Anemia, and low thyroid stage IV MBC

[Mimigram]

Hello ladies

I have stage 4 MBC . I currently have been diagnosed with low thyroid, which is causing me a lot of problems. I also have anemia. I have been taking moringa and yellow dock to raise my iron. I have only been doing this for about a month. It’s so far has raised my iron a tiny bit. I saw my oncologist today who wants to give me IV iron, which she said would pass the gut. I am fearful that iron feeds cancer. I have seen both my primary doctor and my oncologist. I just started medication for my thyroid, has anyone in this group had IV iron and what was your experience? Any help would be appreciated.

Mimi

[jersey-jazz]

Dear Mimi---- Along MBC and four autoimmune disorders, anaemia. and a diseased and irreparable aortic valve, my body does not convert B12. The gp has prescribed once a week B12 injections. I think of the B12 shots as the energy vial. Please don't hesitate to take the B12 injections. You cannot take too much B12 and any prescription that makes you feel a little better is a good thing.

[mbcfight]

I have been on injectable B12 1X per month for man years. I also take Ferrous Gluconate 27 mg daily by Fergon - Purchased on Amazon. I literally love the energy level that it helps my body to maintain. For many years, I went to the dr’s office where the fantastic nurse administered the B12 shot. I decided to learn how to do it myself at my home: Saved time and reduced the cost. It was easy to learn and reduced costs for the B12 shot. Hope this helps.

[jersey-jazz in reply to mbcfight]

mbcfight. - I am total rubbish at giving myself the shot. I get the red stuff all over. Some goes into my leg. I have lymphedema in both upper arms which necessitates the leg shot. Any advice would be gratefully accepted.

[Kiss_my_grits]

I don’t have the iron issue and I know that’s your ask. But I do have the thyroid issue. Mine was removed due to thyroid cancer. So if you have questions re managing the thyroid let me know. Good luck!

[viennagirl]

Hello Mimi, I don't know if my information will help you but here goes. I am almost 80 years old and have been taking thyroid meds for about 40 years. At first I took Synthroid which is a synthetic form of thyroid and after some years I seemed to be very uncharacteristically confused - almost like an early Altzheimers. So after doing some research I changed my thyroid medication to a natural dessicated pig thyroid medication. All the confusion cleared up. Although I was on the right meds I wasn't really on the correct dose at first. Then about 5 years ago I was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. I took a few treatments of chemotherapy which caused me a lot of allergic reactions but it did reduce the size of the tumor so I was able to have a lumpectomy. After that healed I was put on Ibrance (Palbociclib) and Letrozole. I am doing well on that combination of drugs and my last few scans show No Evidence of Disease (NED). I continue to take my dose of thyroid meds every day without fail and take my cancer meds as prescribed. Other than some hair loss I feel quite well and live a normal life. I hope this information offers you some help and consolation. We are all different but adding a healthy diet to your life will also help you recover and stay well. I don't think the cancer agency actually call me healed. Once you have cancer the system considers you to have cancer forever and treats you accordingly but I think of myself as healed. I think a positive mind is part of staying well. Happy holidays - Marlene.

[13plus]

I've never heard of iron feeding cancer. Sugar though - yes

[PJBinMI]

I was diagnosed with low thyroid (Hashimoto's Disease) when I was 27, and have been on Synthroid for almost 50 years. Dose has been adjusted a few times over the years, based on blood work, not symptoms, and it's really been an easy condition to live with. The cost of the Synthroid has sure gone up, lol! A month's supply was about $2 or $3 when I started on it!

[dottiem]

I agree with viennagirl about natural dessicated pig thyroid being better than Synthroid. If you do well on Synthroid or equivalent fine. If not and your doctor won't switch you, find one that will or see a naturopath. After 8 yrs on it my adrenals weren't doing well and after much struggle, I ended up on T3 only bcs the T4 did not convert. T3 is the active form of thyroid hormone, T4 is the storage form. Anyway once I had enough T3 in my body my iron levels came up naturally. My naturopath said that once cancer gets to stage 4 it has developed it's own many faceted support system and can grow without sugar and, I assume, iron.