Turkey Tail mushrooms and FOS. Anyone else here use these?

Posted by ededed @ededed, Aug 2 7:32am

I have been taking Turkey Tail Mushroom tea or capsules, along with Lion’s Mane’s mushroom tea or capsules and FOS for 4 years now. For the last few visits to my urologist, he has told me that he is surprised how well I am doing. When I first started seeing him, I was diagnosed with Stage 3-C, advanced and aggressive prostate cancer with a PSA of 54.0. My Gleason score was 8.
My search of the literature led me to taking FOS and Turkey Tail mushrooms since October, 2021. I added Lion’s Mane mushrooms to my daily routine a bit later. I take Turkey Tail mushrooms I have collected myself as well as commercially available capsules and mycelium powder. Cancer stem cells (CSC) promote metastasis, something that we all hope to avoid. Turkey Tail mushroom and specifically the polysaccharides within the mushroom are credited with combating the cancer stem cells. I attribute my lack of progression of my cancer to my Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy aka IMRT, my one year of ADT, and to the supplements that I take daily.

Below, I have quoted from four peer reviewed articles without editorializing though I have bolded some of the most relevant passages.
An additional note, Turkey Tail mushrooms are now the subject of a clinical trial at the Mayo Clinic in pre-operative breast cancer patients. It has also been reported favorably for patients with colorectal cancer and a few other solid organ cancers.

The following acronyms are found in the quotes below.
A mucinphila the commensal intestinal mucin-degrading bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila
CSC cancer stem cells
FOS FructooligoSaccharide or oligofructose
PC Prostate Cancer
Advanced prostate cancer patients on androgen deprivation therapy have altered gut microbiota composition, with an accumulation of bacterial species that can synthesize dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone from pregnenolone [through 17a-hydroxylase/17,20-desmo lase (CYP17A1)– like activity]. The presence of these species enhances tumor growth and progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)(1).
We have carefully examined a total of 24 the up-to-date available dietary intervention studies in search for evidence and strategies to increase A. muciniphila, a beneficial member of gut microbiota in the gut. Available evidence from animal studies showed that viable A.muciniphila or prebiotics (FOS) was able to consistently promote A. muciniphila abundance in the gut, suggesting a great potential for future development of dietary intervention approaches using viable bacterium or FOS for increasing gut A. muciniphila..(2)
Here, we demonstrated that the polysaccharopeptide (PSP) extracted from Turkey tail (known as Coriolus versicolor [aka Trametes versicolor] or Yun-zhi) targets prostate CSCs in vitro and suppresses tumor formation in vivo. Treatment of prostate cancer cell line PC-3 with PSP led to the down-regulation of CSC markers (CD133 and CD44) in a time and dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, formation of prostasphere, a major property of prostate CSCs, was completely suppressed in PC-3 cells in the presence of PSP. Furthermore,PSP pre-treatment significantly suppressed tumor initiation of PC-3 cells in immunocompromised mice, suggesting that PSP suppresses the tumorigenicity of the PC-3 cells. More importantly, oral feeding of transgenic mice (TgMAP) that spontaneously develop prostate tumor with PSP was found to completely inhibit prostate tumor formation. Our findings support that PSP may be a potent chemo-preventive agent against prostate cancer, possibly through targeting of the prostate CSC population. (3)
Since ancient times, mushrooms have been considered valuable allies of human wellbeing both from a dietary and medicinal point of view. Their essential role in several traditional medicines is explained today by the discovery of the plethora of biomolecules that have shown proven efficacy for treating various diseases, including cancer. Numerous studies have already been conducted to explore the antitumoural properties of mushroom extracts against cancer. Still,very few have reported the anticancer properties of mushroom polysaccharides and mycochemicals against the specific population of cancer stem cells (CSCs). In this context, _-glucans are relevant in modulating immunological surveillance against this subpopulation of cancer cells within tumours.(4)
In fact, as reported in this review, mushrooms are an abundant source of mycochemicals that may intervene in several pathways involved in the induction of embryonic characteristics specific to CSCs, either alone or in synergy with conventional drug therapies.(4)
SOURCES
1. Gut bacteria enable prostate cancer growth. John A. McCulloch, Giorgio Trinchieri.. Science, 374 (6564), DOI: 10.1126/science.abl7070
2. 2. Kequan Zhou, Strategies to promote abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, an emerging probiotics in the gut, evidence from dietary intervention studies, Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 33, 2017, Pages 194-201, ISSN 1756-4646,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2017.03.045
3. Chemopreventive Effect of PSP Through Targeting ofProstate Cancer Stem Cell-Like Population. Sze-Ue Luk , Terence Kin-Wah Lee, Ji Liu, Davy Tak-Wing Lee, Yung-Tuen Chiu, Stephanie Ma, Irene Oi-Lin Ng, Yong-Chuan Wong, Franky Leung Chan, Ming-Tat Ling. Published: May 16, 2011, Chemopreventive Effect of PSP Through Targeting of Prostate Cancer Stem Cell-Like Population | PLOS ONE
4. Mycochemicals against Cancer Stem Cells. : Tacchini, M.; Sacchetti, G.; Guerrini, A.; Paganetto, G. Toxins 2023, 15, 360. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15060360

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Profile picture for heavyphil @heavyphil

