CancerCompass message board discussion started by gibby56 on 12/17/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,18932,0.htm Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hi All,My husband is choosing not treat at this point as it seems he is early in the disease. My question is- what is considered aggressive, certain types of the MM or how the disease itself progresses in the individual? Also anyone out there who has waited in the early stages of the disease to be treated-how long before the disease kicked in so to speak needing more aggressive treatment. How long does does it take the Myeloma cells to build up beyond the less than 1%? Anyone using complimentary meds besides the Fever Few and Curcumin that is helping? Anything helping to strengthen the bones or boost the immune system to help stablize or fight the cancer?Thanks,Cary, Care giver of my beloved husband (53yrs old)Diagnosis: December 07IgG Kappa MM Stage 1IgG -1817 Beta B2-2.21. Bone marrow biopsy-less than 1% Myeloma cells Cytometry Analysis-IgG kappa plasma cell (CD 38 Bright)-.14%WBC & RBC and rest of blood work seem fine. Albumin 4.3No protein in urineLytic Lesions- 1 on 6th rib right side-3.8 by 1.7 by 3.5 cm & 1 small partial (suspect for Plasmacytoma) on 1st mid rib left sideNo abnormal Chromosome 13 gibby56 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Your husband is in a perfect position to treat his MM with alternative supplements. The primary, scientific research supported products are:Zyflamend, proteolitic enzymes (WobenzymN), curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, fish or flaxseed oil, ursolic acid foods/herbs (apples, prunes, pears, rosemary, lavender, oregano, thyme, holy basil). A few of these ingredients are part of the Zyflamend formula. For the bones ... hekla lava is a great homeopathic remedy. Stay away from Vitamin D because of potential hypercalcemia with myeloma. Lots of walking to keep up the bone density and strength.I hope this helps.Best regards,Craig Persel  photog Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hi Gibby~~  Just out of curiosity, what was your oncologists suggestion for your first line of defense for your husband?  I would just like to know what doctors are recommending for someone who is just a the very first footstep of this journey.  Also, what took him to the doctor in the first place and why was he tested for MM?I don't know enough about the alternative medicines, but Craig certainly does.  I would only add that your husband should probably be drinking at least 2 litres of water everyday, no matter what the season.  As I'm sure you will realise after reading this board, kidney problems are one of the main issues facing MM patients further down the road.  For some people it is difficult to drink this quantity, but it will help to keep his kidney's healthy and avoid ending up on dialysis.  You are lucky that you have found this board so early in his diagnosis for there are many answers here which will save you/him lots of worry, solving issues as they arise.  Good luck and best wishes as you join the fight against MM.  Cath  poppy/cath Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 12/18/2007 poppy/cath wrote:Hi Gibby~~  Just out of curiosity, what was your oncologists suggestion for your first line of defense for your husband?  I would just like to know what doctors are recommending for someone who is just a the very first footstep of this journey.  Also, what took him to the doctor in the first place and why was he tested for MM?I don't know enough about the alternative medicines, but Craig certainly does.  I would only add that your husband should probably be drinking at least 2 litres of water everyday, no matter what the season.  As I'm sure you will realise after reading this board, kidney problems are one of the main issues facing MM patients further down the road.  For some people it is difficult to drink this quantity, but it will help to keep his kidney's healthy and avoid ending up on dialysis.  You are lucky that you have found this board so early in his diagnosis for there are many answers here which will save you/him lots of worry, solving issues as they arise.  Good luck and best wishes as you join the fight against MM.  Cath Yes, the kidneys ... I completely forgot. Like Cath said ... plenty of water. Also, liquid Milk Thistle is excellent.Regards,Craig   photog Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hi Craig!I am new to this site.  My father was just diagnosed with Stage IIIA, we are waiting for full body CT Scan Jan. 3/08.  Initially tumor blocked his nasal, came through the cheek bone (11mm x 6mm), and drained through the roof of his mouth.As we are still waiting for treatment, prognosis, I feel we need to start doing something now.  I was looking at your alternative treatments, Zyflamend, proteolitic enzymes, resveratrol quercetin, fish or flaxseed oil, ursolic acid foods.  Are these common items you can purchase at a health food store?  I bought him a 2 litre jug today, so he can start drinking 2 ltrs. per day.Any idea of what we can expect?  