I am taking the following alternative "drugs"

[stephers1]

I just wanted to see if anyone (alan) had an opinion on the following herbs I am taking. This is my 15th round of chemo so I thought I would break all the rules this time and maybe get a better results..Also I do not have "garden variety" as the docs have so nicly coined it, I have carcinosarcoma, however in the past my cancer seems to respond better to ovarian cancer treatment then sarcoma treatment. Heres the list: oh ya I am on topotecan too

Galium Heal 10 drops 2 a day
Hepar camp 10 drops 2 a day
Ribes
Sequoia
Quercus (these three are mixed 2-1-1 at 1 tsp 2 a day
Rosmarius 1 tsp 2 per day
Maitake 20 drops twice day
HMF superpowder 1/4 teaspoon twice a day
Glutagenes?? 1 tsp twice a day
Flavin-7 1 cap full
2oz of Fulvic Acid twice a day

[alanpvegas]

Get the book "How to Treat and Prevent Cancer with Natural Medicine", it's the only book you'll need to explain and tell you what to take based on your chemo or your cancer.  Nobody can tell you 100% there is no danger in overkill, but there is overkill in taking supplements that won't do anything for you (i.e. not bioabsorbable or won't do anything based on chemo or cancer).  

Some you don't take with certain chemos.  For example Vitamin B6 should not be taken with Hexalen because it delays it's effect, but does prevent the neuropathy.  

The easiest way is to pick at least one main 'supplement' you are always going to take.  For example Maitake D-Fraction (from Maitake Industries Inc.) is by far the safest one (won't effect any chemo, possibly enhance them) that can have an effect.  From there it will depend on your chemo.

[EchoUK]

I feel totally confused as there seem to be so many herbs and supplemets taken by various posters.  Isn't there a danger of 'overkill'  if you take too many different ones at a time?

[Kimchi]

Happy to share info...I have been on high doses of Reishi with high vitamin C (together) since before my hysto.  got ok from my dr to continue this during chemo..Sorry I get my Reishi in Thailand so can

[alanpvegas]

I responded to your other post but I see that you are taking Tamoxifen...look into CoQ10.  Print out the article I wrote and show it to your oncologist to see if it's ok with them for you to take (works with Tamoxifen):
http://www.alanpeto.com/ovarian_cancer/articles/7/1/Coenzyme-Q10-CoQ10-as-a-possible-adjunct-treatment-for-Ovarian-Cancer/Page1.html

[Geec]

Tell me more about the reishi mushroom. I've  been seriously thinking about taking it. I'm just afraid it might interfere with the Tamoxifen I'm on now. I have stage 3c ovarian cancer. I've had 2 recurrences so far. I appreciate your comments. Thank you.

[Kimchi]

Don't like the taste of green tea but I continue to drink a tea that I was introduced to 6 years ago when I was getting major doses of antibiotics...Tea is called Jiao Gu Lang or 5-leaf ..Lucky it is grown in the northern part of Thailand. I have one cup of coffee everyday except 2 days before and after my chemo (also stop all supplements, figure I have enough in my body at that point that stopping won't effect the effects that I feel I get from these supplements). .I drink about 3 large glasses of this tea during the day and the slightly natural sweet taste makes it easier for me to drink...
Alan great idea to compile a form to keep track of supplement intake...
Conquerere and everyone else:  Good luck with your test results

[Conquerer]

I just found a great company called  The Health Forum.  The woman is a 23 year survivor of Ovca her company gives information on first line of defense ie. surgery doctors drug,  information for recurrance and alternative moves.   Althoug it cost I spoke to her for 30 minutes o my case and see is compiling infor on doctors and vit. herbs etc to help during the wait and see period.  The web site is www.thehealthresource.com  I am tired of trying to put together my own plan I would like to help of a doctor.    Also, went for my CA125 today and find out Friday,  say a prayer  Thanks

[alanpvegas]

I was making up a form that allows you to track your supplement intake but slacked off on finishing it.  Anyways, yeah, it's sometimes difficult to tell what is working and when/why.  Green tea is good, even the supplements because they have more in it.  What's funny is they actually found out that coffee may be good as well....lol, they find some anti-cancer mechanism in almost all food nowadays!

[stephers1]

No I haven't kept a log, but I should. I have not really seen any improvment because there are always so many other factors such as increase pain due to a tumor pressing on nerves in my pelvis. I also just started chemo as I had a horrible pet scan so that is new as well. I will say I bounced back from my chemo within 3 days with heaps and bounds of energy. But maybe Topotecan is just easier chemo then the prior stuff I've had. Anyhow I will increase my Maitake dosage I am short about 20 drops a day. Thank you Alan for giving us info on so many things. All of these herbs were suggested to me by a naturopathic doctor. I should mention I also had to quit coffee and change to green tea. Which I don't mind.

[coogeegirl]

I too take alternative supplements I take a lot of what is already listed with the addition of Vitamin D and Kelp (iodine supplement for the thyroid) as it is shown through different studies that women with reproductive cancers are generally shown to be low in Vitamin D and iodine.

Unfortunately I cannot help on the supplements that Stephers1 is taking.

[Kimchi]

I, too, have started to add more alternatives after 10 rounds of chemo carbo/taxo.  Think I am starting to react to one or both meds so decided to clean out my kidneys and liver.  A healer here who uses chinese herbs and supplements gave me two products to take.  After some research I found that it might help kill cancer cells as well.
Still taking my reishi mushroom, vitamins E 1000 mg , multi, Vitamin C 4000 mg, CoQ10 400 mg, fishoil
And now 2 chinese herbs:
Bai Hua She She Cao (OLDENLANDIA)

[freshair]

That's great. I'm all for it. I haven't heard of a lot of them either.  

Just watch out that none of them are real blood thinners since platelets get low.

Is Quercus  Quercitin. I take that.  Besides other stuff, I have been taking Acetyl L-Carnitine with CoQ10 and I was telling my friend this today. I can't believe the energy and enthusiasm I have for everything. I think this stuff is helping me. It's good for the heart, fatigue, neuropathy, fat metabolism . It's all day long I am always thinking of the next thing to do. I wasn't feeling this way a month ago. I am sure the vacation I had helped too.  

Best of luck with your alternatives. I truly believe we have to try to help ourselves.

How is topotecan working for you? I have never been on that. Did your numbers come down after the first treatment or take awhile?

[alanpvegas]

I'll boldy admit I haven't heard of any of these except for Maitake :)  But that doesn't mean they can't or don't work.  In-fact, 61% of "traditional" anti-cancer drugs are all derived from....plants!

Have you noticed any changes while using it?  Are you keeping a log?

I will take a look at each one and reply back later, but for Maitake (if you are using the Grifron Pro version) youshould take 1.0mg per kilo of body weight per day.  To determine what your body weight is in kilos, multiply your weight inpounds time 0.45.  Example:  150 lbs = 68 kilos (150 x 0.45).  Therapeutic total daily amount would be 68mg pure D-Fraction, which is approximately equivalent to 68 drops of Grifron-Pro Maitake D-Fraction.  Therefore take 22 drops three times daily between meals.  One 1 fluid oz. bottle contains approximately 820 drops.

This changes based on the type of Maitake D-Fraction you have (if it's other than Maitake Products Inc's) because the concentration may/will be different.  That's why I stick with them, they are the most professional and established here.