Before I begin with the subject of this page, I feel I should preface it with a notation.

There are areas of the field of cancer treatment that are still quite controversial. It is a complex field and the sheer magnitude of all the studies that have yet to be done to form definite conclusions in some areas are at the root of much of this controversy. One of those areas is about the use of Antioxidants with and while undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and perhaps other forms of cancer treatment. There seems to be a lot of conflicting opinions as to what benefits and harm there might be to this.

An Antioxidant is a broad term to define a number of things, but it includes some of the common vitamins that many of us (healthy and ill people alike) take on a daily basis, such as Vitamins A, C, and E. I have to say that I was taking all these vitamins prior to having cancer, and prior to, during, and after treatment, all without knowing of the controversy surrounding this issue, and only recently became aware of it after receiving some information from a friend (Thanks, Becky!), and when I checked on that, I discovered this controversy.

I also feel that, if I had known of it, I would most likely have taken the same course I have been on, unless my doctors had insisted I change, because I found out long ago that my body needed these supplements to maintain any thing approaching health, in my particular case.

So, for anyone who is aware of this controversy, I thought it was something you should be aware of. The theory appears to be that the taking of Antioxidants along with chemotherapy/radiation is to lessen the toxicity of the treatment on your body. To counteract it, I guess. The theory against it is that some feel it inhibits the treatment from performing as well as it would otherwise, and/or could lessen its effect, or that it could be harmful in some way. There seems no studies that confirm or deny firm conclusions in any or most cases.

A simple search done on "Antioxidants" or "Antioxidants with Chemotherapy" will bring up more information than my poor brain can absorb or understand at this point, if you are interested in knowing more about the controversy. This is another of those areas in which you, as a patient, must learn what you can, discuss the options with your doctors, and then decide what's best for you.

Nutrition and Vitamin/Mineral Supplements

I guess I have always been one of those people who need supplemental vitamins and minerals. I was very thin and not real healthy as a child, and I guess I didn't eat a well balanced diet. I continued to get colds, flu, sore throats and such until I became pregnant and they put me on prenatal vitamins early with my second child because I became very anemic with my first pregnancy and was ill the entire time I was pregnant. The doctor stressed how important it was to take them every day, so I decided that to remember them I needed to take them with something I did each day. I finally decided to take them when I went to bed. I didn't always eat regular meals, but I always went to bed at some point, and that worked. I took them very regularly. Well! I was absolutely amazed at how well I felt for the first time, ever. From that day to this I have taken vitamins. For a long time I took only a multivitamin, but that increased when this doctor or that recommended something I needed to take "extra" amounts of.

After I was diagnosed with cancer I was told to take more of some vitamins, and I'll list those here. If you have cancer, or another debilitating illness, you really should talk to your doctor, because you are most likely not getting all that you need from the foods you eat, and in some cases your treatment will be more successful with them, and in some cases they know that a treatment will affect some function and will tell you to take such and such to take that. In my case, I was told to take Vitamin C (I don't remember why), Vitamin E, for my immune system, a "good" B Complex vitamin, and for this last chemo I had to begin taking Folic Acid a week prior to beginning treatment, because it is essential, and the treatment destroys this B vitamin in your body, so you have to take an excess amount to counteract that. Here are the vitamins I'm now taking, and what they do, to give you an idea:

Iron

An essential trace mineral vital to human nutrition, iron is crucial to the entire process of respiration, including electron and oxygen transport. The main purpose or goal of respiration within the body is to produce biologic energy. Iron is essential to the production and performance of hemoglobin, which carries nearly all of the oxygen in the blood to needed locations throughout the body. As hydrogen and oxygen combine within a cell’s mitochondria, electron transport reactions take place that produce energy. These reactions are made possible by a flow of electrons, brought about by the oxidation of food particles, across cytochromes (electron-carrier proteins), and by the ultimate grouping of these electrons with oxygen to form water. Cytochrome oxidase is the last enzyme in the electron transport chain, and both cytochromes as well as cytochrome oxidase depend on iron for their synthesis and function. Aconitase, L-carnitine, and myoglobin, all of which play a vital role in the body’s production of energy, also require iron in order to function properly. Other body operations such as DNA synthesis, immune system response, and normal brain development involve iron as well. Iron is also important to the synthesis of norepinephrin, dopamine, serotonin, and collagen.

