Iodine, thyroid, and breast cancer??
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Hi ladies! Althea PM'd me and asked me to come over here and post what Dr. Flechas told me about Iodine and surgery. So here is a reminder!
Apparently, Iodine can interfere with the development of scar tissue. So Dr. F suggested stopping the Iodoral a couple of days prior to surgery and for 2 weeks after. I have done this for my past couple of surgeries and all works fine.
My osteopath also recommends taking a lot of antioxidants, in general, when taking iodine. She likes me to take a lot of Vit C. Just a thought to share!
Hope you all are well!
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Spring, thank you for sharing that, but yikes, that's a little different from what I've read... I had read that although iodine should not be applied topically to a fresh wound (as it was used in households for decades), the optimal time to apply it is as soon as a scab has formed. (Like hydrogen peroxide, it can damage freshly wounded tissue if applied before a scab has formed.) And I've definitely read that topical iodine is useful immediately before surgery to prevent infection... do you know if Dr. F. has an article explaining all that on the website?
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I have a question for my iodine bc sisters...do you think that everyone should take iodine?
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Crunchy, no, don't know where he got the info and I don't know if it's posted on his site or anywhere. He told me this during one of my 15 minute consults, to stop the Iodoral 2 days prior to surgery, and then start 2 weeks after. My surgeons always want me to stop EVERYTHING prior to surgery. I don't though, but I do stop the Iodoral given what Dr. F said. Up to you, of course!
Ebarry - my husband read several Iodine books and now he takes 25mg a day plus an ATP cofactor. I asked Dr. F about my daughters (18 and 21 now) and he said they should take 25mg a day, with one ATP cofactor. Should everybody? I don't know. My older daughter reports she feels better when she remembers to take it. I think it would help with fibercystic breast tissue.
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Spring, now that I'm rereading your post I realized you (and he) were talking about orally ingested iodine, not topically applied iodine... duh, sorry about that! I had stopped taking iodine orally a few days ago (except for a few drops today for no apparently reason) and will be sure not to start it up again except for topically for two weeks afterward. Thanks again for posting that!
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Springtime, I am hypothyroid, and hasminto. I took iodine for several months, and while on it for whatever reason my antibodies worsen, and thyroid levels as well. When my naturalpathic doc took me off of iodine, my thryoid is better, and hasminto has gone down from 1100 to 85. I lost the ten extra pounds without trying. I feel great! I don't know what to think? I feel like everyone needs it but me. Maybe my problems doesn't stem from lacking iodine? Maybe I get enough in my table salt?
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Well, I finally got a description of one of the Iodine Presentations at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. It seems they identified one of the ways iodine works on the estrogen receptors.
The rest is over my head. Anyway, all good news. More iodine studies are in the pipeline.
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OMG--it grows kinky and curly and up and out--I'm just gong with it. The turkey was from a local grower--they plan to raise their own turkey next year.
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ebarry: For Hypothyroids, iodine is not recommended. Someone here posted a bit about this earlier.
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mollyann, where did you find that information? My eyes tend to glaze over too when I attempt some of these scientific documents, but I believe supplementing with iodine is a big part of why I'm finally feeling better after feeling like crap literally for years.
I know I'm slow to be responding to some comments that happened pages ago by now, but I just want to encourage people to look beyond their doctors for answers. The RDA for iodine is a measly 150 micrograms per day, and many sources say it starts being toxic at 1100 micrograms. To date, I haven't found a reference for where on earth the toxicity at 1100 micrograms comes from. That's just a fraction over ONE milligram, and a typical Japanese person eats THIRTEEN milligrams in their daily diet. Who has some of the lowest bc rates worldwide? Japanese people.
I recall that earlier pages contained disparaging remarks about relying on a yahoo group for information about iodine and that a doctor is a better source of information. I complained to my array of doctors about fatigue after radiation -- again, literally for years -- and received no relief. My onc would shrug his shoulders and offer effexor to offset hot flashes. I went to an internist, who was recommended to me by a bc sister who also had thyroid problems, and for whatever reason, my hypothyroidism went unchecked there also. I had two TSH tests, 6.2 and 6.4, which were out of range even by the 2002 standards which changed to 3.0 as the upper limit. I asked for tests on my free T3 and free T4 and my request was denied.