Just going crazy with not knowing, but want to immediately get him going on something until they decide how to treat him.Any comment would help.Thanks. patients daughter Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 12/18/2007 patients daughter wrote:Hi Craig!I am new to this site.  My father was just diagnosed with Stage IIIA, we are waiting for full body CT Scan Jan. 3/08.  Initially tumor blocked his nasal, came through the cheek bone (11mm x 6mm), and drained through the roof of his mouth.As we are still waiting for treatment, prognosis, I feel we need to start doing something now.  I was looking at your alternative treatments, Zyflamend, proteolitic enzymes, resveratrol quercetin, fish or flaxseed oil, ursolic acid foods.  Are these common items you can purchase at a health food store?  I bought him a 2 litre jug today, so he can start drinking 2 ltrs. per day.Any idea of what we can expect?  Just going crazy with not knowing, but want to immediately get him going on something until they decide how to treat him.Any comment would help.Thanks.Most of those items are available from well-stocked health food stores. Another good resource is iherb.com. A great online company with unbeatable prices and service. I use them for many of these items.Regards,Craig  photog Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT A bit of history and suggested treatment: We live in Northern California. My husband is 53yrs. old and is a District Supervisor for the road department so he has worked with all the oils, etc.(possibly Benezine) and we live close to an orchard that sprays at night. He blew out his lower back in 2001 (may have to readdress this in light of his disease but it just seems a compressed disk at this point.) He was sick for over 9 months. Two Mondays in a row: headache, burning in the stomach, pain & popping in the right rib. Then a lingering cough and rib pain. After 5 drs. & a lot of blood work they concluded a virus. 8 months of a chronic dry cough and continual pain in the rib, I insisted on a CT scan which revealed a lytic lesion on his rib, Biospsy result-Plasmacytoma. His onc/hemalogist said his bone survey came back fine, but when I got a copy of the report and read it later, I saw where it question a spot on Clavicle. When we went back to the onc he wanted to do radiation on the rib and I question the possibility of another lesion from the bone survey and asked if it were a lesion...would he still treat the same. No he wouldn't and thought we had better do another CT Scan on the spot in question. Good thing as the CT Scan showed another lytic lesion. No Protien in his urine test but his output is high (not high enough according to the Onc) which I am finding out is a sign of the disease (there is calcium and his urine is diluting it which is good because it can't clog kidneys). A visit to the Onc/Hem yesterday answered all our current questions for now. We requested a bone density and PET Scan. My husband's diagnosis at this point is IgG Kappa Myeloma, stage 1 headed for stage 2. Possible choices suggested from the Onc: Talk to radiologist after the PET Scan about the rib (concern is that it will continue to grow) Zometa to build the bones Revlimid and Decadron SCT was mentioned but not for now or we could wait We are very new to all this and feel there is more testing (MRI & Pet Scan) to be done to get a full picture. We are not in a hurry for the treatment at this time and would like to research and get a 2nd opinion from a MM specialist. Our onc. is not an MM specialist, although he seems very informative and up on the latest info. Not opposed to 2nd opinion and very willing to answer all our questions and do further testing. We do like him a lot. We read so much about the side effects of the treatments and how the drugs eventually fail and you move on to another drug. Side effects are treated with more drugs. Verdict seems to be out on which is best, chemo alone or chemo followed by SCT.(90% fall out of remission requiring a 2nd SCT & possibly a 3rd SCT, wonder if this is because they reintroduce his own SC's and it still has myeloma cells in it. My brain wonders if this is why there is relapse??? Then you have the bone pain from the lytic lesions....all so hard to wade through. The Chemo and Stem cell seems pretty radical and MM Drs. are not in complete agreement with treatment of this. Radiation verdict is out with MM Specialist too as I see that some would say yes and others no. What turned us off was the fact that it could weaken the rib and it could feel like a cracked rib (painful). When my husband ask about the lung being so close..the onc's response was "you can live with one lung." Not acceptable to us! At this point my husband has decided no chemo or stem cell. We are thinking of something to build his bones other than Aredia or Zometa as both only have side effects and I think we may be able to do something that would be more beneficial for the body..so we are asking a lot of questions and doing research. We are wondering the out come of the disease when left untreated by conventional meds when in stage 1? I have read a little over 5 years, but is that with or without prior treatment? How fast do the lesions come/grow and is the disease worse if you have lesions? Any supplements tried that build up then bones? Any input is greatly appreciated. My husband would rather have quality than quantity of life. He knows where he will go if the Lord chooses to take him home. We are deeply in love and have been married for 32 years. Two children living and two in heaven, and 4 darling grandbabies. Gibby gibby56 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Yes, he is drinking plenty of water. We have a pretty good understanding of what MM is but not how fast it progresses or how the determine when it is aggressive. Lots of questions... Gibby gibby56 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT What a comprehensive response Gibby!!  