Food for thought (and PC) - Flaxseed

JC, It does make sense, right? Going all the way back to the SELECT study which actually implicated Vitamin E and Selenium as a culprit in PCa, newer evidence suggests that it probably has no effect either way.
Researchers aren’t even sure which type of tocopherol ( alpha or gamma?) might be the better one even for simple RDA requirements.
Glad that your health system is finally going to get a definitive answer. Is it a double blind study or did they actually tell some patients to take supplements? Thanks,
Phil

@heavyphil
Not sure. Seeing R/Os in June for my 2 year follow up and will asked. I don't know the parameters of the long term sudy. I know I had to sign a lot of privacy forms and fill out very long forms that took a hour to complete. Every question you could think of was asked and ever more I would never even thought of. The study includes additional office visits wiht R/Os but it mainly goes over every question on study form and more.

I know when I was treated UFHPTI they tell their patients to not take supplements that they identified as anti oxidants. It is a huge list. Problem was I was taking most of them. They did show the conflicting research on if does affect radiation treatments or not.

There long term researh may or may not include what you mentioned about supplements but the study does include those questions. I know they were adamant that even a multi vitiman if it had any amounts over RMD you could not even take a multivitamin and no additional supplements on the list.

I was taking Fish Oil per cardiologist but had to come off that also. But I was taking so many supplements to help with prostrate and some for other parts of body like resveratrol, lycopene, pumpkin seed oil, etc. I was told could take Co-Q-10 which was good as helps reduce the pain from taking a statin drug.

Thanks, JC - I too was a walking ad for my local healthfood store’s organic vitamins and supplements. I even took DIM, which I know now is an adjective for the idiot who thinks it might help him stave off prostate cancer.😁

When they told me it was malignant, I was really indignant!

How could this happen to me, if I hug trees and drink green tea?

@heavyphil
Saw palmetto was also one of the other supplements I was told to come off prior, during and after before my discussion with UFHPTI R/O.

Heavyphil, what is DIM?

My heart failure doctor's facial expressions are really expressive on his view of supplements. When I mentioned all the supplements his facial expression are quite blunt as he does not believe in them.

However, about 3 years ago he put me on fish oil to help with triglycerides. My wife's primary care doctor put my wife on an actual prescription for fish oil not a supplement. So, getting mixed messages about supplements.

I have tried to lessen my desire and why I want to take supplements and just eat right but my wife and I hate to cook. I internally argue with myself over whether this is something I should take or not and doesn't seem to be a clear winner with my internal voices.

During my last visit (a couple of days ago) with my HF doctor we were discussing why I was burping so much, and he mentioned tomatoes and other foods. I mentioned I eat a lot of tomatoes and take lycopene as I heard it was a great antioxidant. Then I got the look again.

@bluegill
You sound exactly like me.

Here I am taking all these supplements that supposedly were to protect me and I get prostate cancer. Hey I also drink green tea.

Try to lose weight so big push was to drink diet sodas. Now they say your body can't distinguish between regular sugar and artificial sugars and you get the same insulin rush.

Got it has to be over a decade ago 60 minutes was doing a special on reserveratrol and was good for longevity. Have been taking ever since. I many times wonder if wasting money on it but I am 78 next month so maybe just maybe helping. If you read my post to heavyphil you will see this is that internal voice telling me to take and the other one saying waste of money.

Ah, I see how my "oil" comment was misunderstood - I said oil is "not good for PC". What I meant was - it is not shown to be beneficial, not that it causes cancer (god forbid).

As biologist I will stand behind my belief that whole food products always work better than "extracts" since all substances in our food work in synergy with our digestive system and with our body in general. It is better to eat whole apple (organic) , than drinking it juiced, and it is better to drink fresh squeezed apple juice than having "apple concentrate ". That is because you are right - there is sooooo much that is unknown, but we know that eating whole fruits and vegetables is extremely healthy ; ), it is no brainier.

I also agree that medical community is devoid of those understandings and everything is observed in fragmented environment and always with profit as major driving force. That is why I like to include complementary medicine and I did it all of my life. I am coming form Europe where natural remedies are always in first line of defense for common health problems and only if they fail than pharma medications are involved. Actually, when you visit doctor in most Euro countries he/she will give you prescription but also a list of teas, or herbs, or other remedies that can help. It is just integral part of medicine there. As a child I took antibiotic maybe 3 times in my life. My mother who is 86 never took any prescribed medication for any ailment , now she has to take beta blockers for heart and she is very upset about that lol. All of her maladies in that long life she fixed by using herbs, diet modifications, supplements , yoga etc. I can go on and on, but I saw first hand how natural medicine can work and they can work amazingly well. BUT, for example, one should not take advice about proper diet from hospital worker but from dietitian who is versed in natural medicine. I am not naturopath but can tell you with basic knowledge that any fresh fruit and vegetables can cause gas especially if you have digestive problems. It is because of high levels of fiber and some people also have problem digesting fructose ! That person was border line abusive and ignorant ! I am so sorry you had to deal with that : (. Just terrible ...

Now, since we are here dealing with cancer - natural supplements could only be integral part, never the only part, I hope I am clear about that. (Although I personally met guy who got into kidney cancer remission using herbal remedies- my sister's boyfriend 40 years ago). I will again suggest to everybody to read this book : " How to Prevent and Treat Cancer with Natural Medicine ". It is ENDORSED by Cancer Treatment Centers of America. It also involves chapters dedicated to cancer treatments (chemo and radiation) and a lot advice about what to eat, take or do before, during and after treatments. I find it very informative and useful and none of things advised could possibly harm anybody : ) , and can help if anything with making body stronger and with less side effects from taking heavy medications, radiation and chemo toxicity. It will not help everybody, but again, no standard and conventional treatment helps everybody either. We can just do "our best" and try all that is available for us to get well.