I didn't even know what hypothyroidism was back in 2005. I started my learning curve in 2008 and it continues. I haven't found a doctor worth a copay when it comes to the topic of thyroid health. Low body temperature, difficulty losing weight, elevated cholesterol, fatigue, outer eyebrows thin or missing altogether, brittle nails, thinning hair, constipation. All these are symptoms of hypothyroidism.
I gave up on doctors in 08 and began finding my own way. The iodine group mentioned many times in this thread is moderated by a thyroid cancer survivor who is nearing her completion of a naturopathic medical degree. Regardless of what your own choice may be, it doesn't change the fact that people with hypothyroidism are using the iodine protocol and improving their health. I'm one of them. For those of you seeking thyroid health by seeing an endocrinologist or some other doctor, I genuinely do hope that you can find help there. My own experience, I think, has a lot to do with where I live, which often feels like the end of the earth when it comes to medical issues.
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(( The iodine group mentioned many times in this thread is moderated by a thyroid cancer survivor who is nearing her completion of a naturopathic medical degree. ))
Can someone point me in the direction of this group? I am searching for information on Iodine and could really use some experts/insight...Thanks
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http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/iodine/
Stephanie, Victoria and Kathleen moderate the group. They are so patient and answer questions in plain English. A number of doctors post to the group too. I think there are almost 4,000 members. Stephanie helped edit Dr. Brownstein's Iodine book.
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crunchy, yes, pills!
ebarry, I honestly don't know. But I do know when I started on 50mg of Iodoral, I had to take way more thyroid hormone. I thought it would even out over time, but it has not. Taking the iodine makes me need more thyroid hormone.
MollyAnn, I would be very interested in that presentation. Do you have a link or anything? That is a must read!
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http://www.posters2view.com/sabcs10/viewp.php?nu=P6-14-15
I hope this link from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium goes through.
Maybe one of you guys can explain: how does iodine do "translocation" of the estrogen receptor?
Iodine makes the cancer cells stop growing and it makes them die of old age (apoptosis) but what does translocation mean?
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BTW - since I started using Lugol's topically as well as orally, I have been especially diligent about applying generously all over the nipple. My thought was that in addition to the small-but-effective amount that's absorbed transdermally, perhaps some amount could actually find its way into the ducts (at least to a small extent). Kooky theory, but it couldn't hurt, right?
When my surgeon told me (in a surprised way) that my nipple pathology today came back benign (not even ADH!), and therefore he was able to save the nipple, the first thing I thought of was... wow... it worked!
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Crunchy, I am still trying to figure out how to use the lugols topically. Doesn't the red stain everything? How do you apply?
My cholesterol went down to the normal range after switching from synthroid to Armour. The MD kept wanting me to try cholesterol meds for years to get it down. It took only one month on the Armour.
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Sorry I have not read all of the posts here, but is there a link between throid CANCER and BC ?
THANKS
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samsue, yes, it does stain everything... I had red fingers for a while, but that much iodine finally started irritating the skin on my fingers/palm, so now I use a surgical glove unless I'm applying it at night (in which case the red is gone by morning, and a little coconut oil prevents any irritation).
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Crunchy, how much do you apply? I use the coconut oil every day because of the rads left my boob so dry and sore. I finished rads in July. I go tomorrow to the rad onc for "final" follow up and a read on the MRI that he had me do a week ago. I'm still bothered by the scar and pulling under the arm from the muscles.
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Crunchy: I have read that it's good to apply topically and internally. Adding coconut oil is a good idea, as my skin gets really dry with it alone. FYI: Once your wound heals, it's great to use on your scars. It flattened mine though they are still pink.
samsue: I apply with a Q-Tip and let it dry before dressing.
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I apply the iodine topically on my moles and scars before bedtime. It has done a great job of softening the scar tissue from my surgery and the hard knot I had after the radiation boost. Yes, it stains, so I now wear all dark nightgowns so it does not matter. I also use coconut oil, but only in the morning. I found it revs my metabolism and I cannot sleep if I use it at night. I now use my USANA skin products before bed as they do not contain parabens and formaldehydes and all those other carcinogens.
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What I could find locally is 2.2 percent Lugols that is also put in water. I tried it last night but was messy so I'll try using the q-tip. I also have the hard knot from the boost. My skin was clear by morning so the iodine was absorbed. On the bottle it suggests using it internally by putting some in water along with apple cider vinegar. I haven't done that yet.
