thanks for all the advice

[jltorcz]

I appreciate all the suggestions regarding reducing ANC and loved the chocolate, turkey tail mushrooms nd timing options. It appears my oncologist doesn’t love the supplements that much because how they might react to the medicines is not really studied. The chocolate I have tried but not very scientifically, but I am gaining weight right now and do deal with high cholesterol. I will probably try it again instead of the cookies and ice cream after dinner.

I will see what happens when I have blood work at 1 pm.

Love this forum.

Janice

[Bravespirit]

I was searching for ways to bolster my immune system after having to take a week off after my very first round of treatment on Ibrance 125 (21 days on, 7 days off) and found a post about Turkey Tail mushrooms on this forum.

After reading multiple studies,I consulted with my chemo pharmacist. She indicated there were no contraindications of taking the mushroom supplements with targeted therapies, but as expected, stated that because they were not FDA approved she couldn't recommend them, it would be a personal choice I’d have to make.

The choice was easy after reading the library of research and information, including this info on the National Cancer Institute, as well as the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center websites

cancer.gov/about-cancer/tre...

mskcc.org/cancer-care/integ...

Perhaps you could share this information with your oncologist and she will reconsider?

[TammyCross in reply to Bravespirit]

MSK says okay to use in food or tea, but not in the form of a supplement. I think that is true of all the possibly helpful "nutrients."

[Bravespirit in reply to TammyCross]

Seems silly since really it’s the same substance and strength. I’d read the National Cancer Institute research as primary. I am taking the powder mixed in a beverage or food with my pharmacists nod 😉

[TammyCross in reply to Bravespirit]

I think that is the concern. Studies looking at reputable brands find varying doses, from little to too much. Maybe that is just pills, not powders?

[Adele_Julia]

Oncologists dont take nutrition classes to get their certifications thus they don’t recommend and stay away from discussions on supplements unless it’s for stuff they care about.

I used Drugs.com for supplement interactions with medicine, chemos, supplements, herbs.

I also have an oncology nutritionist who it IS her livelihood but is practices indepently. Love her.

Other shave suggested NIH and Pubmed articles. And Facebook has countless groups you can join for your breast sub type, medicine ( Ibrance, Xeloda, Enhertu ,,,). Lots of people in these groups all very active . There’s even a group for breast cancer supplements and herbs

hope that helps ! I’ve always found oncologists aren’t interested in supplements, alternate therapies etc because first they don’t know anything about it, and secondly they get paid to infuse or prescribe drugs ! Pretty simple

[hopehope67]

To raise leukocytes, the oncologist and oncology nurses recommended me kiwi, dark chocolate, popcorn (I make it myself without additives in the popcorn maker), white bacon of organic origin, chicken and turkey meat, garlic. Yes, and a lot of walking as much as possible. Regarding supplements, my oncologist agreed that I should take vitamin C and zinc. Honestly it is hard for me to be disciplined because I'm a fan of the Mediterranean diet but I usually have an ANC of more than 1. I am Ibrance 100, fulvestrant once a month, Zometa every 3 months for 4 years.

[Artesa in reply to hopehope67]

I'm so glad you mentioned lots of walking. I don't want to take turkey tail mushroom, or dark chocolate as more replicated research needs to be done but walking has no side effects and clears my head! Many other good side effects.

[Artesa]

I researched the later times of lab draws for ANCs and learned that as all of our organs are, these too are governed by circadian rhthyms and for at least benign neutropenia, the ANCs indeed increase with later in the day labs. It did not study low ANCs due to pathological reasons like cancer. Also, we don't know if the medical professionals want them done in the morning for a reason. I plan to ask my oncologist but I might leave later for my labs as someone else mentioned 11am. I'll pass on the Turkey Tail mushrooms and chocolate .

[ba5083]

I read yesterday that Black Elderberry can also help with ANC. Next appointment I am going to ask about a supplement called Thymic Protein A by a company call ProBoost. I have read a lot about it and can not find any interactions. My ONC is very receptive to supplementation and her preferred pharmacist knows a great deal as well. In regards to Turkey Tail, from my research you would need to take about 4-6 grams per day depending on the type (fruiting bodys or mycelium). There is a great TED talk about Turkey Tail and BC youtu.be/pXHDoROh2hA?si=7eC...(Not working as expected?) There is a lot of NIH research on Mushrooms and BC