Supplements to avoid during Radiation treatmenr

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erinr28
erinr28 Member Posts: 7
edited February 2018 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Was anyone told that when they start radiation that they are are not allowed to take Vitamin E or any other antioxidants because it interferes with the radiation working?

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  • DAHL
    DAHL Member Posts: 4
    edited April 2017

    Yes, I was told the same.

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited April 2017

    no, I was not told to avoid anything.

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  • gardengypsy
    gardengypsy Member Posts: 769
    edited April 2017

    Absolutely. You WANT the free radicals from the radiation to do their thing = cellular damage.

    When you aren't in treatment for cancer, you use anti-oxidants to STOP the free radicals.


    Crazy stuff..
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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited April 2017

    Yup—avoid antioxidant supplements (small amounts of foods naturally containing antioxidants, like berries or peppers, are fine) during both chemo and radiation, and for a short time after you’ve finished those therapies. Cell damage is the goal of adjuvant therapy. Just as chemo can’t tell the difference between tumor cells and fast-dividing normal cells, antioxidants can’t tell the difference between normal cells that ought to be protected from free radicals and tumor cells.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited April 2017

    I wasn't told to avoid any suppliments specifically. I was asked what I usually took (Vit D, Super B and potassium) and was told that was fine but not to add any unless I checked with him.

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited April 2017

    During both chemo and rads, I was told no supplements. 

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  • MeToo14
    MeToo14 Member Posts: 493
    edited May 2017

    I was never told not to take supplements or antioxidants. In fact, I was told to take vitamin D. I was treated at UCLA where they do a lot of research and trials, if there really is something to be worried about I think I would have been told.

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  • Lexicoe
    Lexicoe Member Posts: 66
    edited May 2017

    My first RO said no vitaminE or any other supplements with anti-oxidants--that the chance they'd interfere was small but better to be sure.

    The second RO (at a teaching hospital/NCCI center) said no prohibitions on supplements.

    Haven't figured out what I'm going to do yet. I know one of my mixed supplements has vitamin E in it.

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  • GrendelDog
    GrendelDog Member Posts: 22
    edited May 2017

    I was told no E, C, or A supplements. Vitamin D was fine.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited May 2017

    Yes, I was told no anti-oxidants.

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  • Nancy618
    Nancy618 Member Posts: 374
    edited May 2017

    I wasn't told anything about anti-oxidants for radiation...was told that was only a concern with chemo. I take vitamin supplements that have A, E and C in them as well as a drink from Young Living that is full of high anti-oxidant juices. I specifically asked the MO nurse today if I should stop taking it for radiation and she said she'd run it by the MO, but didn't see any reason to. However, I forgot to ask the RO nurse today. Just to be on the safe side, I'm going to quit taking it during radiation, but I'm going to continue my vitamin supplements that I've been taking for years, as they are the normal recommended dosages, none over 100%.

    I found this from the NIH: . With few exceptions, most of the studies draw positive conclusions about the interaction of antioxidants and radiotherapy. Although further studies are needed, the preponderance of evidence supports a provisional conclusion that dietary antioxidants do not conflict with the use of radiotherapy in the treatment of a wide variety of cancers and may significantly mitigate the adverse effects of that treatment.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17761641

    But then I read other articles which says they DO interfere with radiation. Just going to stop the supplement until radiation is over (and the 2 weeks after) and hope it keeps. The damn stuff is expensive!!!

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  • Chloe2
    Chloe2 Member Posts: 40
    edited May 2017

    My Dr.said it is a theoretical risk, more research is needed, but best to avoid them.

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  • Valentina7268279
    Valentina7268279 Member Posts: 74
    edited February 2018

    I was freaking out when I read this....i was talking a natural product with a lot of vitamins...it is like a juice.. Is it also considered as vitamin supplements? I don't know.. I am about to finish radiation....what to do now?

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited February 2018

    Does it have vitamin levels in megadoses or regular doses (i.e., you only need 60 mg of vitamin C in a day, a megadose would be way more)?

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  • Valentina7268279
    Valentina7268279 Member Posts: 74
    edited February 2018

    regular doses and everything 100% natu

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