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Samsue-I sometimes put the iodine in apple cider vinegar with a little water and some baking soda. Good for the digestion. I alternate using lugols and a iodoral type mix from my compounding pharmacist. He puts the companion nutrients with it. Remember it is essential that you take selenium and magnesium with iodine and b vitamins for absorbtion.
erica-if you go to breastcancerchoices.org you will see lots of info about the link with iodine deficiency and bc, as well as lots of sources we have listed back in this thread.
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Posting a reply on how to apply lugols. I am using one of my old eye shadow brushes but a small paint brush (thinking water paints not slanted sash lol) by putting a couple drops til saturated and painting to affected area and repeating. I rinse the brush out and let it air dry. Also if I am in a hurry I will use my hair dryer on low to speed the drying as to not stain clothing. Working well along incision and other biopsy site on other side. Hope this helps.
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For what it's worth, I am working with a naturopath who tested my iodine load. I came in at 76%. They like it to be 90%, but it was not indicative of what she thought it would: low iodine = prone to cancer. As a pre-meno patient, I went ahead and started some supplementation.
My thyroid was also within normal range, impressive considering I'd just come out of four TC.
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Vivre, do you take the selenium separate as a supplement? I already have the magnesium in one of my vitamins. I don't take all the pills that I'm taking at once. I spread things into two "doses" - one at noon that includes the DIM and the others at night. My Armour pill is the only thing I take when I wake up in the AM.
I don't have a naturopath to go to concerning the iodine so I'm really trying to educate myself.
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MHP-I would be interested to know where you got your iodine tested. Did you go trough Dr. Flechas or another lab? I do not think there are many that do this test.
Samsue-the iodine/iodide I get from my compounding pharm has selenium with it. But I also take my mineral multi at the same time. You can also eat some brazil nuts with the iodine. They are rich in selenium. I love nuts, but not real fond of those.
Rosex-I like the hair dryer idea!
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Hi Vivre, it's Doctor's Data located in IL....
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MHP70,
The number on the first iodine loading test may mean that the iodine tablets you took beginning the test went right through you into your urine because you aren't absorbing it. Interpreting the results isn't as easy as one low iodine test= breast disease.
If your second test after supplementing is higher, then the first test was valid. If the second test is lower, the first test was a case of not absorbing. There are people who got 84 on the first test and 45 on the second test after supplementing. One of the doctors called them "spillers."
All this info is on one of the videos.
Dr. Flechas does this test for a lot of us and he is awesome and has been testing for 5-7 years now. He is constantly training practitioners how to interpret the test.
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This is where I'm at with iodine. One Word...
Thalassotherapy
My mum always said that the iodine rich air at the beach was extremely therapeutic. Years ago her doctor told her to move by the beach to relieve her of her allergies. She did and it helped her, immensely. Growing up I had the best of both worlds...mum lived by the sea, and my father had a country property.
Sadly my hubby purchased several establishments in the city which were putting stresses in my life and on my health, as well as a couple of other personal matters. I didn't have much time to suck in those negative ions, and iodine rich air - that plus the fact that I seemed to have lost my way when it came to my Greek roots. He is a meat and potatoes guy, and thousands of years of Greek evolution running through my veins...was forgotten in my kitchen. Well I've gone back to my roots! We have a very Mediterranean diet...and everything is either grown in my backyard or bought at organic farms.
I have noticed that when my body has an abundance of a certain vitamin...it will literally excrete it out of every orifice. I monitor myself carefully. I have so far had these reactions with iodine, selenium, B12, vitamin C, and magnesium. Magnesium is the worst! I tried taking magnesium supplement twice...and had severe diarrhoea for about two days. I am getting enough of these supplements through my superfoods, and walking 5k-6k every evening along the beach...come rain or shine.
Back to iodine
The spray, caused by crashing waves, releases iodine into the air. Breathing in sea air during a walk along the beach, allows the benefits of iodine to enter the respiratory system and the entire body. The salt air of the ocean clears bronchial canals and helps avoid or cure allergies, asthma and other respiratory problems. Nature's own inhaler can be used to full effect by a few hours on the shores of the ocean.
Thalassotherapy, which is basically the medical use of sea water, has already been known by the ancient Greeks. The sea water is believed to penetrate the pores of the skin which absorbs iodine and other elements contained in sea water, such as magnesium, potassium and calcium.
I am trying to replenish myself on a cellular level as naturally as possible.
Victoria
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