I found this site when I was in treatment and it talks about different things that help chemo and ones that hurt it, same with radiation and tamoxifen. I stuck to it pretty hardcore my first few years of tamoxifen. Now I don't. At the beginning you are over the top with all of this and try to do everything perfectly. Eventually that hold on you loosens. Now I'm more concerned about getting my health completely back and feeling like me again than I am about my cancer returning. I didn't go through all of that to feel like shit all the time. So if I get myself back and my cancer comes back so be it. At least I had some time feeling good and really living. Right now I'm not. It's all about risk adversity. At the beginning you Are very adverse to any risk to your treatment. I'm five years out and still dealing with fallout from all the treatment. One thing after another. So my adversity to risk is almost nothing at this point. I take Curaphen extra strength as well. It has curcumin in it and that is supposed to hinder some of the tamoxifens effectiveness. But I don't care I just want to relieve the chronic pain.

Here's the web site:

Here you go.

http://foodforbreastcancer.com/articles/breast-...tamoxifen-treatment

My personal experience is: I was on methotrexate for 3 years before BC. It's also a chemo drug given in low doses for RA. My nails started to fall off and ridge out like crazy so I started taking 800mcg of Folic Acid a day. I have beautiful nails then and now coming up on my 4th chemo. My onc is shocked my nails look so good lol. Folic has the side benefit of increasing white blood cells so after Neupogen is done, I continue to keep my levels up. My bloodwork on all visits looks great.

I also take D3 and Vitamin C. I also drink either Muscle Milk or Ensure for protein, vitamins and energy (and for when food is not an option on those icky days). I keep it simple.

However, nothing takes the place of eating well. Supplements do not do as good of a job as the right foods. and personally, I would make nyself crazy trying to figure them all out. WAY too much work. And what works for some doesn't for others. And one site has good news and others say it's bad. Too much work.

@A MyBCTeam Member - my first oncologist would not let me take anything during the original hard chemo - he said there was no documentation on how herbs or supplements would interact with chemo so better not to take anything extra. I'm now on Kadcyla (chemo) and the new oncologist doesn't seem to have a problem with me taking supplements (though she doesn't prescribe anything) - my "second opinion" oncologist up at MD Anderson, besides being board certified in hematology and oncology is also certified in and director of the department of integrative medicine, and he put me on various supplements. I'm on Curamin Extra Strength (curcumin and boswellia), fish oil, vitamin D3, Perque MG Plus Guard magnesium, Caltrate calcium, biotin, and a probiotic. I was already on some when I met him and he adjusted/approved them and added a few more. Plus I'm already taking a couple medicines for my blood pressure and another for OAB. I'm thinking I need to ask him about something for the fatigue but I am already taking way too many pills so I'm dreading adding anymore. :(

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It may be your chemo guru knows that there's indeed no known contribdication with the specific chemo course set for you. Ask for clarification-you're a smart cookie, asking ( and persisting) until you understand, that comes across in your posts. Ask at your next visit for specifics. You'll feel more at ease with your choice for it. You're an excellent self-advocate, Jwags!

((Another hug))

@A MyBCTeam Member - absolutely!!! It's so confusing when they all tell us different things!

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