Vit. C

Rose, there's quite a bit of info on Vitamin C on the web -- just stay away from sites that sell vitamins!

High doses (over 2,000 mgs) per day can cause stomach problems -- cramps etc.  I take 1,000 mgs/day and I always get the timed-release version, to avoid any unwanted discomfort.

Linda

Yes,

Regarding this subject, before doing anything you must ask your oncologist and you must also collaborate (and ask of course) with a registered dietician who knows well oncology (1) and who abolutley has to collaborate with your oncologist. I read it's the best way that your body gets all the nutriments he needs without problems. I also read your medical team will also make analysis to know if your body has the good amount of nutriments.

Why collaborating with a registeredi dietitian? Because meny studies showed an increased survival thanks to its help.

 They will advise you for the followin situations :

- before  (it's good to contact him just after the diagnosis)

- during

- after therapy

- Your team will aslo make sure your body gets all the nutriments he needs, also by making anlysis, according to what I read. Ask them about this and about analysis during all the time (before, during and on the long term going after the treatment) to make sure your body has no defficiency of nutriments. This is important because studies showed that that a correct amount of nutrients in the body increses survival and decreases relapse. For instance there is a relationship between a correct amount of selenium in the body  and cancer rate. ( But ask your team about (oncologist and registered dietitian) regarding all that (2)

Your team can also advise you foodstufs with interesting properties against cancer. For instance I read that cruciferous vegetables like brocoli decrease cancer rate (with 5 serving a week)  in epidemiological studies (thanks to isothiothianates and other substances). Brocoli sprouts contains 50 times more isothiocyianates than brocoli. Ask your team (oncologist and registered dietitian) if it's ok to consume brocoli, brocoli sprouts and cruciferous vegetables. Furthermore if your immune system is weak you have to wash and cook brocoli and brocoli sprouts. Steaming is a good way to preserve the properties of the food but avoid plastic food steamers because (or steamer with pieces of plastic in contact with the food) because they can put toxic stuffs in the food.

Here is an interesting information regarding the help a reg dietitian car give :

It's also important to follow the advises of the dietician long time after the end of the treatment.

It's aslo advised to communicate (to ouy team : oncologist, dietician, pharmacist) the medication you're taking for other Illnesses than cancer on the same time.

Here is an interesting information regarding the help a reg dietitian car give :

In 2 studies with women with breast cancer. They show that if these women make physical activity and consume an healthy alimentation with less fat intake (with the advise of the registered dietitian and the oncologist for both alimentation and physical activity) , the relapse rate was lower.

But as always the content of my message is not a medical advise , just an information I read. Always ask your medical team (onco and reg dietitian) before doing anything

Have a nice day

A

PS : Sorry for my english it's not my language ;o)

(1) Ask your oncologist to advise you a good one who knows well oncology and it's very important that he finds you one because many studies show an increased survival thanks to the help of a reg. dietitian.

(2) Oncology is very comoplicated and nothing is whit or black. I read studies that say we have to maintain a good level of nutrients during the treatment. Also maintaining a good levels of selenium. I also read studies that says that a correct level of selenium can reduce side effects and even increase efficency of some treamments. But another in vitro study show that a compound thant contains selenium named Ebselen reduces slightly the efficiency  bloeomycin. Ok this is one particular case of interaction and it doesn't mean at all that we dont' have to maintain a good level of nutrients (and selenium) in our bodies. This is one particular case of interaction and I think it doesn't meen that it's not good to maintain a good level of selenium in most cases. As I said nothing is black or white in oncology and we have to ask our oncologist and registered dietitian. Because they will now how to maintain a correct amount of nutrients (ans selenium) in our body  before during and on the long term going after the treatment without problems or interractions.

I did high dose vitamin C intraveinously throughout my ACTH chemotherapy and had wonderful results.  I felt strong through most of the treatments and my tumors regressed rapidly.  I really believe it was beneficial to me and recieved a complete pathological response report at the time of my surgery. 

I continue to take 1000mg oral vitamin C almost everyday and would like to have more infusions asap just as a precaution, maybe once a month.  They are a bit costly but I figure, money is worth nothing when you're gone.  It is important to note that high dose, IV vitamin C has completely different effects on the body than supplemental oral vitamin C does, and there is really no overdose you can take orally, your body (via bowels) will tell you its too much if the case should be.  Also, vitamin C is awesome for healing after surgery.