There are a myriad of supplements used to help you regain optimal health after breast cancer. Each case of breast cancer is unique. Breast cancer is either noninvasive or invasive, and estrogen receptor or progesterone receptor positive or hormone receptor negative, notes MayoClinic.com. Thus, an individualized regimen of supplements will be formulated for you by your treatment team. Talk to your doctor before starting any naturopathic treatments at home for breast cancer.
L-arginine
L-arginine is an amino acid that is created artificially in a laboratory. It helps your body make proteins. It is used to treat breast cancer in combination with chemotherapy. The effectiveness of L-arginine treatment for breast cancer is still under investigation as of 2010, notes the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Melatonin
The melatonin hormone works to regulate hormones. Melatonin supplements work as an antioxidant in your body. Melatonin supplements decrease the rate of growth of breast cancer cells, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. This supplement also helps reduce common complications that occur during chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer.
Calcium & Vitamin D
Calcium supplements help you stay healthy after experiencing breast cancer. Calcium helps boost the health of bones, muscles and the nervous system, notes the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. Take vitamin D in combination with calcium to help your body absorb the calcium supplement. Premenopausal women should take a minimum of 1,000mg of calcium along with 400 to 800 international units of vitamin D. Women who are over age 50 or in menopause should take a minimum of 1,200mg of calcium and 800 to 1,000 international units of vitamin D. Talk to your doctor about the risks or benefits of taking calcium before and after menopause.
Green Tea
Taking green tea supplements or drinking green tea has been shown to decrease risk of breast cancer in studies with Asian-American participants, notes the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Ongoing research is underway to determine the effectiveness of green tea in preventing breast cancer or recurrence in Western populations.