It is important that the body receive just the right amount of iron. Too little iron in the body’s system can lead to microcytic hypochromic anemia, the most common nutritional disorder in the world, as well as other bodily dysfunctions. Likewise, an overload of iron can cause congestive heart failure, coronary heart disease, and cirrhosis. It is estimated that around 25 percent of the world-wide population is deficient in iron. As such, iron intake has become a global health concern.

Potassium - Shown to Reduce Stroke Risk
Along with sodium and chloride, potassium helps the body to keep its fluid levels balanced through the activity of electrolytes. An essential part of muscle tissue, potassium is also critical to digestion because it helps synthesize carbohydrates and proteins. Recent findings have shown that potassium may also help lower blood pressure--important news for anyone who wants to minimize the risk of stroke.

According to a recent study involving 5,600 people over the age of 65, low potassium intake can increase the risk of stroke by 50%. Among people taking diuretics to control their blood pressure, those with the lowest potassium intake had a 150% increased risk of stroke. A small number of participants who take diuretics and have lower blood potassium levels also have a heart rhythm disturbance called atrial fibrillation, increasing ten-fold their risk of stroke.
The best sources of potassium are leafy greens, squash, asparagus, broccoli, cantaloupe, oranges, potatoes and beans. Additional foods that provide a good source of potassium include bananas, milk, whole grains, meats, coffee, and tea.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a group of fat-soluble essential vitamin chemical substances that are biologically and structurally similar to alpha-tocopherol. Vitamin E’s precise biochemical role is not yet known.
Vitamin E is suggested to provide protection against cancers and heart disease because of its antioxidant activities. Because of its immune-enhancing effects, it may provide limited benefits for those with rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. Vitamin E may provide protection against toxins such as air pollutions, premenstrual syndrome, eye disorders such as cataracts, neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, ultraviolet radiation, and diabetes. There is no proof to show that vitamin E enhances male fertility, sexual prowess, exercise performance, or in the reversal of skin aging. It may provide relief for muscle cramping. Vitamin E helps the body process glucose. Some trials show that vitamin E might be helpful in treating and preventing diabetes.

Vitamin E has been used in those with the following health problems:

Anemia (if deficient)
Burns (in combination with vitamin C for prevention of sunburn only)
Epilepsy (for children)
Immune function (for elderly people)
Intermittent claudication
Rheumatoid arthritis
Tardive dyskinesia

Vitamin E was the subject I received information about that alerted me to the controversy about Antioxidants, discussed at the top of this page. A couple of studies showed that use of this vitamin while taking Cisplatin, a common chemotherapy (I had some with a couple of rounds of treatment, I think) used for lung cancer, reduced nerve damage significantly in patients over those that took Cisplatin without Vitamin E (85% suffered nerve damage) and those that took Cisplatin with Vitamin E (30.7% suffered nerve damage). Not only was the incidence of damage reduced, the severity of the damage was also reduced.

Multivitamin

People who do not intake enough of various minerals and vitamins in their diet should take multivitamin nutritional supplements. Special diets, such as a vegetarian diet, may require specific supplements. Those that have illnesses impacting diet or taking medicines that reduce the absorption of certain nutrients may need supplementation. Special multivitamin supplementation is available for pregnant women. MVM, or multiple vitamin-mineral supplements, have a wide variety of necessary and non-necessary nutrients. Through the convenience of a single pill, people can get a wide number of supplemental vitamins and nutrients. These supplements help to prevent deficiencies of minerals and vitamins in the body and help people to receive the health benefits believed to come from taking high levels of nutrients.

Vitamin B Complex

The vitamin B-complex includes all known imperative water-soluble vitamins excluding vitamin C. These vitamins include vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B12 (the cobalamins), biotin, and folic acid. All B-complex vitamins perform specific body functions and have unique structures. Biotin and vitamins B1, B2, and B3 all have roles in energy production. Vitamin B6 assists with amino acid metabolism, and folic acid and vitamin B12 make cell division possible. These vitamins also each perform numerous other jobs. However, the body never needs to use all B-complex vitamins at the same time to perform a job. Daily requirements of B-complex vitamins vary. 18 mg of vitamin B3 and 3 mcg of vitamin B12 are recommended for adult males. Equal amounts of each vitamin should not be taken, as are provided by numerous supplements. Megadoses of B-complex vitamins have not been supported by research to help increase energy, fight stress, or control food cravings unless a person suffers from deficiency. There has been no evidence to support that the other B vitamins should be taken to create balance when a certain B vitamin is used to treat a health condition. Multivitamins usually include B-complex vitamins. These supplements are recommended because they not only provide B-complex vitamins, but only essential vitamins and minerals that help prevent deficiencies and improve nutritional intake.

