Supplements & diet to take with Keytruda - Lung Cancer Support

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Supplements & diet to take with Keytruda

Sensai7 profile image
11 Replies

My doc has asked me to take a very high protein diet during immunotherapy along with the following supplements

1. Probiotic VSL 3

2. Vitamin D3 once a week

3. Becasule B vitamins

4. COQ10

5. Evion

Have any of you also been asked to take these supplements and a high protein diet? Would be good to know. According to my doctor immunotherapy works better with the above.

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Sensai7
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11 Replies
Denzie profile image
DenzieModeratorVolunteer

While I’ve no personal experience with Keytruda I do know this- most MDs know nothing about supplements and vitamins so they don’t recommend anything more than a multivitamin to patients. And they don’t know what to tell a patient if they ask. If this was my doctor, I’d follow it.

I’m very interested in learning what you do find out here.

Sensai7 profile image
Sensai7 in reply to Denzie

Hi Denzie, my doctor on the contrary knows a lot about nutrition. He treats a huge number of patients with immunotherapy and seems to be very particular about diet and nutrition to go with it. I am vegan and so he gave me excellent suggestions on how to increase my protein intake.

Denzie profile image
DenzieModeratorVolunteer in reply to Sensai7

I’m impressed. I wish more would follow your dr‘s lead. Is he an integrative oncologist then?

Sensai7 profile image
Sensai7 in reply to Denzie

No a medical oncologist

JeeperJoe profile image
JeeperJoe

My wife was the patient and was given no such dietary information. Keytruda was a bust for her- after 3 infusions it was discovered the her cancer was unimpeded and the therapy was stopped. Your doctor's dietary advice makes perfect sense to me and I am anxious to see the results. My best wishes to you.

Sensai7 profile image
Sensai7 in reply to JeeperJoe

Thanks so much Joe. I have had one infusion and the second is coming up. Chemo failed for me so I am running out of choices.

ThePurplePlace profile image
ThePurplePlace

I was on (Opdivo) much like Keytruda and had an excellent response, BUT I was never told to take any supplements or try any special diet. I must have done something right, because it worked amazingly well for me in only 9 months. I'm now in remission!

For the record, I did take Probiotics and Vitaman D, and always have, so that was not new for me. As for my regular diet I try to eat a fairly healthy diet - everything but in moderation. I do not eat processed foods or much white sugar.

My tastes totally changed after cancer and many foods no longer taste good to me, so I eat what tastes good, which can be a big challenge. I also no longer like a lot of spices and found that I'm better off with pretty bland foods? NOT sure why, but this started about 4 hours ago and has not changed?

Best wishes to you!

Hippieluv profile image
Hippieluv

Sensai7, did he explain why he picked them, how specifically do they help. Would love to know the reasonings for these supplements.

Sensai7 profile image
Sensai7 in reply to Hippieluv

He did say that the supplements are needed to strengthen the t cells or something like that. He said immunotherapy is not a chemical like chemo. It works by setting off a chain reaction which takes 5 weeks to complete. The diet and supplements keep the cycle going. Two things are most important....probiotics and a very high protein diet.

Jen46240 profile image
Jen46240

Hi! I heard you aren’t supposed to take probiotics with immunotherapy, but I have also heard that gut flora is important. If your oncologist recommended it, I would do it! My dad is supposed to take vitamin D because he just started Xgeva and takes folic acid in anticipation of Alimta. Let us know how it goes! Wishing you good luck and sending healthy thoughts your way❤️

Sensai7 profile image
Sensai7 in reply to Jen46240

My onco is insisting on probiotics. I am also taking fermented rice which is supposed to be the most powerful natural probiotic. I have just had 2 infusions so far so keeping fingers crossed. Thanks for your good wishes.

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