And it amazes me in that if my husband were writing about me in the early stages it would have been very similar!  Funnily enough I was born and raised in 'northern California' -- Berkeley to be exact!  My dad was heavily involved with the radiation lab. at Cal Uni and I can remember going (as a young child) to visit the HUGE linear accelorator that was, in those days - 50 odd years ago -- being used to treat cancer patients.  The machine was larger than the entire oncology wing of our local hospital over here, but todays linear accelorators can fit in a room thats about 40 x 40 feet -- unreal!  Who would have ever thought that I would need that form of treatment myself some 50 years later!!  My first form of treatment was the 'zap' to my back and it did substantially reduce my pain.   Like your husband I have had back troubles for years and have had the list of treatments, but it wasn't until I went to a local osteopath - as a last resort - and he was an extremely ethical man - who told me after a few visits that he didn't feel I was getting better and referred me back to my doctor who started the list of x-rays -- full skeletal, nuclear scans, bone density, ets, and finally the bone marrow biopsy which was the definitive measure for multiple myeloma. This was done in conjunction with all the blood tests (CBP & paraprotein etc.) and the 24 hour urine collection.  If you/he did all of this then it would be very clear.  I like the sound of your doctor -- he really seems to be 'in the know' regarding the latest in treatment options, and he's not even an oncologist!  I think that you will probably find that the oncologist will confirm what your own doctor has already said. I applaud your husbands desire to have a 'quality' of life.  In his position I would do what he is doing by getting all the education possible. I rushed into treatments without research and suffered the consequences, however I was further along in my diagnosis by the time I learned that I actually had MM.  Those consequences have made my quality of life much worse, but I have had more 'quantity' than was initially thought possible, so hey, win some, lose some.  I'm still here and as far as those around me are concerned, that's all that matters!!  Only I know the cost in pain, but truthfully, with the amount of medication I take, much of it is masked to people who don't know me very well. Listen to people like Craig who know heaps about alternative therapies, and I'd recommed a lovely little book to you by Vickie Giard called 'There's no place like HOPE -- a guide to beating cancer in mind-sized bites.  Vicki has put much of the horror stories about cancer into everyday language and explaination.  She has used her own experience and the experiences of others whom she met along the way to help others and she used both natural as well as medical therapies.  Vicki recommend the Cancer Tretment Centers of America (CTCA) who seem to have at least 4 centers in the USA -- I think there is one in the West -- and they seem to have the same philosophy of being positive and using a variety of means in facing the cancer journey.  If I lived over there I would be making a visit to see and be counselled by them. OOps, this was not meant to be directional with regard to treatment -- you seem to me to be on the right track already.  The similarities between your husband and myself just surprised me!  Good luck to you both -- you don't have to rush into anything so use the time to make informed decisions and go from strength to strength!!  Best wishes to you both, Cath  poppy/cath Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 12/18/2007 gibby56 wrote:A bit of history and suggested treatment:We live in Northern California. My husband is 53yrs. old and is a District Supervisor for the road department so he has worked with all the oils, etc.(possibly Benezine) and we live close to an orchard that sprays at night. He blew out his lower back in 2001 (may have to readdress this in light of his disease but it just seems a compressed disk at this point.)He was sick for over 9 months. Two Mondays in a row: headache, burning in the stomach, pain & popping in the right rib. Then a lingering cough and rib pain. After 5 drs. & a lot of blood work they concluded a virus. 