Nutritional Supplements
Many cancer patients who have chosen to undergo conventional treatments want to explore what is being said about the efficacy of taking supplements to increase their chances of surviving their cancer. More and more, the safety and efficacy of supplements are being studied, with the aim of being accepted into mainstream medicine. But the research also shows that in some people who have or had cancer, some supplements could help cancer cells grow or make treatments for the disease less effective. Just because it is “natural” doesn’t mean it is safe for any individual to take, much less a person undergoing cancer treatment. All these products are biologically active.
If you are interested in considering taking nutritional supplements, here again, do the research. And be careful to look at only what sources are saying as of the last 3-4 years, because much of what is written even in so called “authority” websites are older research that is currently out of date. Look for evidence-based studies on dietary supplements, rather than the advertisements and stories of one or more individuals’ personal experiences. Don’t be misled by all the accounts of how well this or that supplement works.
Here is why: The use of nutritional supplements that may be said to reduce cancer poses a host of problems in terms of assuring yourself of their efficacy and safety. Were the natural substances grown in a pollutant-free environment? How, if supplements are a mixture of herbs that are unstandardized and unregulated, can you decide which ones to use? How can the natural compound or therapy be studied, when there is no standard in the way it was developed? How can anyone predict the safety and efficacy of a natural therapy, based only on anecdotal hearsay? And, finally some supplements have been shown to be harmful, when taken by themselves or with other substances, if used in large doses, and dosages information is not well described by the producers of many supplements.
On the other hand, some supplements have been shown to be effective and may aid your body to better cope with the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, when taken in a prescribed dosage regimen while in treatment. So, ask yourself if this supplement can help you to prevent side effects of treatment or bolster your immune system or strengthen your ability to tolerate some of the more severe treatment side effects. If you believe this is true, then research the best brands of the supplement in terms of quality, safety, and appropriate dosage information.
FINAL WORD: If you decide to take nutritional supplements, be absolutely sure to tell your oncologist what supplements you are taking. Some studies show, for instance that high doses of vitamins (example, high dose Vitamin E) may affect how chemotherapy and radiation work. Some herbs may cause certain anticancer drugs to be less effective (example: St. John’s Wort or Ginseng).