Folic Acid

As a woman, you need folic acid every day, whether you’re planning to get pregnant or not, for the healthy new cells your body makes daily. Think about your skin, hair, and nails. These—and other parts of your body—make new cells each day. You might think that you can get all the folic acid and other vitamins you need from the food you eat each day. But it is hard to eat a diet that has all the nutrients you need every day.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin with various biological functions and includes L-ascorbic acid, commonly called ascorbic acid, and L-dehydroascorbic acid, substances with antiscorbutic activity. Ascorbic acid is the form of vitamin C found primarily in our diets. The names ascorbate, vitamin C and ascorbic acid are used interchangeably. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant that helps provide LDL cholesterol with protection from oxidative damage. LDL leads to heart disease only after it has been damaged. Vitamin C might also protect from heart disease as it reduces the clumping of platelets and the stiffness of arteries. Vitamin C also helps strengthen body parts, such as blood vessels and muscles, by helping to make collagen. It also is a natural antihistamine, helps heal wounds, fights viruses, assists in liver bile formation, and detoxifies the body of substances such as alcohol. Nitric oxide activity is also improved by vitamin C. Nitric oxide helps to dilate blood vessels and may help prevent artery spasms and lower blood pressure that could potentially lead to heart attacks. Vitamin C has been shown to reverse the dysfunction of cells lining the blood vessels. By helping to normalize these cells, heart disease may be prevented. As people age, levels of vitamin C present in the eye begin to decrease. Supplementation may help lower the risk of developing cataracts by preventing this decrease.

The activity of the enzyme aldose reductase is reduced by vitamin C. This enzyme causes sorbitol to accumulate in the nerves, kidneys, and eyes of those suffering from diabetes. This accumulation is thought to cause the deterioration of those body parts. By reducing the enzyme’s activity, vitamin C helps provide protection to those with diabetes.

The retaining and accumulation of lead may be stopped by vitamin C. An early study showed that those with high levels of vitamin C in their blood have lower chances of having high levels of lead in their blood.

Furunculosis, or recurrent boils, may be caused by white blood cells with defects that can be corrected by vitamin C. One study showed that taking 1 gram of vitamin C each day, for a period of four to six weeks, normalized the defects in white blood cells.

Vitamin C has been used to help people with these health conditions:

Anemia (when deficient)
Athletic performance (when deficient)
Bronchitis
Bruising
Burns (in combination with vitamin E for prevention of sunburn)
Capillary fragility
Common cold
Gingivitis (when deficient)
Glaucoma
Heart attack
High cholesterol (offers protection for LDL cholesterol)
Infection
Infertility (male)
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (prevention)
Scurvy
Wound healing

I am not suggesting that you should take all these supplements. However, if you are ill, I believe you should discuss supplements with your doctor, to see if some would be beneficial for you to take in your particular situation. We are all different, and what may be right for me to take could be very different for you. You should never take any medication or supplements without discussing them with your doctor FIRST!

So, that's the story of the supplements I take, and why. The information about the vitamins came from this website: http://www.vitaguide.org/ and if you visit that site you'll find a lot of additional good information about supplements.

I determined years ago to make what changes I could in my lifestyle to help in my fight with cancer, and in most all areas I have done that. It takes a lot of determination to wage this battle, and make no mistake, it is a long, hard and constant battle against heavy odds. However, when you can make tangible contributions to the battle on your own it somehow gives it more meaning, it gives you sense of accomplishment (something that's sorely needed at times), and you can reap the benefits from it in a better recovery, as well as see them.

Well, I hope you have found some information here you can use to help YOU, because as the doctors have always told me, "You are in charge of your health. You need to keep yourself informed, you need to make all the decisions, and you need to make sure that something doesn't get by us, because that can easily happen." Good luck! --- Marcie

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