Turkey tail mushrooms

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Hi I’m having chemo for breast cancer after a lumpectomy then full Lymph node removal. Chatting in the chemo ward as you do (it’s a long day) a lady was telling me about turkey tail mushrooms which she said has been known to boost immune system and help with treatment. Thought I’d do a bit of research while I can’t sleep and surprisingly it seems people have been using it successfully during chemo. I’m naturally cautious of taking anything and wondered if anyone here had heard of it and had taken it?  

  • Hello Francis,  Just checking to see if you are talking about eating the turkey tail mushrooms as food or taking the supplement?  Would not take the supplement.  Mushrooms are good for you but as a food so I would be very cautious.  
    I am not an expert on topic but medicinal mushrooms can cause problems.  
    Take care and hope all goes well.

    Barbara 

  • Hi  , I’m also very interested in the whole mushroom supplement area. I’m very wary of supplements these days and only take calcium and vitamin D which I’m recommended to take by my GP as I’ve got osteopenia. But I’ve looked at mushroom supplements with interest as many countries prescribe these alongside cancer treatments routinely. Apparently they can enhance the efficacy of chemo and radiotherapy as well as helping with side effects. BUT and it’s a big BUT, I’d be very wary of taking anything like that without medical guidance. I had my radiotherapy years ago so it’s not applicable to me (didn’t have chemo) but if I had to have further treatment I’d look into it further. I’m not sure where you’d get medical guidance from in this country (I’ve assumed you’re in the uk?), but a starting point could be the Penny Brohn centre in Bristol? They promote complementary treatment alongside conventional. Good luck with it all and I’ll be very interested to follow this thread. Love and hugs, HFxx 

    HappyFeet1 xx
    Don’t be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts. – Hopi
  • Thank you so much for your reply and I will look at the Penny Brohn centre! I obviously don’t want to do anything that affects the chemo and radiotherapy but can complement it!!! So hard navigating this all isn’t it!!!! Life throws a curve ball out of no where!!!! I hope your keeping well and healthy xx

  • Hi  , thanks I’m now 6 years post diagnosis, so far so good. A few blips along the way, currently waiting for results of biopsy of other breast where a little skin thing appeared on the nipple. Consultant expects it to come back benign but better to know for sure. I’m still taking Anastrozole, expecting to finish next December. I’m interested in the mushrooms as a way of continuing with what would hopefully help to reduce the risk of recurrence, particularly once I stop taking the hormone treatment.
    I’ve also been looking at this site… if I can post the link… nope no luck! It’s integratedmedicine.co.uk if you want to look and it’s led by Dr Saskia Kloppenburg Vieth. There’s a whole section on medicinal mushrooms. It’s private though so I suspect expensive though it looked like you could have a free initial consultation. So I’ll probably try to do that during this last year on the Anastrozole. Xx

    HappyFeet1 xx
    Don’t be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts. – Hopi