Newbie MBS in bones. Has anyone tried Reishi or Cordyceps?

[Tanyateresa]

Newbie MBS in bones and vertebra detected 2 months ago and masectomy and lymph nodes removed last April 2022. Have been put on letrozol 6 months ago and with the bone lesions on Verzenio 150 g and Fulvestrant once a month. Have very bad fatigue and occasional diarrea and wanted to know if anyone had tried Reishi or Cordyceps to improve tiredness? Thanks and all my best to all

[mbc_carepartner]

Supplements designed by an oncology naturopath have proven to help mitigate side effects very well. It’s important to partner with a naturopathic doctor who understands oncology and the agents you are on before trying supplements. Reishi mushroom complex is made by many labs, not all of which have a formulation that may help—the naturopath should be able to point you to both the best supplements for you based on your specific treatment plan and to the right brands/ labs from which to purchase supplements. Good luck!

[Tanyateresa in reply to mbc_carepartner]

Hey thanks for that. I will get in touch with a naturopath. Yes there are lots of varieties to choose from. Good day!!

[love2golfwell in reply to mbc_carepartner]

That is so good that you have an oncology naturopath to guide you to quality supplements. Glad those are working for you, too. I have wanted to try some supplements that I believe would be good but my oncologist does not want me taking anything except a multivitamin and a raw calcium/Vitamin D. I know that all kinds of mushrooms are really good for cancer patients, especially Reishi, but she said I should have Reishi either in a supplement or in a regular mushroom form. Do you also have a regular oncologist?

[Tanyateresa in reply to love2golfwell]

Hi there thanks for your reply. Well my oncologist was against the idea of Reishi - she said that extra supplements were not good for the liver but I have heard from other ontological patients that have had very good results. I really need something to help me with my fatigue and I had heard that Reishi was ideal for that. I don't have a Naturpath at the moment ... I've only been with treatment for one month now but I will most likely be on it for a long time so wanted something to improve my quality of life ☺

[TammyCross]

It is odd that you are both taking letrozole and getting fulvestrant injections monthly. They both inhibit estrogen by different mechanisms. Usually one takes one or the other. I started with fulvestrant (a SERD, selective estrogen receptor degrader), which worked wonders for two years, then it stopped working, and I went on letrozole (an aromatase inhibitor). The fulvestrant caused a little fatigue, not much. Verzenio caused quite a bit.

I see an oncology nutritionist. She also warns that many supplements have too little or too much of the active ingredient, and that they are hard on the liver. Instead, they recommend exercise (which works, paradoxically) and buproprion (Wellbutrin), which has been shown to help with fatigue for people taking meds for mbc. Otherwise, I take D3 if my vitamin D is low, and a little B12, not too much, which is borderline low.

[Tanyateresa in reply to TammyCross]

Thanks very much for that info. I will check next week with my oncologist about letrozol and Fulvestrant and why I am taking both if they both do the same thing . I think you are right about the exercise and I will carry on to do lots of that and o will check out Buprorion which I haven't heard of. Thanks Tammy for the info 🙂

[TammyCross in reply to Tanyateresa]

Buproprion is Wellbutrin. Did I say that? It is usually prescribed for anxiety or depression. I take a low dose with extended release.