Hi,
I was diagnosed in 2016, had chemo and radiotherapy and I have been taking Tamoxifen since Nov 2016. I started jogging last year, but I suffer from runners knee. Since having cancer treatment and taking Tamoxifen, my skin is looking tired and my nails break easily. I do drink a lot of water and eat veg and fruit daily. Someone suggested collagen supplements for my joints and skin, but I have been told that it encourages breast cancer and not to take whilst taking Tamoxifen. Is this true? It seems like we are very limited on what we can take or can't take.
HI
From the brief amount of research I've done, it doesn't look promising for collagen and ER+ BC, but I think the best person to ask will be your doctor or BC nurse /oncologist.
I personally wouldn't like to take it if there was a hint that it might be something that could re-fire oestrogen BC, but that's without any knowledge whatsoever. Do you have Vit D and calcium supplements from your doctor? These are normal for ER+ BC tablets and it might help with your nails breaking etc.
Best wishes, Lesley
Hi Lurcher addict,
I'm also a jogger and about a year ago was looking for something to help with joint pain, tired skin and fragile nails. I started taking a collagen supplement. Before long, I was feeling better; joint pain eased, skin and nails improved and the bonus I hadn't expected, my breasts got bigger.
I continued for several months, perfectly happy with everything.
Then a routine mammogram picked up a lump. Breast Cancer. Why hadn't I felt it? I always check. Simply because of the effects the collagen had had on my breasts. The lump was hidden.
I stopped taking it immediately. As my breasts returned to normal size, I could feel the lump.
I couldn't help wondering if the collagen had played a part in the growth of the breast cancer in the first place. Google threw up several research papers that linked collagen supplements with ER + breast cancer.
I certainly won't be taking it again, no matter how well it makes me feel. This is just my personal experience. An oncologist is certainly the best person to advise.
I'm through chemo, surgery and on Letrozole now. The joint pain? I've started going to a Barre Pilates group which is strengthening my joints and helping a lot. The tired skin and brittle nails? They are a lot worse post chemo than they ever were before. I swear I look 10 years older but I don't care; I'm just grateful that the routine mammogram picked up that lump, otherwise it could have been a different story.
Whatever you do, take advise.
Keep jogging - just gently. 
JigJog x
PS I'm a Lurcher addict too! 
