Has your doctor suggested dosing for Calcium and Vitamin D during ADT?

Posted by jime51 @jime51, Sep 4 11:29pm

My oncologist has suggested that taking Calcium and Vitamin D during treatment is helpful, but not type or amount. I'm currently taking 1200 mg Calcium Citrate and 50 mcg Vitamin D daily. Is this adequate?

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jeff Marchi | @jeffmarc | Sep 15 12:45pm

In reply to @ucla2025 "If you don’t mind my asking how much of each does he take? My husband just..." + (show)

My calcium was low so I take 500 mg of calcium citrate three times a day. That has got me close to the midpoint of normal. Everybody is different so you should have his calcium checked every once in a while to see where he’s at.

jeff Marchi | @jeffmarc | Sep 15 1:43pm

In reply to @billfarm "Medical oncologist suggested multivitamin in passing at start of adt. After 23 months adt I have)-1.7..." + (show)

Your MO should have emphasized that you need to take calcium to keep your bone strength up. Vitamin D is also recommended. My oncologist made sure to tell me to take those.

Another thing a bone doctor said at a recent conference is that everybody on ADT should be on bone strengtheners. I was on Fosamax for six years and then Zometa for the last two years. My bones have stayed strong as a result.

jime51 | @jime51 | Sep 15 2:38pm

I pushed my oncologist, and so have my first-ever bone density test in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for all the nudges from the group!

jime51 | @jime51 | Sep 15 2:58pm

In reply to @dkgibson "1. Some of the studies are about whole milk increasing the risk of prostate cancer are..." + (show)

Congratulations on the great PSA news! A former brother-in-law recommended a book, "How Not to Die" (Greger), which mentions IGF-1 in milk as well as Choline in eggs and issues with chicken and beef. The author is pressing for vegan diets, and my sister-in-law has been using it to continue surviving stage 4 cancer after 17 years. It's not for everyone, though, and I've been trying it for awhile but have gained weight, so I'm going back on a low-fat, low-calorie Weight Watchers plan to get back under the pre-diabetic category. Each of us has to chart his own course. A friend pokes me by saying that humans are the only animals that give their offspring milk beyond childhood. Best wishes!

maga | @maga | Sep 15 3:48pm

In reply to @jimgaudette "My oncologist prescribed 1200 mg calcium and 125 mcg D3 daily and 70 mg Alendronate Sodium..." + (show)

Exercise is a MUST! After going thru radiation and receiving my second dose of Lupron I was wiped out. When I got home from my second Lupron injection I went swimming in a local lagoon. I swim half a mile every summer but lay off in the winter due to water being too cold. This was my first swim of the season so I only swam about 150 yards. I couldn't believe how much energy I had when I got out of the water. I'm 86 tears old and swim twice a week and lift weights twice a week.

surftohealth88 | @surftohealth88 | Sep 15 3:56pm

In reply to @jime51 "Congratulations on the great PSA news! A former brother-in-law recommended a book, "How Not to Die"..." + (show)

Yes, I like that book also.

It is interesting that you gained weight, both me and my husband are actually loosing it since we eliminated milk products, eggs and eat only occasionally some fish. Most of my vegan friends are very thin (maybe too thin). We eat mostly salads and roasted vegetables and some legumes, and lots of fruits. Very limited bread and very limited sugar.

But, as you said, everybody is different and some things just do not work for some people 🤷‍♀️. Going "vegan" might be too much for many, but eliminating at least some of "bad actors" can be beneficial.
https://www.aicr.org/cancer-prevention/food-facts/vegan-diet/

vircet | @vircet | Sep 15 8:26pm

In reply to @retiredboomer71 "The question is, how much (if any) supplemental Vitamin D is needed? I guessed a good..." + (show)

My radiation oncologist prescribed Orgovyx + Vitamin D for me. Orgovyx I got for free under the government drug plan for seniors (over 65). However, the cancer center's pharmacist said I could get the Vitamin D (for a fee) in any pharmacy outside the hospital, just be sure it's not more than 1,000 IU each tablet, taken once a day. I found that dosage for Vitamin D3 calcium carbonate, but could not find any calcium citrate.

vircet | @vircet | Sep 15 8:37pm

In reply to @jeffmarc "My calcium was low so I take 500 mg of calcium citrate three times a day...." + (show)

I also take calcium 500 mg 3x a day. It wasn't prescribed by my radiation oncologist who only prescribed Orgovyx + Vitamin D for me. When I told my RO that members of my PC support group are taking calcium in addition to Vitamin D, I was greenlit to take calcium. That time, I didn't know there's calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. In any case, I found only calcium carbonate in the pharmacy shelves, so that's what I take.

vircet | @vircet | Sep 15 8:52pm

In reply to @beaquilter "2000iu of vitamin D and 1300mg Calcium daily" + (show)

May I add that in my case, I take 1500 mg of calcium carbonate (500 mg at a time, 3x a day, with food). I read in this forum that calcium citrate is better, can be taken with or without food, but I didn't find it nor knew about it over 5 months ago.

jeff Marchi | @jeffmarc | Sep 15 9:34pm

In reply to @vircet "May I add that in my case, I take 1500 mg of calcium carbonate (500 mg..." + (show)

Calcium citrate could be taken with or without food. It also has fewer conflicts with other drugs.

I have a pharmacist call me every six months to discuss the pills I’m taking. The first time she called, she told me stop taking Calcium carbonate and start taking calcium citrate.

Costco sells it and it comes with D3 and magnesium two things worth having.