I have not ever seen Vitamin D listed on my bloodwork. Next visit to the doctors, I will ask about it.

David & Christine

You are going to have to ask for Vitamin D tests. Unfortunately CCC and most oncologists still have on 20th century blinders concerning blood work and routine tests. Lucky for me that my cardiologist went back for a post graduate course in the 21st century. He ordered both my thyroid (TSH) blood work and Vitamin D blood tests even before I knew I had cancer. When he was contacted by my CCC to make sure no cardiological issues precluded radiation, chemo or surgery, he stressed to me that in his experience, oncologists ignored Vitamin D and used old 20th century lab values for TSH. Sadly, it turned out to be very true.
My endocrinologist has a blood tests for tested for Vitamin D done every 5 months. She thinks it plays a major part in recovery from radiation and chemo.
Quest Diagnostics form shows it as test # 17306X, Vitamin D,25-Hydroxy. It gives you total D as well as a breakdown of D3 and D2 components
You want ABOVE 30 ng/ML for D total(it's the minimum, the maximum is 100)
My last readings were excellent at 50 ng/Ml for both total and D3. IMO this and the TSH tests should be part of the "standard" panel tests done for cancer follow up
Charm,

This is all very interesting. I recently, last several months, had to start on Vit D, independent of any connection to the cancer. I had labs and a bone density test as part of a regular physical and determined a Vit D deficiency.

Sharon

I've been taking 6,000IU/day of D3 for several years now. I had my D level checked last month and it was 62.4 ng/ml, which is within my understanding of the recommended range of 50-80 ng/ml. It seems likely to me that I would be deficient if I wasn't supplementing.

Stily1

Thanks for starting this thread. I just got back from endocrinologist and my Vitamin D level is 64 ng/ml which she confirmed is excellent. I only take 4,000 IU a day (2 tablets at breakfast crushed and down the tube) I know I would be deficient without the supplements since my prior blood tests confirmed it. Like yourself, I started on Vitamin D supplements before I knew I had cancer, but only by two months.
It's important with Winter coming and less sun that people monitor their Vitamin D to see if they need supplements.
Charm

Most primary care physicians are including testing Vitamin D levels as part of a comprehensive blood workup that one would get with an annual physical exam. I'm fairly certain it has become a standard of practice. I'll ask my sister who is a family nurse practitioner.

Kerri

I don't think it's "most" in terms of numbers, but "most up to date and concerned" doctors, a dramatically smaller cohort. It should indeed be the standard practice, but as you can see from this thread alone, neither DavidCPA nor Christine have had it done despite regular doctors' visits. Sad to say, despite weekly blood tests for my two months of chemo for multiple panels, there was not even one Vitamin D test. It was my cardiologist who insisted on it and now I have my endocrinologist monitor it since I have to get regular TSH (thyroid) blood work anyway
My wife and son both have primary care physicians and neither of them have had Vitamin D tests for their physical exams.
I'd be interested to hear if your area is a bright spot of medical care after you hear from your sister.
Charm

Hi, Everyone.
I guess my PCP is one of the proactive doctors who routinely test all patients yearly. I live in NE and we are especially at risk due to the long winters and cool springs. That being said, I'll quote you on what my sister found out for me...

"Currently, the recommended Vitamin D dose is 600 International Units (IU) adults ages 19 to 70 (which is higher than it used to be). People 71 and older are supposed to get 800 IU a day. I do not believe testing has become a standard in preventative medicine yet. In theory, your provider should be evaluating your health risks and any issues/complaints you may have and order the appropriate labs. You could ask for your levels to be drawn. Pretty much anybody that lives in this area is at risk. With that said, people should not just behave as if they are low and take more than is recommended. Some side effects of high levels have been noted."

Hope that helps!

Kerri

I personally believe that healthful eating and such truly is the way to go. Vitamins are good dont get me wrong. But two glasses of almond milk offer up 90% of what should be your daily intake - of vitamin d. Plus the cottage cheese I toss into the smoothie I have every morning covers the rest - that said... I'm not taking any supplements any more (other than the protien I add to my smoothie in the morning) throw in a walk outside in the daylight for good measure and hopefully I'm getting enough. Was I vitamin d deficient? Prior to this - oh yeah for sure - I was a veg head for 7 years and had issues with dairy so I didn't do any kind of dairy except soy and even that not much!!! anyway - watching what you eat is the best way to go. Good article and it makes sense.

Luckily the issue of vitamin D deficiency is easily resolved. Blood tests don't lie. If your test shows you don't have enough Vitamin D, it could be diet, it could be aging (as we get older, everyone generates less Vitamin D). I agree with Cheryl that you should not just start popping Vitamin D pills
Few individuals would allow their clinician to simply guess an cholesterol level before placing him/her on some type of medication. Clinicians have access to an accurate lipid test that provides guidance. The same is true for vitamin D levels.
What counts is your blood level, not your intake.