8 months of a chronic dry cough and continual pain in the rib, I insisted on a CT scan which revealed a lytic lesion on his rib, Biospsy result-Plasmacytoma. His onc/hemalogist said his bone survey came back fine, but when I got a copy of the report and read it later, I saw where it question a spot on Clavicle. When we went back to the onc he wanted to do radiation on the rib and I question the possibility of another lesion from the bone survey and asked if it were a lesion...would he still treat the same. No he wouldn’t and thought we had better do another CT Scan on the spot in question. Good thing as the CT Scan showed another lytic lesion.No Protien in his urine test but his output is high (not high enough according to the Onc) which I am finding out is a sign of the disease (there is calcium and his urine is diluting it which is good because it can’t clog kidneys).A visit to the Onc/Hem yesterday answered all our current questions for now. We requested a bone density and PET Scan. My husband’s diagnosis at this point is IgG Kappa Myeloma, stage 1 headed for stage 2. Possible choices suggested from the Onc: Talk to radiologist after the PET Scan about the rib (concern is that it will continue to grow) Zometa to build the bones Revlimid and Decadron SCT was mentioned but not for now or we could waitWe are very new to all this and feel there is more testing (MRI & Pet Scan) to be done to get a full picture. We are not in a hurry for the treatment at this time and would like to research and get a 2nd opinion from a MM specialist. Our onc. is not an MM specialist, although he seems very informative and up on the latest info. Not opposed to 2nd opinion and very willing to answer all our questions and do further testing. We do like him a lot. We read so much about the side effects of the treatments and how the drugs eventually fail and you move on to another drug. Side effects are treated with more drugs. Verdict seems to be out on which is best, chemo alone or chemo followed by SCT.(90% fall out of remission requiring a 2nd SCT & possibly a 3rd SCT, wonder if this is because they reintroduce his own SC’s and it still has myeloma cells in it. My brain wonders if this is why there is relapse??? Then you have the bone pain from the lytic lesions....all so hard to wade through.The Chemo and Stem cell seems pretty radical and MM Drs. are not in complete agreement with treatment of this. Radiation verdict is out with MM Specialist too as I see that some would say yes and others no. What turned us off was the fact that it could weaken the rib and it could feel like a cracked rib (painful). When my husband ask about the lung being so close..the onc’s response was “you can live with one lung.” Not acceptable to us! At this point my husband has decided no chemo or stem cell. We are thinking of something to build his bones other than Aredia or Zometa as both only have side effects and I think we may be able to do something that would be more beneficial for the body..so we are asking a lot of questions and doing research.We are wondering the out come of the disease when left untreated by conventional meds when in stage 1? I have read a little over 5 years, but is that with or without prior treatment?How fast do the lesions come/grow and is the disease worse if you have lesions? Any supplements tried that build up then bones?Any input is greatly appreciated. My husband would rather have quality than quantity of life. He knows where he will go if the Lord chooses to take him home. We are deeply in love and have been married for 32 years. Two children living and two in heaven, and 4 darling grandbabies.GibbyWow. Very comprehensive description.The Aredia or Zometa won't build bone, but they do help to keep the bones from dissolving. To build bone don't use Calcium or Vitamin D because of the threat of hypercalcemia with MM. I would recommend a homeopathic remedy such as hekla lava which will utilize the body's natural resources to build bone.I've listed many supplements in my posts that have been specifically used for myeloma. They are most effective in the early stages or after remission to keep from relapsing. However, if the supplements do not keep the MM in check it is my personal feeling that medication (e.g. Thalidomide, Velcade or Revlimid) be started right away. MM is very individualized. For some supplements are enough, for others medication and for others medication + SCT. It doesn't seem to be consistently predictable.The very best to you and your husband.Craig  photog Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hi Craig, I am not sure I agree with not talking calcium. It seems to me that the hypercalcemia is from the bone deterioration so it would not be the same type of calcium (at least in my mind and study) as taking it to strengthen the bones to keep the cancer from invading the weak link. I am still study through this part of the MM. I am open to hearing more about this from you or anyone else if they can explain it differently to me. I am looking into the supplements and still doing quite a bit of research. Thanks for your input. Gibby gibby56 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 12/20/2007 gibby56 wrote:Hi Craig,I am not sure I agree with not talking calcium. It seems to me that the hypercalcemia is from the bone deterioration so it would not be the same type of calcium (at least in my mind and study) as taking it to strengthen the bones to keep the cancer from invading the weak link. I am still study through this part of the MM. I am open to hearing more about this from you or anyone else if they can explain it differently to me. I am looking into the supplements and still doing quite a bit of research. Thanks for your input. GibbyHere are a couple of quick references on reducing or stopping Vitamin D and Calcium supplements if one has MM and hypercalcemia. Of course, one could probably take the supplement and monitor blood levels closely, but my wife immediately went hypercalcemic, for example, when she started Vitamin D.  