And of course I have to ask: what product/dosage do you use?
There are quite a few for sale, but like most herbal supplements, the method of extraction is critical for getting the active compounds you are looking for. Thanks again,
Phil

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I heat water to tea temperature and add a slightly rounded 1/2 teaspoon of turkey tail mycelium powder and lion's mane mycelium powder. When I purchase the mushrooms commercially, I use Host Defense
https://hostdefense.com/products/turkey-tail-powder?variant=42140850356269
However, to save on shipping and order other items, I usually order that same product from VitaCost
https://www.vitacost.com/host-defense-mushrooms-organic-turkey-tail-powder-7-oz

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Thanks so much, ed….I think you are wise in using the powdered shroom rather than a capsular extract - too many unknowns in that. Also, I think it was @surftohealth88 who said that there are synergies in the whole food vs the extract that may contribute even more to beneficial effects. Totally agree with that. Thanks again,
Phil

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Profile picture for heavyphil @heavyphil

Thanks so much, ed….I think you are wise in using the powdered shroom rather than a capsular extract - too many unknowns in that. Also, I think it was @surftohealth88 who said that there are synergies in the whole food vs the extract that may contribute even more to beneficial effects. Totally agree with that. Thanks again,
Phil

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I prefer to use turkey tail that I have collected in my local woods. (It is the DIY part of my personality.) However, I do not find enough in good condition to harvest and process. ( I have full confidence in Host Defence single species products.) My processing is a to trim the mushrooms to remove bark etc, air dry or use a dehydrator, chop them up in a coffee grinder, heat them overnight in a crock pot set on high temp, strain and filter, and consume. I make up a batch for one week at a time and refrigerate until I'm ready to use.

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Profile picture for ecurb @ecurb

Been taking WBM powder over two years now in my am Hot Green tea. I m off ADT since last January 2025. ADT substance still in my body. However my PSA is less than .01 for 30 months now. FYI only. Thank you. Bruce

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Could you please tell me which procedures you had prior to being taken off ADT? My husband completes 5 weeks of radiation therapy on August 8. He has been taking turkey tail mushrooms, as well, on his own. He started hormone therapy May 15 and ADT the first week in June. There seems to be a reluctance to have a PSMA done once the radiation is complete. We paid for our own, in late April. I hate the idea of my husband continuing with hormone therapy for the rest of his life.

Glenda

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I had 42 sessions of IMRT and one year of ADT. My urologist wanted me to continue ADT for another six to twelve months and I said no! I had ADT side effects of severe joint pain that limited my mobility. My ADT symptoms continued for another 18 months after stopping. Physical therapy seemed to help but the passage of time seemed to be the cure for the pain. PSMA as good as it is, does not show very small amounts of cancer. Insurance companies do not support PSMA if your PSA is below a certain level.

I hope that your husband achieves NED (no evidence of disease) status and is able to enjoy life for many years.
Please update us as your husband's journey continues.

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Profile picture for gkgdawg @gkgdawg

Could you please tell me which procedures you had prior to being taken off ADT? My husband completes 5 weeks of radiation therapy on August 8. He has been taking turkey tail mushrooms, as well, on his own. He started hormone therapy May 15 and ADT the first week in June. There seems to be a reluctance to have a PSMA done once the radiation is complete. We paid for our own, in late April. I hate the idea of my husband continuing with hormone therapy for the rest of his life.

Glenda

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Had 28 visits to radiation machine/ had about 6 butt shots every three months. Was on Arbiterone/ prednisone for 28 months. Stopped butt shots- Trelstar/ Lupron in January 2025. This was due to PSA less than .01 for 28 months. Trelstar/ Lupron stays in the body for 253 days- so I m good til October 2025- then we will see what happens. FATIGUE is still with me daily. Hope this helps.

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Profile picture for gkgdawg @gkgdawg

Could you please tell me which procedures you had prior to being taken off ADT? My husband completes 5 weeks of radiation therapy on August 8. He has been taking turkey tail mushrooms, as well, on his own. He started hormone therapy May 15 and ADT the first week in June. There seems to be a reluctance to have a PSMA done once the radiation is complete. We paid for our own, in late April. I hate the idea of my husband continuing with hormone therapy for the rest of his life.

Glenda

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I was Gleason 9 stage 4 to the pelvic lymph nodes/ seminal vesicles. Awhile ago.

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Does Turkey Tail or any other stop metastatic prostate cancer in the bones HELP

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Have been taking Turkey Tail in powder form added to my morning coffee, but don't know if it is doing any good or not. Since coming off ADT last August, my PSA has risen from .01 to 1.6 to 2.5, but have only used the TT for the last 3 months. Am considering adding the white button mushroom powder as well, but will see.
Thanks for the TT reports!!

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Profile picture for ecurb @ecurb

Had 28 visits to radiation machine/ had about 6 butt shots every three months. Was on Arbiterone/ prednisone for 28 months. Stopped butt shots- Trelstar/ Lupron in January 2025. This was due to PSA less than .01 for 28 months. Trelstar/ Lupron stays in the body for 253 days- so I m good til October 2025- then we will see what happens. FATIGUE is still with me daily. Hope this helps.

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I am really hoping that my husband can stop the ADT, at some point, sooner than later. From the comments I have seen, at least 24 months seems to be the normal MOD.

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