Hi and thanks for posting

If you have a well balanced diet there shouldn't be a need to take extra vitamins, although if you decide to do so, it's important to run it by the specialist or breast care nurse first. This includes any herbal remedies, mineral supplements or treatments bought over the counter. Some herbal remedies have oestrogenic effects that would not be suitable if you have a breast cancer that is oestrogen dependent - examples include black cohosh, clover, sage or St johns wort amongst others.

The evidence regarding taking vitamins during treatment like radiotherapy (especially the high dose antioxidants like vitamin A,C and E, Q10 and selenium) isn't very clear yet - whether they may be harmful or helpful and so specialists at the moment would veer towards asking people not to take them during radiotherapy. This doesn't seem to apply during the time you take tamoxifen for the 5 or 10 years that have been advised. Do have a chat though with your own team about this.

There is some information about vitamins and supplements here on our website

There is also some more information about radiotherapy here, and tamoxifen though you may have already seen it.

Do give us a call if you would like to go over any of this with us here on the helpline on Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday

All the best

Wanda