eligard...plus erleada for 7 yrs im in the titan trial...dx gl 9/8....4 mets...now im fat and have little energy....but i live evrday like tommoro me psa is going past 2.0. ....and i listen to ta and a select few other humorist on this ship of apc sufferers....finding this group was the best med ive gotten....seen em come and go ....and cry when they do....dont chase a rainbow....chase life.bw

Nwdx profile image
Nwdx

It was difficult to use the search function bar here to find my threads. Are malecare forums not all indexed?

There seems to be an "us and them" thing going on with using supplements. Are they studies that state they harm you? People waste a lot more money on expensive junk they don't need than supplements, especially North Americans. Perhaps a few studies state you should not take certain supplements.

NISO Gave me a list, it is on this comment.

healthunlocked.com/advanced...

healthunlocked.com/advanced...

I also take different variations of Soursop, or Guanabana- tea, supplements. In case mod's read this no I don't believe I am stage 4 yet but attempting to delay the inevitable with dietary, exercise and supplements- and good company with positive vibes as is easy to get stress and depressed which no supplement other than taking anti depression or anti anxiety med's.

groundhogy profile image
groundhogy

-green tea

-pomegranate

-curucmin

-reservatrol

-probiotics for gut

Nusch profile image
Nusch

Think about getting all you need from diet, not supplements. I’m on a plant based diet plus fish and just take calcium, magnesium (because I exercise a lot), curcumin, vitamin d in winter and a little bit B12.

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