Joint pain suppliments

Thanks lisa.

Have every intention of checking with my oncologist before i take anything. 

Maryrose 

Dear Maryrose,

It’s Lisa from the Policy Team. I am very sorry that you have been experiencing pain in your neck, shoulders and back. I just wanted to encourage you to talk to your oncologist about this joint pain as well as any medication you are thinking about taking to help manage the pain. Your medical oncologist will also be able to provide you with strategies to help manage the pain, and can talk to you about whether you may wish to think about switching to a different aromatase inhibitor, as this can sometimes help as well.

As Doll said, the USA Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre has a great website and smart phone app called ‘About Herbs, Botanicals and other Products’. The website provides a lot of information about herbs, botanicals, vitamins and supplements and possible adverse effects on breast cancer treatments. However, we always recommend that you talk to your oncologist about any complementary medicine or supplement you might be thinking of taking as well.

You may have read BCNA’s booklet, Hormone therapy and breast cancer, but if not, it may be helpful too. The booklet provides information about hormone therapy and tips and strategies about managing side effects, such as joint pain. You can download a copy or order one through our website.

Warm regards,
Lisa

Thanks ladies for all the valuable information. Much appreciated ????????

Maryrose 

Hi ladies, I am not on hormone tablets yet (still having chemo) bur curcumin is highly reccomended everywhere I have looked for fighting cancer, for joint paon andnimmune system altogether so I have upped intake of turmeric.

Do note that if takong curcumin make sure that is what you buy as you need to consume a massive dose of turmeric to get enough ccurcumi which is ingerdient of trmeric and turmeric alone is not sufficient.

Having said that I have also bought up really strong curcurmin dose of supplements but have to wait until chemo is completed to start taking them.

I wanted to share with you a US vitamins and supplements site I get all our supplements from as it is about 60 to 70% cheaper than buying the se anywhere in Ausyralia and they have a flat postage charge of just $10 and while they say it may take up to 5 weeks to receive the pirchase it has never taken more than 5 days and I have been using them for 4 years now.

They have the cheap brands as well as expensive one and they also sell organic, high quality stuff which will work out at less than a third of what we pay for cheap stuff locally. And when dealing with all the other expenses and not working during BC treatment all the savings help.

site is www.vitacost.com

Jel

Hi Maryrose,

I take Letrozole and I get pretty bad joint pain generally in the morning in my hands which won't uncurl first thing, but I find if I stretch and move around the pain goes quickly.  I take curcumin every day in liquid form and its mixed in with cayenne as the pepper is supposed to make it easier to absorb.  I get it from a health food store and I have read its fantastic for cancer.  I take about 4.5 mls twice a day, and as its pretty nasty I drink it in water.  Almost like a cocktail in the evenings.  I am hormone positive and HER negative (ILC) and my oncologist told me I could take it, as long as I didn't do it 5 days before and after chemotherapy, due to its ability to increase absorption of the chemo into the liver.  I finished chemo last October and have been drinking it ever since..... 

Be Well... Dany

Hello 

I take Arimidex and had horrible joint pain. 

I found that Tumeric helped with joint pain. 

I used capsules from the Pharmacy that are kept behind the counter. The quality of the Tumeric is important.

Check with a naturopath, some hospitals now have nutritionists/naturopaths at oncology centres.

hi, I get the aches and pain through my body just after every chemo treatment. I don't take arimidex but  I am taking Turmeric tablets 2 times a day that I get from my Natropath, also on Omega 3, a multi vitamin, zinc, magnesium, Salvetrols, probiotics, coconut oil tablets, detox powder and tablets vitamin c, and other stuff I have got from my natropath. Tumeric is suppose to be good for fighting cancer. I also drink only alkaline water as I have read cancer can't live in an alkaline body. I am also going to start making up a drink with baking soda, lemon juice and water to drink everyday as I heard that is good for fighting cancer. There is so much stuff out there it can be confusing on what works and what is just nonsense.

Here is the link:

https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/treatments/symptom-management/integrative-medicine/herbs

Hi Maryrose,

So good to hear you are finding your new normal.  At the beginning of breast cancer sometimes it was hard to believe that there would be some light at the end of the tunnel.

I don't take arimidex but my oncologist recommended the Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Centre's About Herbs database.  You can check how a supplement or herbal medicine is used, interactions with other medications, precautions to take and lots of other useful info.  It is evidence based and can help you figure out the value of using common herbs and other dietary supplements.