Antioxidant Supplements and Radiation Therapy

Too-Ticky

I've just completed my course of 15 radiotherapy sessions. I usually take quite a few supplements including antioxidants, but stopped taking them well before my treatment started, having read that some antioxidants can reduce the effectiveness of radiation therapy.

Now my rads are done, I know I've got a couple more weeks of "cooking" before I start to heal. Is this post-radiation period therapeutic, meaning cancer cells are continuing to die off? Or is it just an unwanted after-effect? The reason I ask is because I would like to gradually reintroduce my various antioxidants and other supplements as soon as possible (I take them to help other chronic conditions), but I don't want to do that if it compromises the effectiveness of the radiation treatment.

Neither my Radiologist nor the Tissue Viability Practitioner knew anything about antioxidant supplement effects on radiotherapy, so I'm unsure what's best to do.

illimae

I don’t recall exactly how long after the final radiation is recommended to resume a usual supplements routine (I don’t take any myself) but I do remember that my rads onc requested I wait at least a month to have green tea again. I was also told not to use vitamin E lotion to sooth the skin. She was very serious about those things.

Too-Ticky

Thanks for your reply. At least I've got something to go by as a rough guide now.

S3K5

I had radiation in 2015 to my lower back and I was told not to take any antioxidants but regular multivitamins and Calcium supplements were not a problem.

Rubytoos

I asked about this very issue--I completed radiation therapy in October--and was told to wait two weeks. I think the initial weeks following treatment are both therapeutic and a nuisance with some unwanted side effects. In my case I had quite a bit of skin involvement. My RO is very passionate about health and nutrition and encourages supplements and healthy lifestyle, is part of a research hospital/center of excellence, so I think two weeks is a safe parameter to work with.

Too-Ticky

Thanks