How is your gut health?

[ba5083]

I have been reading a lot lately regarding gut health and how it can help medications be more effective, slow progression etc. I listened to this podcast earlier today and wanted to share for those that might be interested.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podca...

[NPmary]

Thanks for sharing.A curious thing l learned is that a lot of the cancer fighting meds we take actually change the flora/tiny organisms in our gut. I couldn't begin to guess which pre or pro biotic to take! (Haha).

[ba5083 in reply to NPmary]

The only one I am taking at the moment is akkermansia. It is expensive, about $65 per month, but I think it is worth it. 8oz of pomegranate juice converts to akkermansia in the gut. Problem is most if not all CDK 4/6 (Ibrance, Verzenio etc.) inhibitors interacted with pomegranate juice. I have read that kiwi, if eaten daily, can also create akkermansia in the gut but have not researched enough to confirm. I have been on Verzenio for almost a year (knock on wood) and have not suffered any of the GI issues many have. Not sure if taking this supplement has helped or not.

[NPmary in reply to ba5083]

Good for you.GI side effects are pretty common, l think it's working for you.

[Bettybuckets]

thanks so much!

[wackier]

Hi I'm new here after a lumpectomy and nodal clearance in late 2023 I'm now on endocrine therapy. Definitely protective of my gut microbiome and know it doesn't cope with toxic drugs. 7 weeks into Abemeciclib (verzenios) I've been taken off them to allow my liver function to come down from 500+ to its normal level (7-15)

No. one in UK has mentioned pomegranate which is part of my diet but our pharmacies do not recommend taking any supplements. I do take Vit D3, magnesium and a multi vit with minerals for seniors.

So very interesting as I know my digestive system has been fighting these chemicals and I have no intention of ruining my micro biome if it is serving me well.

Thanks for letting me have my say (been making my own Kefir for 12+ years now though I'm not as consistent as I was )

[ba5083 in reply to wackier]

From reading the small print in the documents of pablocyclib (Ibrance) it mentions interactions with grapefruit and pomegranate but I could not find anything in the amebeciclib literature regarding pomegranate. I discussed this about 3 months ago with my pharmacist who works close with my ONC. The pharmacist gave a hard recommendation of no pomegranate or pomegranate juice. Based off her experience and knowledge it would increase the toxicity of abemeciclib similar to grapefruit. The reason for asking was because the akkermansia product I take is expensive. To put things into perspective the pharmacist and my ONC have approved all my supplement requests which is approx 15-20 dietary supplements.

[wackier]

thanks for that info as I've just been taken off amebeciclib because of high liver function levels. I haven't had pomegranate recently as they have not been available, so much literature out there seems contradictory. I bought magnolia bark tablets which I stopped about 3 months ago though I cannot find any contra-indications

[ba5083 in reply to wackier]

I'm sorry I must have misinterpreted your post. I thought you were eating or drinking a lot of pomegranate concurrently with amebeciclib and was wondering if that might have caused your high numbers.

I take milk thistle for my liver but I'm no Dr. and would recommend you to do your research on it as I'm not qualified to give medical advice. I have also heard of cancer patients taking tudca for liver support.

[Dragonfly2]

I’m taking Piqray now and with it am “enjoying” the hyperglycemia side effects. Consequently I started with metformin which wreaked havoc with my gut. I felt it was a gut biome issue for sure and found that bifidobacterium bifidum probiotics were helpful in keeping metformin takers compliant…meaning they would stay on the metformin because they felt better.

So yes, taking probiotics can be beneficial for those who are struggling with their meds. My doctors wholeheartedly supported probiotics. I hope this helps.

[ba5083 in reply to Dragonfly2]

I wasn't aware that was a side effect of Piqray. A lot of people have gut issues from metformin. Thanks for sharing! Hope you are doing well!