Stage 4b Ovarian

[Pianoanddisco]

Hi everyone,

Just curious, did anyone take vitamins such D or B12 or even Omega 3 fish oil while doing the conventional chemo treatments?

thanks

[Boot1947]

No, I just ate a pretty balanced diet, without much red meat, but lots of fish. I can never remember to take supplements! Have been NED for 10 years. I can appreciate you might need them if your appetite is poor. Deb x

[Pianoanddisco in reply to Boot1947]

Thanks for your reply Boot1947 and everyone else’s. I’m so glad I joined this wonderful group.

That’s amazing 10 years NED that’s something to talk about. Can I ask what stage you were and I’m assuming you had surgery and chemo but were you on any maintenance drug after that?

[Boot1947 in reply to Pianoanddisco]

I was stage 3a, had the usual innards out and 13 weeks of carbo/taxol - missed the last five because of rubbish bloods and neuropathy. No maintenance drugs - think that was a protocol that came in after me, so to speak. Am also BRCA1 (Ashkenazi Jewish father). But I think until ‘they’ can target therapies better and we can choose our parents, it’s a little bit hit and miss and a genetic lottery. This group is wonderful and I am forever grateful I found it. Stick with us! Deb x

[Kjpip]

I always take vitamin D over the winter months, including while I was on chemo. My oncologist said this was ok but said no to me taking a multivitamin, so if you want to take any supplements I would check with your oncology team first xx

[Pianoanddisco in reply to Kjpip]

Thanks Kjpip, interesting my oncologist said no to all vitamins throughout my chemo cycles. Even though I told them I was low in vitamin D they still told me no vitamins whatsoever. And this is my first recurrence. I guess every Dr is different?

[Sybil71]

I had used vitamin D during my 1 st chemo treatment back in 2021. They gave me high dose just before the chemo cycle and then 10 drops everyday. I had recurrence in 2023; had surgery and and 6 cycles of chemo; I had a new oncologist and she doesnt prefer any supplements. Even for my diarrhea, which is a daily routine now. Some say you got to take probiotics but she strongly disagrees; which i understand now. The more research I do the more I agree with her.

[Lara1 in reply to Sybil71]

Ho Sybil71,

Do you mind sharing the research against using probiotics during chemo?

Thanks!

[Sybil71 in reply to Lara1]

Hi Lara1,

I'm attaching a link from Memorial Sloan Kettering; one of the top cancer treatment institutes in US and also an active center for many clinical trials. You will see warnings in the "what else do I need to know" section.

mskcc.org/pdf/cancer-care/p...

I made some more research after that and found out that saccharomyces boulardii - which is available in many over the counter probiotics - is not good for patients with implanted port (which I have). My oncologist recommend to get probiotics from the natural sources such as, sauerkraut, kefir, yogurt.

webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingre...

Weakened immune system: S. boulardii has caused fungal infections in people with weakened immune systems. In many cases, the infection was due to a catheter becoming contaminated. If you have a weakened immune system, talk with your healthcare provider before taking S. boulardii.

[Lara1 in reply to Sybil71]

Thanks! Good to know! I also rely on fermented foods but was considering taking a supplement. I’ll skip it for now.

[Pianoanddisco in reply to Sybil71]

Thanks Sybil71, can I ask what stage you were first diagnosed ? And, interestingly enough your Dr gave you high dose of vit d before chemo and 10 drops everyday.

[Sybil71 in reply to Pianoanddisco]

You're welcome. I was Stage 3 when I was first diagnosed.

[Skibot]

hiya, my vitamin D was low and I was given a jump start supplement by my oncologist to get my levels up, I then took a tablet daily and my levels have stayed fine since, it was the only supplement my oncologist would allow, if you look at Zoe they say that most supplements do not work anyway, best to get nutrients from decent diet.

[Pianoanddisco in reply to Skibot]

Thanks for your reply Skibot…yeah mine was extremely low before too but they told me no to any vitamins. I agree we should all get our nutrients from our diet however if you are not eating well during chemo because I was so nauseous for about a week even with meds I felt like I needed supplements.

[Newbery3]

I take vit d spray, and I go to hyperbaric oxygen therapy and have been since the start. I have started tumeric and black pepper seeds since finishing as onc said not to take this with chemo. I think as long as you check with your team, you should be fine. I'm also now taking 1 asprin a day and 1 antihistamine xx

[georgiageorgia182 in reply to Newbery3]

HI Newbery3 do you mind if I message you about hyperbaric oxygen therapy please?

