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Sulforaphane - any thoughts on if it's good or bad?

Fiercefighter13 profile image
19 Replies

Hi there brave warriors!! I have a question, after doing some digging and research on my own, and not coming up with any good answers. This is the perfect place to ask, since I have read some wonderful advice on this site with regard to supplements. I read an article this morning on Sulforaphane which is the chemical in broccoli that apparently is sometimes recommended for breast and prostate cancers, as it supposedly kills cancer cells. The supplements are in very high concentrations as opposed to eating broccoli, broccoli sprouts, cabbage, and so on. Does anyone here take this supplement, or have gotten any medical advice regarding it? It's hard to decipher the good from the bad on the internet since most sites are selling sites and have their own agenda. I'd love to hear from anyone who knows anything about this supplement! I hope my question finds everyone doing well today! Thank you!!!

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Fiercefighter13 profile image
Fiercefighter13
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19 Replies
Ycats277 profile image
Ycats277

Well interesting as that seems now want to take it . I’m starting krill oil tomorrow for my leaky eyes . I heard from the medication that we take for ER positive metastatic breast cancer since we are moving the estrogen from our bodies are eyes are affected. Someone said by taking Krill pills that it will replenish the eyes natural function. Will you keep me informed if you find out anything about this broccoli supplement? I’m very interested thanks a lot. This is Stacy

Fiercefighter13 profile image
Fiercefighter13 in reply toYcats277

Hi Stacy! Yes, I will update you if I find anything out! My eye doctor had me start Krill oil but for dry eye syndrome, which started way back before the cancer did. I think it's the Omega-3's that help with eye health. Unfortunately the Krill oil, made my stomach terribly sick!! I was hopeful since fish oil does the same to me, but to no avail. I found a great source of Omega-3's in Chia seeds, and I just eat a couple of tablespoons a day, soaked in either water or almond milk, with my oatmeal or in Chia pudding. It's done wonders for my skin, eyes, and joint pain. I hope you do well on the Krill oil, from what I hear, it's a very good supplement!! Take care! My name is Gabi, nice to meet you!!

Ycats277 profile image
Ycats277 in reply toFiercefighter13

Thank you for all the great info . I just spent $99 on this certain krill called captain Krill and it’s Supposedly doesn’t bother few stomachs like other omegas did. Well I will try if it does I will go your other route with the chai seeds . I eat so much broccoli because I love it, but I know I don’t get as much benefit as I would get from the supplement shop interested to hear how that goes for you. Thanks Gabi

love2golfwell profile image
love2golfwell in reply toFiercefighter13

Nice to meet you, Gabi I had not heard of that supplement in broccoli but it sounds very interesting. Yes, please keep us posted. Also, thanks for suggesting Chia seeds for dry eyes, skin and joint pain. I sometimes put a tablespoon in my morning smoothies but have not done that in awhile as I have been putting flaxseed instead. I think I will do both now.

JKMS profile image
JKMS

Hi there. I take Bio-sulforaphane as one of my daily supplements, which was recommended by my nutritionalist and I ran past the pharmacy for any interactions. I can’t say the impact that this has in isolation of course! I know supplements can be a little bit of a controversial subject with many oncologists but I think on assumption no interactions, doing as much as we can to reduce inflammation and support immune system is no bad thing.

Fiercefighter13 profile image
Fiercefighter13 in reply toJKMS

Good to know, I will look Bio-Sulforaphane up and see about ordering it. As long as supplements are safe, and like you said, have no interactions doing all that we can to help our bodies fight this disease and other degenerative processes it a good thing. Thank you for your response!! Have you had any side effects from this supplement, that you can attribute to it?

JKMS profile image
JKMS in reply toFiercefighter13

Hi I have had no side effects from any of the vitamins (I take quite a few) and the only side effect so far from the meds is thinning hair, which I can live with!

My nutritionalist also just directed me to a pretty interesting talk on fasting by Dr Pradip Jamnadas so I'm also planing to start intermittent fasting. I made quite a few changes to my diet when I was diagnosed, introduced the supplements, reduced toxicity and introduced far more exercise into my life. Not really revolutionary things but I do feel better for it and of course I rather wish I had done that before diagnosis but hey. And re fasting, even my oncologist does that!