Regards, Craig The treatment of hypercalcemia may involve many strategies. As alwayswhen indicated treat the underlying cause, i.e., the cancer.Othergeneral measures may include:Stopping oral calcium supplements [from: Hypercalcemia in the Palliative Care Setting]Vitamin D and calcium supplements should be encouraged during therapy with zoledronic acid, except for patients with hypercalcemia. [from: Is hypocalcemia during therapy with zoledronic acid or other bisphosphonates beneficial to cancer patients?]   photog Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hi Craig,I'm not sure I agree with you about not taking vitamin D. There is a lot of stuff on the web about it being important for cancer prevention. Such as:Vitamin D and cancer  A US study (University of California, San Diego) showed that taking 1000 IU (25 micrograms) of Vit D3 daily reduced the danger of developing cancers of the colon (50%), breast and ovary (30%) and prostate cancer.Exposure to the sun's rays protects against some cancers - bladder,breast,esophagus,kidney, lung, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, ovary, pancreas, prostate, rectum, stomach, uterus. This has been proven over many decades in observational studies.A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that women who took vitamin D and calcium developed significantly less cancer of  the breast, bowel, lung, and lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma. The serum Vitamin D levels were significant predictors of cancer risk. Calculations showed a 35% reduction in cancer risk for every 10 ng/mL increase in serum Vitamin D levels.  I also found this on the following website:http://www.parathyroid.com/high-calcium.htm High Blood Calcium Cause Number 4:  Excess Vitamin D IntakeVitamin D is extremely important in helping maintain the balance of calcium in our bodies. In fact, that's all that vitamin D does!  Vitamin D has a direct effect on the intestines and encourages the intestines to absorb calcium from the food that you have eaten (this is why most milks are fortified with vitamin D). Vitamin D also has an effect on the kidneys and tells the kidneys to not let any calcium escape into the urine. Therefore, it is possible for a person to take too much vitamin D so that they absorb too much calcium from their diet and hold on to too much calcium in their kidneys... and their calcium goes high. In the real world, this does not really happen. Normal parathyroid glands won't allow the calcium to go high.I must tell you... although taking a bunch of Vit D so that you absorb lots of calcium from your diet which makes your blood calcium go high sounds quite plausible... it is so rare that it is hard for me to believe that I'm spending the time writing about it, and I'm sorry to waste the 20 seconds it took for you to read it.  If you are taking dozens of vitamin D pills per day and your calcium goes high... then stop taking all the vitamin pills.Maybe the problem your wife had is caused by something else other than supplements.Best wishes,Paul photopaul Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 12/20/2007 photopaul wrote:Hi Craig,I'm not sure I agree with you about not taking vitamin D. There is a lot of stuff on the web about it being important for cancer prevention. Such as:Vitamin D and cancer  A US study (University of California, San Diego) showed that taking 1000 IU (25 micrograms) of Vit D3 daily reduced the danger of developing cancers of the colon (50%), breast and ovary (30%) and prostate cancer.Exposure to the sun's rays protects against some cancers - bladder,breast,esophagus,kidney, lung, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, ovary, pancreas, prostate, rectum, stomach, uterus. This has been proven over many decades in observational studies.A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that women who took vitamin D and calcium developed significantly less cancer of  the breast, bowel, lung, and lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma. The serum Vitamin D levels were significant predictors of cancer risk. Calculations showed a 35% reduction in cancer risk for every 10 ng/mL increase in serum Vitamin D levels.  I also found this on the following website:http://www.parathyroid.com/high-calcium.htm High Blood Calcium Cause Number 4:  Excess Vitamin D IntakeVitamin D is extremely important in helping maintain the balance of calcium in our bodies. In fact, that's all that vitamin D does!  