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.

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 .

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.

These are horrible decisions to face, Marg. Atrophy and bone density issues are often physically painless, at least for me. I had a glimmer of that broken feeling when I discovered I had AF and lymphoedema - again much easier to get your head around and learn to live with when there is no pain involved. Under the circumstances, humph is the very least you can say!!

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

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

Low Vitamin D level | BCNA Online Network

29 Replies

Afraser
Member
1 year ago
It’s not an uncommon problem as @melclarity says. I had to get my Vitamin D count up pretty fast before treatment. I still
take a supplement now (11 years) and my level is very good. No side effects at all.
melclarity
Member
1 year ago
@pinklady71 majority of people are deficient in Vitamin D. When I finished chemo I was put on it and take it everyday for the past 10 years. It's fine all the best x
pinklady71
Member
1 year ago
My vitamin D is so low it’s not showing up on my blood test, I had a gastric bipass in my 20s and I have had two different tablets from the doctors and now iam on liquid vitamin D, does anyone have this problem and iam due to have radiation soon and then start tarmoxifen
Afraser
Member
8 years ago
These are horrible decisions to face, Marg. Atrophy and bone density issues are often physically painless, at least for me. I had a glimmer of that broken feeling when I discovered I had AF and lymphoedema - again much easier to get your head around and learn to live with when there is no pain involved. Under the circumstances, humph is the very least you can say!!
Romla
Member
8 years ago
PS Maybe it’s better to at least air how you feel though
Romla
Member
8 years ago
Oh @ Zoffiel biggest of hugs - not sure what I can say to help you as “irredeemably broken” are such sad words from you. Only limp suggestion I have is the krill oil my onc suggested for joint pain . He is the head of medical oncology at our biggest teaching hospital - worth a shot maybe but can’t claim how well it works as not sure myself. Pretty lame to say but take care.
Zoffiel
Member
8 years ago
I've been taking Femara since March 2017. The bone, joint and muscle pain has been really distressing. I was hoping it would improve but it hasn't. I'm currently on a two week break from it to see if things get better--that way I will have an idea if the drug is the main culprit or if the TC did the damage.
Like @Deanne my hands are giving me grief at night. And my feet. And my legs. Even my scars are burning.
I'm active--walking 5 km a day, swimming several times a week, weights and cardio at the gym and Yoga and Body balance classes 4 times a week. Maybe I'm over doing it, I don't know, but I'm desperate to maintain some semblance of fitness and flexibility.
The gift that keeps on giving. Yay. Even if it does turn out that the Femara is turning me slowly to salt, I'm pretty much screwed as I've already had a recurrence and can't afford to ditch it. I'd just like to know, so I can resolve myself to being irredeemabley broken. Humph.
duxx1234
Member
8 years ago
@Mollygirl Yes, I’m certainly getting out and about. Maybe we could meet up for coffee and a treat one day, seeing you are a Brissie girl?
I’m in Kedron. X
duxx1234
Member
8 years ago
Hi @Romla My oncologist showed me a list of supplements NOT to take with chemo and Turmeric is a definite no no for the AC that I am presently on.
Mollygirl
Member
8 years ago
That's fantastic @duxx1234 - halfway thru AC - a milestone. I love how we measure everything out, but you know, it keeps you going like you're in a marathon and you're ticking off kilometres. Hmm, probably rather be doing a marathon even tho it would be mighty slow!!!
Hope you are managing to get out a bit and do some nice things for yourself. Treats all round I say - you deserve it!! Xx