Supplementation during therapy : good or bad?

alain23 · February 2010

Hi,

At first I must say I am not a doctor and this is not a medical advise, I am just sharing an information a read.

I read we must always ask our doctors before doiig anything taking supplementation

I also read that with or without supplementation an healthy food is always good(fruits, vegetables, ...) but it's also better to ask your doctor about your diet.

So in summary we can say :

1) Always ask your doctor. He will advise you in relation to your kind of cancer and your kind of treatment (also the medication for other illnesses) You can ask many doctors to have several opinions.

2) An healthy food is always good. And also ask about any changing of diet.

3) If you want to decrease the side effects of chemotherapy there are also other methods : special diets, antiemmetics, and so on. Also for that ask your doctor, about what is the best method for you.

If you are not able to eat maybe it's different. Ask your oncologist. Maybe it's possible to take fruits juices or vegetables soups.

As you see nothing is black or white. It depend's on your kind of cancer, your kind of treatment, your stage, your side effects. As it is so complicated it's beter to ask your oncologist.

Have a nice day

Chris

Member_of_the_Club · February 2010

You should definitely avoid them during chemo and radiation. Both these therapies work by targeting cancer cells as they grow and divide so you don't want to take anything that will inhibit their growth. Not sure if this is based on actual studies or just theories.

If you are going through chemo eat what makes you feel good and can keep down. French fires? OK! My craving during chemo was for spicy Indian food because my taste buds were so deadened I wanted something with taste.

alain23 · February 2010

Hi,

Just another info. Mybe you will find some studies that shows that vitamins (especially vitamin C) can increase the efficency of therapies. but there are very high doses of vitamins, 10 grams or more (and ofter intravenous) and always under medical supervision and prescription. It was also for some kinds of cancer, not all. Aslo for that ask your oncologist.

But the low doses, that we can often find in supplementation pils in the stores or pharmacies, could feed cancerous cells and protect them. It's surprising but it's so, The exmplanation could be that low doses feed the cancerous cells and high doses destroy them

But I an not a doctor ant the only thing I can tell is :

ASK YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE DOING ANYTHING

Have a nice day

Chris

Merilee · February 2010

Antioxidants no, some other things yes. I take b12, ginko, iron, fish oil, zinc, milk thistle, turmeric.

All with my oncs blessing. B12 and ginko offset fatigue, iron and zinc protect the blood, milk thistle protects and cleans the liver and turmeric may actually help chemo work better

In addition to this I eat very healthy and drink lots of water so that chemo is not setting in my bladder

alain23 · February 2010

Hi Merilee,

What you say is interesting.

And your're right, with your oncologist blessing ;o)

We must always ask

Have a nice day and good luck to you.

Alain

Merilee · February 2010

Thank you Alain

alain23 · February 2010

Yes,

by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">Regarding this subject, I read we must ask oncologist. And ask as soon as possible in order to have the best by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">nutrition as soon as possible. If there is a impact on survival it would be a shame to wait too long.

And it's very important to 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. And I read studies that showed an increased survival.

Here is the complete version regarding this subject. (Sorry for my English this is not my native language ;-))

by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">Nutrition is very important for cancer patients and many studies show an improvement of many factors (quality of life, immune system, SURVIVAL) thanks to the help of a registered dietitian for cancer patients. (1).

Of course this registered dietitian has to know well oncology and to collaborate with you oncologist . (you must also tell your team about the treatments for other illnesses than cancer you're taking on the same time)

It's highly advised to collaborate with the dietitian right after the diagnosis.

He will help you, for instance, for the following situation :

- He can help us before during and after the treatment .Thanks to his advises you will also be able to eat healthy on the long time going after the end of the treatment what is also important

- Your team will also make sure your body gets all the nutriments he needs, also by making analysis, according to what I read. This is important because studies showed that that a correct amount of nutrients in the body increases survival and decreases relapse. For instance there is . Ask them how to get the good levels of nutrients during all the time (before, during and on the long term going after the treatment) without problems

Speaking about alimentation, I read interesting studies regarding cruciferous vegetables (like brocolis, Brussel by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">sprouts, and so on), and cancer. In these studies, they show the following effects (thanks to isothiocyanates and other substances) :

- Decreasing cancer rate (also for people who has no cancer = prevention)

- Increasing survival amoung cancer patients (62% in a study)

- In some studies, cruciferous vegetables increases the efficacy of chemotherapy

Cruciferous vegetables were more effective than many other foodstufs in these studies.

Here is something very important I also read these vegetables are much more efficient if we add other foodstufs that have interesting properties like ),brocoli sprouts, radish because it hels to cross the intestinal by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">barrier.

This is very important to add these foods to cruciferous vegetables because with this simple method whe make sure to have an efficient action for all the body (thanks to the fact that it helps to cross the intestinal barrier)

Brocoli sprouts contains 50 times more isothiocyianates than broccoli.

And of course, if our imune system is weak, I read there are some precautions to take (for instance cooking the foods that could give infections if consumed raw). I don't know what is the best way to cook the vegetables in order to preserve the most their properties and to kill the bacteries. I have been told we have to avoid to put the food in contact with plastic pieces during the cooking because it can put toxical substances in it. Finally I also read taht once the imune sistem is ok again, the situation is different. Some foods have more anticancer properties if eaten raw, some other cooked (but we must avoid cookind methods that destroy the anticancer properties of the food). And for some it is advised to consume them both raw and cooked because each one has its advantages.