Vitamin D has a direct effect on the intestines and encourages the intestines to absorb calcium from the food that you have eaten (this is why most milks are fortified with vitamin D). Vitamin D also has an effect on the kidneys and tells the kidneys to not let any calcium escape into the urine. Therefore, it is possible for a person to take too much vitamin D so that they absorb too much calcium from their diet and hold on to too much calcium in their kidneys... and their calcium goes high. In the real world, this does not really happen. Normal parathyroid glands won't allow the calcium to go high.I must tell you... although taking a bunch of Vit D so that you absorb lots of calcium from your diet which makes your blood calcium go high sounds quite plausible... it is so rare that it is hard for me to believe that I'm spending the time writing about it, and I'm sorry to waste the 20 seconds it took for you to read it.  If you are taking dozens of vitamin D pills per day and your calcium goes high... then stop taking all the vitamin pills.Maybe the problem your wife had is caused by something else other than supplements.Best wishes,PaulMy wife's hypercalcemia started almost immediately upon starting Vitamin D intake (1000mg capsule) and ended as soon as she stopped its intake. Also, if you read the warning label on the Vitamin D supplement she took (from the highly reputable Life Extension company) it says "Do not take if at risk for hypercalcemia." That's a pretty clear instruction.That said ... Vitamin D (and especially D3) is an excellent cancer prevention supplement and probably highly recommended for treatment of most cancers other than MM. I take it every day. :-)Regards,Craig   photog Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT A follow up to my follow up ...I should qualify my opinion somewhat in that I feel that those in the "smoldering" or early stages of MM or who do not have many lesions or progressive bone loss could probably benefit from Vitamin D and/or calcium supplements. I was really only speaking to those who have significant bone involvement and hypercalcemia or risk of hypercalcemia. My wife, for instance, has many lesions and some quite large. In those situations I feel that homeopathic treatment, such as Hekla Lava, are safer and more effective. My wife has a very large lesion on her left femur that they felt was at risk for breakage. However, upon closer x-ray analysis they discovered that although the lesion was very large the bone thickness/density around it was quite substantial. I attribute this to her one year on an intensive Hekla Lava regimen.Regards,Craig Persel  photog Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Thank you the input. Food for thought. I will check into the Hekla Lava. Do you know how aggressive lytic lesions are in general? How fast they grow? My husbands rib pain is what caused us to insist on further testing. It has not grown in two month and who knows how long the small partial has been there. Anyone willing to share more about their own experience with the lytic lesions? How their disease started. I guess testimony of their MM? Gibby gibby56 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 12/20/2007 gibby56 wrote:Thank you the input. Food for thought. I will check into the Hekla Lava.Do you know how aggressive lytic lesions are in general? How fast they grow? My husbands rib pain is what caused us to insist on further testing. It has not grown in two month and who knows how long the small partial has been there.Anyone willing to share more about their own experience with the lytic lesions? How their disease started. I guess testimony of their MM?GibbymMy wife has two rib fractures. They are supposedly quite common with MM. I think the growth of the lesions would be dependent on how well the myeloma is controlled. My wife's IGG was high, but did not progress. However, her left femur lesion grew significantly.Regards,Craig  photog Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT Dear Craig;"That said ... Vitamin D (and especially D3) is an excellent cancer prevention supplement and probably highly recommended for treatment of most cancers other than MM. I take it every day. :-)"Regards,Craig I have also read that orange juice is another cancer preventative. However, the key word here is prevent. Once you have cancer, you shouldn't be drinking orange juice. In fact, citrus fruits should be avoided as they mess up the balance within our bodies for a couple of hours after consumption.I take an OTC calcium supplement every day and receive a zometa infusion  every fourteenth day. My rational for this is that zometa helps the bones absorb calcium and if I don't have the calcium available then the zometa can't do its job.My research has shown me that if you can lower you M-spike far enough then the bones will start to heal themselves. Mine are mottled, resembling the surface of the Moon, so I can't speak about lesions or holes through the bone. Or the chance of that type of repair.However, I do remember Health class, and around middle age, our bodies start feeding on the calcium reserves within our bodies because we don't produce it in the quantities needed. So I feel taking taking a small dose of a calcium supplement can't hurt me. In fact, I've been taking one for about five years now. I certainly don't wish to look like the stereotypical grandmother hunched over suffering from osteoperosis!I hope Santa was good to you and your family and all is well!Take care;Kevin K. C. Wed, 26 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT