Congratulations! You survived cancer treatment. Now you are dutifully eating your vegetables, getting your exercise, making sleep a priority, and doing as much of what you love as you can in your life. Maybe you are thinking about nutritional supplements, and trying to sort out all the overwhelming information to decide which supplements are worth considering.
Five years after my treatment for Inflammatory Breast Cancer, I have decided on just a few that I have integrated into my life. After reading everything I could, they are the ones that I feel are most important.
Healthy Vitamin D levels are important for preventing primary cancers and recurrences.
I get as much Vitamin D naturally as I can, and I have my blood levels checked regularly. If they’re low, I supplement. Low levels of Vitamin D have been linked with breast and colon cancers. There are many ways to get your vitamin D, especially if you live south of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Omega-3 fatty acids are important for minimizing inflammation.
If you can’t manage fish three times a week, supplements are a good strategy. There is so much evidence on the benefits of Omega 3s that it’s important that you get enough. You can take fish oil capsules, Omega 3 supplements, or flax seed oil. I actually eat “fish gummies” from Trader Joe’s, because I like them.
Melatonin has been shown to suppress tumor activity.
Most people don’t need to supplement with melatonin. For cancer survivors, ten to twenty milligrams at night will help suppress tumor development and aid sleep, which is often an issue after treatment. A calcium and magnesium supplement will amplify this result.
Calcium is good for bones and sleep, and evidence supports that it can be cancer preventive.
Use care when supplementing with calcium, because it has been implicated for increasing the risk for cardiac events in postmenopausal women. Inadequate calcium has been linked to cancer, and many cancer survivors are at risk for osteoporosis. Try to get these nutrients in natural form if you can, and if you supplement, choose carefully and spread out the dosage. Taking it in the evening will add to your good night sleep strategy.
Green tea has been shown to suppress tumor formation.
If you can’t stomach floating through your day on a sea of green tea, capsules are a good alternative. I drink a cup or two a day and am learning to like the taste of it. I haven’t fully managed yet. I still prefer coffee, alas. White and green tea mixes are pleasant. I like the “To Life” blend from Teavana.
An apple a day is fiber insurance. More fiber is better.
Fiber consumption is inversely related to colon cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other stress and age-related illnesses. I love apples, so I eat one every day. I also love oatmeal.
Take a good multivitamin that is formulated to be safe for cancer survivors.
I take a vitamin from Source Naturals that is formulated for people like me. It does not contain iron or copper, because these minerals can fuel tumor growth. The label has the trademark “SafeGuard” on it. I’m sure there are other brands as well. Just be sure your multivitamin has your unique needs in mind.
Certainly there could be more ways I could supplement my diet to be sure I’m doing all I can, but I simply can’t remember to take everything I think I should be taking. These are the fundamentals, and so far so good. I can’t ask for better than that.
Source:
Personal experience and research.
Please see links.
More from Elizabeth Danu:
The Dangers of Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements
Getting Your Vitamin D in a Northern Climate
Try Something New to Get Some Sleep