has anyone any thoughts on vitamin d and bladder cancer? My vitamin D was really low at the time I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. I googled it and got some results that looked like there was a connection. Anyone else?
Hello JoyceF, In normal circumstances e.g. good diet & healthy lifestyle, your body will maintain vitamin D and a whole host of other chemicals at levels within an acceptable range. Age, illness or a genetic weakness can skew some of these levels to the point that the medical profession will intervene, fully aware of your medical history and the interactions that can occur if you are on other medications or have particular vulnerabilities. Vitamin supplements can be toxic in some cases, vitamin D included. Google can supply a wealth of information but not all of it comes from sources I would trust. Ask your GP for an opinion would be my advice. I expect many of us are guilty of thinking a multi-vitamin and minerals pill a day will reduce our chances of becoming ill. I've done it at times. Best not to do it unless approved by the medics, especially if undergoing treatment.
Thanks for replying. Not at all suggesting anything other than some research associates vitamin D Wondered if anyone else had come across this. My GP highlighted my very low vitamin D level and proscribed Vitamin D.
A good reply. My comment was not intended to be pompous but I can see that it could be. Whoops!
I've not seen any research papers on vitamin D versus bladder cancer, just the usual ones about smoking, alcohol, processed foods or certain working environments with toxic chemicals present. Not so many on things that may improve resistance to bladder cancer except hydration.
Hi Joyce,I often become deficient in Vitamin D and have to have high dose levels prescribed.I eat healthily and get plenty of Sun.I wonder whether I just don’t absorb it well.I do have auto immune health problems.Jane x
I had so many years of bladder disease before bladder cancer and was deficient then too.It will be interesting to see if anyone else here has had low levels of Vitamin D.x
My Vit D level is fine, as far as I know. Do you know if you have had low Vit D in the past? Levels can drop as we age, which coincidentally, is when we are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer. Bearing in mind that age is the biggest risk factor for getting cancer, I guess there may be associated ageing changes that might be additional factors. Otherwise, cancer associated with lifestyle/exposure to toxins will have been initiated in the past, even if not appearing until later in life.
As RayMK says, best not to take any supplements/alternative medications without consulting your medical team. .
This was the first time I had been flagged by the GP as having low vitamin D level took the prescribed intensive treatment and latest blood test is now fine.x
Interesting post and something I hadn't heard of previously., will have a read up.
Although had a quick look, thinking countries with more sun would have lower rates, but found this wasn't the case for UK Vs Spain for example. Mind you this was a very quick Google and wasn't taking anything else into consideration.
How do we find out that we're lacking in certain vitamins.. I guess via medical tests etc or from getting ill. I've not had any of these types of tests since being diagnosed, well not that I'm aware.
Anyhow think I'll go and sit in the garden for 15mins can't hurt right lol.
Everyone in the UK is advised to take vitamin D supplements in winter and sit in the sun for I think 10 or 20 minutes in summer mornings or afternoons so that the body can create enough Vitamin D. Multivitamins don't contain enough Vitamin D to be useful.
Your gp can test your blood for Vit D and if you are very low they give you a high strength Vit D pill. My husband was given that in his late 70s. Even though his bones are not weak at all.
I've had bladder cancer and osteoporosis - the latter for some years now. I am prescribed daily calcium plus vitamin D in an attempt to boost my bones. But then they reduced the dose because too much calcium is bad for one's heart.
The usual accompaniment to that treatment if your bones are very weak is bisphosphonates, either a weekly tablet or infusion. The daily Vit D & calcium tablets are to help the bones absorb what calcium they can. There are hormonal treatments too for those of us who are particularly bad but they are time limited (because they can themselves lead to bone cancer).
Many people, men as well as women develop osteoporosis (or osteopenia - the precursor) as they age. If you notice you have lost several centimetres of height or are developing a stoop, head jutting forward on bent neck - remember the old road signs with the old man and woman bowed down over a walking stick? Then it would be a good idea to check your bone health. Your gp can refer you to rheumatology for a dexa scan.
Chemo can weaken our bones (breast cancer patients are often at risk and given the above treatment) as can Immunotherapy (not in itself but in my case they damped down neuropathy - a side effect - by putting me on high dose steroids which are not good for bones). My next dexa is in July as I haven't been checked for over 2 years - fingers crossed. I walk a lot and hope that has kept my bones protected.
Serious bone problems can lead to broken vertebrae or even spontaneous limb fracture. I can tell you it was a shock when my hip broke as I was walking along the street ie without a fall. (Mostly it breaks because as older people we're a bit unsteady and fall, which is what fractures the bone.) That was the first time they checked me for cancer (bone) but I was clear.
I don't believe there is a specific link between bladder cancer and osteoporosis/ low vitamin D.
The Royal Osteoporosis society website has a calculator for risk of fractures which you may find useful, they have nurses on their phone lines who can answer any questions as well as leaflets etc.
This is rather long and perhaps a bit frightening, but I hope this background might be useful.
Serious osteoporosis is extremely unpleasant, worse than cancer I think as it can be painful and you can't cure it. Tell all your young relatives to look after their bone health. Your bones are their strongest at 35, after which they stop developing and gradually deteriorate. Most people only find that out like me in my late 50s, when there's not much you can do.