WE MUST ALSO AVOID TO BUY THESE VEGETABLES DEEP FROZEN BECAUSE THEY ALSO LOOSE THEIR PROPERTIES (the industrial process to deep-froze them make them loose a great part of their properties).

In the studies I read it's very efficient from a certain amount of servings a week incuded in a healthy and balanced by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">nutrition.

If you take blood thinning medications like warfarin, ask your medical team how to consume cruciferous vegetables because they contain by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">vitamin K that change (decrease) the effectiveness of these drugs. Also ask about other foodstufs that contains vitamin K. But I don't mean to say that people who take blood thinning medications must avoid cruciferous vegetables, just that they have to ask their medical team how to consume them. Ask as soon as possible in order to take advantage of these vegetables as soon as possible. It would be a shame to wait if there is a positive effect regarding survival.

And of course if you are pregnant or breastfeeding I read you have to ask your doctor which food you must avoid (for instance horseradish must be avoided during pregnancy and lactation. I also read wasabi must be avoided but anyway we can't eat sushis or food like that durang pregancy and breast feeding. I know, this is a totaly different subject that has nothing to do with the subject of my by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">present message but my sister is pregnant, that's why I know this. And this was an opportunity to share good news

Ok, I am not a doctor but I wanted to talk about a subject that I find interesting.

Have a nice day

(1) Ask your oncologist to advise you a good registered dietitan that knows well oncology and insist because it can help by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">regarding survival and quality of life. I also read that your oncologist and your reg dietitian have to collaborate together. It's important because studies showed that the collaboration with a registered dietitian (before, during, and after the treatment = all your life ) increased survival and quality of life. It's important to collaborate with the reg dietitian right after the diagnosis.

The name of this kind of specialist can vary from a country to another, that's why it's good to ask your oncologist the name of the most efficient kind of by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">nutrition specialist for your situation

Rich66 · February 2010

Categorically writing off "ant-ioxidants" is probably naive. Green tea is has antioxidant properties and has been shown to augment Taxol. As a wise man iwth a missing tooth once said: "T'aint that sumpel."

Arch Biochem Biophys. 2008 Aug 15;476(2):107-12. Epub 2008 Feb 7.
Are polyphenols antioxidants or pro-oxidants? What do we learn from cell culture and in vivo studies?

FULL TEXT

Halliwell B.
Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, University Hall, Lee Kong Chian Wing, UHL #05-02G, 21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119077, Singapore. bchbh@nus.edu.sg
Diets rich in polyphenols are epidemiologically associated with lower risk of developing some age-related diseases in humans. This apparent disease-protective effect of polyphenols is often attributed to their powerful antioxidant activities, as established in vitro. However, polyphenols can also exert pro-oxidant activities under certain experimental conditions. Neither pro-oxidant nor anti-oxidant activities have yet been clearly established to occur in vivo in humans, nor are they likely given the limited levels of polyphenols that are achievable in vivo after consumption of foods and beverages rich in them. Other actions of polyphenols may be more important in vivo. Many studies of the biological effects of polyphenols in cell culture have been affected by their ability to oxidise in culture media, and awareness of this problem can avoid erroneous claims.

alain23 · October 2012

And of course, if our imune system is weak, I read there are some precautions to take (for instance cooking the foods that could give infections if consumed raw). I don't know what is the best way to cook the vegetables in order to preserve the most their properties and to kill the bacteries. I have been told we have to avoid to put the food in contact with plastic pieces during the cooking because it can put toxical substances in it. Finally I also read taht once the imune sistem is ok again, the situation is different. Some foods have more anticancer properties if eaten raw, some other cooked. And for some it is advised to consume them both raw and cooked because each one has its advantages.

WE MUST ALSO AVOID TO BUY THESE VEGETABLES DEEP FROZEN BECAUSE THEY ALSO LOOSE THEIR PROPERTIES (the industrial process to deep-froze them make them loose a great part of their properties).

In the studies I read it's very efficient from a certain amount of servings a week incuded in a healthy and by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">balanced alimentation.

If you take blood thinning medications like warfarin, ask your medical team how to consume cruciferous vegetables because they contain by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">vitamin K that change (decrease) the effectiveness of these drugs. Also ask about other foodstufs that contains vitamin K. But I don't mean to say that people who take blood thinning medications must avoid cruciferous vegetables, just that they have to ask their medical team how to consume them. Ask as soon as possible in order to take advantage of these vegetables as soon as possible. It would be a shame to wait if there is a positive effect regarding survival.

And of course if you are pregnant or breastfeeding I read you have to ask your doctor which food you must avoid (for instance horseradish must be avoided during pregnancy and lactation. I also read wasabi must be avoided but anyway we can't eat sushis or food like that durang pregancy and breast feeding. I know, this is a totaly different subject that has nothing to do with the subject of my by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">present message but my sister is pregnant, that's why I know this. And this was an opportunity to share good news

Ok, I am not a doctor but I wanted to talk about a subject that I find interesting.

Have a nice day

evergreen9 · October 2012

I think the golden rule is, "Communicate!"

Run your supplements past your treatment team (this is done as part of the process at my cancer centre, during an interview with the team pharmacist). My centre does not serve green tea during chemo, as a consequence of a study showing it decreased the effectiveness of one agent. My oncologist also said, "There is much we don't know yet", so we are erring on the side of caution. Now that I am done chemo however, I drink Japanese Sencha green tea three times a day.

Another new thing I'm doing, using cabbage leaves instead of lettuce on sandwiches, with hummus. Love it!

Supplementation during therapy : good or bad?

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