Low Vitamin D level

duxx1234

Hello everyone, I had my second AC treatment yesterday and got the result of a Vitamin D blood test which showed my level was 37 which is low. I now have to start on a massive dose of Vitamin D made up by a compound chemist.
Has anyone else had this problem? I would be interested to hear. Thank you. 

Mira

I had low vitamin D before I was diagnosed with the cancer.  I only have to take normal supplements though.

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melclarity

Hey @duxx1234 Welcome...truth is majority of the population have low vitamin D odd isn't it? very normal for you to have low Vit D and it will get worse on chemo. My oncologist didnt start me on Vitamin D until after Chemo, no point taking anything whilst youre on treatment as it's depleted after every infusion. Hugs Melinda xo

primek

Apparently it's quite common

http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/low_vit_d

Also previous discussions

http://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/15413/vitamin-d-and-link-to-breast-cancer/p1

Afraser

Low vitamin D levels are surprisingly common, the slip, slap, slop campaign may have contributed by reducing sunshine benefit (but then you get worried about skin cancer!!).

My level was even lower and I had to take three capsules a day before I started chemo. While chemo may deplete it, my oncologist most certainly wanted my level raised before and during treatment.  I still take supplements daily - I am on Femara and need everything I can do to keep my bones as healthy as possible . 

Romla

Whilst I have not had AC treatment I am a very fair skinned redhead who avoids the sun so take the vitamin D level recommended by Osteoporosis society - which for me is covered by 2 Caltrate Bone and Muscle Health daily - 1 at breakfast and one late afternoon.Like many others I need it as I had osteoporosis before breast cancer including a fracture - the latter is a major worry as I take Letrozole/Femara which is not good for bone density.I also have 6 monthly Prolia injections to help build bones.My first annual check up is coming up this March and will be interested to see how my bone density and vitamin d levels are.

duxx1234

Thank you all for your responses. You are all so helpful! It was very interesting to read about the connection of low Vitamin D to bc and also recurrence of bc.  I am starting tomorrow on 50,000 units - one capsule per week for 5 weeks! That should do the trick, me thinks

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viking1

I know the chemo depletes vitamins etc but my naturopath put me on 5000 IU of D3 oral drops (Bioceuticals do this) and I also took 3 Advacal tablets a day which also had a bit of D in them as well as the calcium. I had a deficiency to start with. She said chemo patients should be on at least 5000IU daily. (I'm just saying what I was told so don't take it as a chemo oncs advice, although the chemo onc did say that she didn't care if I took it as it's not something that can hinder chemo.)  I don't know if I was just lucky or if the D3 and Calcium helped, but the chemo onc said she was surprised my fingernails and toenails were fine at the end of chemo as she had had several cases of them falling out with the particular chemo I was on for the last three cycles (Docetaxil).  Also, I didn't go bald, my hair started growing longer whilst on FEC, for the first three cycles, and sadly started shedding again for the last three.  Apparently Docetaxil is a bit of a bathplug! But, who knows if it was the vitamins as chemo is just so different side effect wise for everyone! Best of luck xx

Hopes_and_Dreams

Hi @duxx1234, I’m also fair skinned and do my best to stay out of the sun but the trade off is low vitamin D.  I’ve also got bone density problems and have been taking a compounding prescription of one 25,000 unit capsule per week.  It’s put my levels back into the normal range.  It sounds like 50,000 should do the trick for you!  Good luck and let us know if there is an improvement.  Jane x

duxx1234

Thanks Jane.  I will certainly keep you posted! Maureen  x

duxx1234

@viking1   Thanks  so much  for your response. I’ll let you know how I get on.  Maureen x

Romla

Thanks @duxx1234 your post has precipitated a most interesting conversation from members.Thankyou all too.

I am starting to think that the depletion of vit D levels by chemo might explain why those who are also er+ seem to have bigger problems with joint pain when on aromatase inhibitors than those who have not had chemo.

Aromatase inhibitors are known to reduce bone density causing joint pain and fractures.I know ,having osteoporosis prior to breast cancer myself, that low vit D is associated with low calcium absorption and contributes to osteoporosis with symptoms of joint pain and fractures.So maybe those who have chemo and are er+ start aromatase inhibitors with lower bone density.

I have not had chemo and have been on Letrozole 6 months and joint pain has thus far been manageable although a couple of other side effects have been disconcerting like a spike in my formerly good cholesterol.

Apologies if I appear naive as I have been surprised to hear some of the difficulties others have had with aromatase inhibitors esp severe joint pain.I might add I also have the benefit from 6 monthly injections of Prolia to prevent further fractures which I guess may also explain why my joint pain has been manageable as well 2 Caltrate Bone and Muscle Health daily to provide the recommended doses of calcium and vitamin d suggested by Osteoporosis Australia for my age and situation.

Romla

PS I am not without bone pain - I had radiotherapy May 2017 and having ongoing rib pain

Deanne

I suspect that the reasons for joint/bone/ muscle pain and stiffness @Romla are not just down to any one cause. While I did have chemo, my Vit D levels were normal before and after. Maybe due to outdoor lifestyle on Sunshine Coast? So this obviously did not have any effect on my particular bc and did not cause my low bone density.

I did suffer from severe bone/muscle pain on Docetaxel chemo. I had what I thought was joint stiffness at first on Tamoxifen. I now wonder if that was not at least partially caused from muscle loss from the sudden reduction in my normal activity levels while on chemo, especially the last half on Docetaxel.

The joint stiffness gradually went away on Tamoxifen (as I returned to more normal levels of activity and also became much more into exercise!). But despite being very active, having good levels of Vit D etc, I had severe joint etc pain after 1 month on Femara! (After 2 years on Tamoxifen). I tried a variety of supplements before finding that Curcumin really worked for me, especially for my painful hands. (They used to wake me in the night just aching, swollen and stiff).

12 months into Femara my bone density (which was low to start with) was at osteoporosis levels in my spine. For me I think a big factor in this was the impact of Femara on my ability to move and exercise. Although I did walk a lot! Once I started a targeted weightlifting program to build muscle, which in turn builds bone, my bone density improved. It is now better than when tested before starting Femara. Incidentally my range of joint movement is better than it was before getting bc in the first place and this has vanquished any last bits of joint pain!

Our bodies are complicated and finding out what causes them to not be functioning well is complicated (and probably a very individual thing) for each of us. Always a good idea to check Vit D levels though. Very important for our health. 

Hope the supplement does the trick for you @duxx1234
Good luck with your Chemo too.
Deanne xxx