Fiercefighter13 profile image
Fiercefighter13 in reply toJKMS

I started intermittent fasting when I was diagnosed. There is a lot of research on it as far as how much it helps in starving out cancer cells. I try to optimally stay 16 hours a day with no calories per day. Going every other day with food then no food is supposed to be better, but keeping the ability to get optimal nutrition is also very important so I don’t do the day on day off. I’m curious, if it’s ok to ask, what meds are you on? I’m on Ibrance 100 mg, Letrozole and Xgeva.

JKMS profile image
JKMS in reply toFiercefighter13

That has made me even more resolute that I should do it then - thanks! My yoga teacher does five day dry fasts unbelievably. I'm planning to start with just one day a week and see how I go. I'm 50 kilos so not huge and I don't really want to lose weight and of course I love eating even though my diet is essentially vegan keto, so not hugely exciting these days! I'm on 125mg lbrance and Letrozole. On initial diagnosis, I also had Goserelin but it didn't work so I had my ovaries removed.

Fiercefighter13 profile image
Fiercefighter13 in reply toJKMS

I found that not eating 16 hours a day actually keeps me with more energy and feeling better. Like you, I’m not heavy (136 pounds, 5’5”, so losing weight is not the best thing given the need to optimize nutrition. I too had to have my ovaries out, and honestly, I’m glad so as to not add another medication on top of the many, plus we can be 100% certain of no breakthrough estrogen from the ovaries. Please let me know how the fasting goes for you. I get it on the diet front, we aren’t missing anything exciting anymore. I think that actually helps keep the fasting easier as well. Good luck with the fasting, I hope it helps you feel better, like it does for me!

8576 profile image
8576

I have not information on the additive you mentioned. I do know that if it is mentioned on the National Cancer site, John Hopkins or some trusted site they know about it. Otherwise, the information can't be trusted.

Cheers, June S.

Laskia profile image
Laskia

I take this as it is a component in the broccoli sprout extract that I take as part of my supplement protocol.

There are a few small studies such as the one below which show it may be of benefit.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/a...

Beryl71 profile image
Beryl71

I don't know, but have certainly been told that broccoli, cabbages and similar are good. I once tried a spirulina mix and it sent me running to the loo rather too frequently. So I'm a bit careful with supplements.

Yes, an article with a YouTube link popped up in my email about Sulforaphane & I just learned about it this week. I heard there have been a good number of clinical trials on it that are on the PubMed site. I will continue to research it & see if it interacts with any of the meds I’m taking on the Sloan Kettering app. Thank you for continuing to share what you learn.

❤️🙏❤️

hurricaneheather profile image
hurricaneheather

the metabolic doctor i see, has me on Broccomax by Jarrow Formulas. i've been taking it for 11 months. per the bloodwork that he has me do, it's providing additional hormone blockade.

Fiercefighter13 profile image
Fiercefighter13

Thank you all, for your thoughtful insights and information shared. I e-mailed my doctor who said it had no interactions with Ibrance or Letrozole, and gave me the green light to go ahead and give it a try. I did find some studies that look promising.......so I will give it a go and let everyone know how it goes. I have tried other supplements that were reviewed by the NIH, like Turkeytail, but it had not effect on me, if anything, my markers started going up for an entire year on it, then started back down after I stopped taking it. After that experience, I thought it would be wise to check with our community and see how others fair with different supplements. We are all unique, and each of our cancers are unique, but I still find it very valuable to get the collective experience with different approaches. Take care, and thank you again for your answers, they have given me some more clarity!

Andersl profile image
Andersl

I take a few broccoli heads in a smoothie every day. I know someone with pancreatic cancer who has been doing this for 5 years since diagnosis. His consultant says "you shouldnt be here.... it must be the broccoli "

Shafight profile image
Shafight

Thanks for all the supplement advise. Any advise for thinning hair?

Fiercefighter13 profile image
Fiercefighter13 in reply toShafight

You got me on that one! I was lucky enough to have crazy thick hair before I began taking Ibrance/Letrozole.......I am left with about 1/3 of my hair (which is o.k. I guess, good enough). I asked my doctor about the hair loss and she had my vitamin B levels and biotin levels checked, which were all good. I still take a B complex vitamin to enhance any possibility of having my hair thicken up a bit. My hair stylist suggested taking collagen supplements, but my doctor gave me a big NO to that one since collagen seems to enhance hormone positive breast cancer cells. My doctor has been pretty much o.k. with most supplements I've wanted to try, but definitely not collagen. Maybe someone reading this thread has some advice, I would love to get some on that front!

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