[Newbery3 in reply to georgiageorgia182]

Yes no problem, I am going in the tank today so be leaving soon but happy to chat X

[Pianoanddisco in reply to Newbery3]

Thanks Newbery3 for sharing with us … Were u doing the vitamin d spray, hyperbaric therapy and turmeric during your 6 cycles of chemo? Or was it just turmeric/black pepper after you were done chemo? I’m assuming that was the only one you couldn’t do during your chemo I heard.

[Newbery3 in reply to Pianoanddisco]

Yes just the tumeric and not till I finished my avastin in April this year. X

[Sunsetime]

Hi , I didn’t take supplements, I focused on food , meat, fish, cheese and eggs. I did and still do boost vitamin B12 by adding brewers yeast to soup and stew and B12 and omega 3 I sprinkle ground flax seed on top of food. I am thinking about taking Vitamin D again now my front line treatment is finished and it’s heading into the winter. My oncologist is fine with taking vitamin D.

[Pianoanddisco in reply to Sunsetime]

Thanks for your reply Sunsetime and everyone …sorry to ask again, are you saying you never took all these above during your chemo cycles just after you were done your treatments?

[Sunsetime in reply to Pianoanddisco]

mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagn...

Hi , you might find the above link helpful. Ovacome shared it with me. You can search supplements and how they interact with treatment. I have been eating ground flax seeds and adding brewers yeast flakes (with B12) through out my treatment. We are all different, and I know for some people might not be helpful. For me, I checked it out with my oncologist first. What to take or not to eat seems very individual and controversial. Take care

Sheila

[Craftysue54]

Hi, I had magnesium supplements prescribed when on chemo and an infusion as my magnesium had dropped very low. I finished chemo 6 months ago and am on oliparib and have contined with magnesium as its taking a while to come back up, I always take vit D in the winter and have continued with that. I'm now on vit b12 and b9 as I'm now low in that. I do eat healthily but seems my body can't process things as it used to. X

[Pianoanddisco in reply to Craftysue54]

Hi Craftysue54, thanks for sharing your experience that’s interesting that you were prescribed mag during chemo as my onc said no to everything. After chemo it was fine to take vitamins. I guess every onc is different .

[Bookclublover in reply to Pianoanddisco]

Hi, my magnesium levels were measured with all the other pre chemo bloods. If the mag level low, I was prescribed supplements. I’ve been on Niraparib for 6 months and my mag levels have just crept into the normal range, but they’re happy for me to take one mag tab/ day.

[NellieAnn1]

My oncologist recommended that I take vitamin B complex 100 through the time I had chemo. She said it helps prevent neuropathy. I had always taken vitamin D and magnesium, which she was aware of, and she never recommended that I stop taking those. Best wishes.

[bamboo89]

Yes - am stage 4b and took D3, magnesium and Adcal (low dose vit D and calcium) right through every course of chemo I ever had. Useful when you're given carboplatin which lowers magnesium - my magnesium was still reasonable at the end of the chemo. My onco was not bothered I was taking these either.

[Saintgermain]

I’ve taken D3 & B12 with chemo I also have my magnesium checked which chemo can affect so far so good normal.

[Pianoanddisco in reply to Saintgermain]

Thanks everyone on your responses this helped a great deal.

[Lizchips]

No not during, but after I've taken vit D . I have had no reoccurrence in over 10 yrs. I didn't change anything during chemo because my Dr said Keep things the same so the chemo can work getting rid of all the bad stuff. Since chemo I still eat pretty much what I like. I also after chemo got a massage, I figured if chemo could kill all the free radicals that show up after massages. I drank lots of water. I don't know if it works but I've been cancer free 10 plus yrs. Best wishes, Liz

[Florrie2]

I’m still undergoing treatment and taking a menopause supplement due to coming off HRT and having had full hysterectomy 3 years ago. The oncologist was fine with my taking it. It has a range of vitamins plus isoflavones. He and one of his registrars checked it - I asked the registrar as well only because I was paranoid about the isoflavones which are soy based. I struggle to eat and sometimes have to force vegetables down me (having loved them all my life) so I see this as some support for my body.