Radiation & Antioxidents

Amrie

I will be starting radiation next week and wondering why my doctor said to stop taking antioxidants. She said not to take Vitamin C or other antioxidants (and I take quite a few). Also, I will be starting Arimidex after radiation (for 7 years). Will it be necessary to stop taking them during that treatment as well?

Cpeachymom

Hi amrie- antioxidants protect your cells from damage. The whole point in radiation is to kill cells and the antioxidants protect cancer cells same as healthy cells. You don’t want to protect them or that would defeat the purpose of radiation

gb2115

You should be able to take your vitamins after radiation is done, but double check with your oncologist.

JosieO

Amrie,

Our colleagues here are right-I was told the very same info. Both the antioxidants and the AI conflict with the action of radiation. I think of them both as my “next steps” after radiationndown my road of recovery