Does anyone know whether it is a good or bad idea to take vitamin supplements during radiotherapy. I have read conflicting advice.
4 down, 15 to go!
Ann x
Hi Ann,
I took supplements all through my Chemo and Rads. My Oncologist advised me to leave off the Folic Acid as it can mask a Viamin B12 deficiency. I suffered the usual side effects from the Chemo but they did not last too long. I never felt tired on the Rads either. Now I am having Herceptin and am not feeling tired on that. I firmly believe that the supplements have helped my body cope.
You should ask to see the doctor at your next Rads, there is always one available, and ask what they think.
Take care,
E
I can only think the most sensible thing would be to eat good healthy fare, all in moderation, hard when srtesses and you may want comfort food or none at all!! Healthy balance in a sensible worldx
I took supplements throughout rads, including Co-enzyme Q10 and never felt tired at all. I drove myself there and back for 5 weeks and worked part time. I’m no “spring chicken” as I was 64 last year when having treatment and I’m sure the supplements helped a lot.
Interesting. Which supplements are you taking?
They were happy with me continuing to take glucosamine & chondroitin and a mulit-vit during rads, but I stayed away from anti-oxidants as there seems to be more uncertainty over them. Different oncology and rads teams seem to take different approaches.
Eliza xx
I followed advice during chemo and didn’t take any supplements. but once that had finished I started to take those recommended by the Penny Brohn Centre in Bristol. I had surgery after chemo and then rads. Didn’t think to ask whether it was advisable or not to take supplements during rads, so I continued. Skin was sore but didn’t break but probably due to having just 15 rads and told it was a low dose.
I don’t buy the supplements from Penny Brohn Centre I use a UK online retailer of supplements.
Clare
I take various, but it was the anti-oxidants in particular that I was unsure about. As Eliza says, there seem to be differing views. Some say they actually help and others say they are detrimental. I have been given no advice whatsoever and carried on taking the ones I normally take for my first week. Then it occurred to me that if I am taking things that help my skin, etc, do they also help the cancer cells?
It would be so nice to have all the experts giving us the same advice, or any advice at all, rather than having to search the web to find out for ourselves!
Ann x
In addition, everyone stresses the importance of a healthy diet, including fresh fruit and vegetables, which contain anti-oxidants. Are we supposed to avoid these, then?
Here is an example of the foods containing anti-oxidants.
healthcastle.com/antioxidant.shtml
What a minefield!
Ann x
I asked the radiographer today but she didn’t know and said she would try and get an answer from my oncologist for tomorrow.
Has anyone had any advice from theirs?
Ann
Apparently the oncologist said maybe it would be best to stop them. I wish someone really knew. There’s me trying to do the best for my body by eating well and taking supplements to support it in difficult times, and they don’t know if this is the right thing to do or not!
Ann x
Dear Ann, I took all my supplements through my rads, no-one seemed to know whether or not it was a good idea. Personally I think we need to take as many nutrients as possible and our bodies are fighting cancer and the stress of all the treatments.
Best wishes
Leadie
The only thing I am taking is aloe vera juice (with added glucosamine), and Yakult. Otherwise, just trying to eat more healthily - when I am not craving wine and chocolate, that is!!
Sounds like there is a lot of conflicting advice out there, so I think I’ll try and keep things moving with ‘real’ food as much as possible!! (although I have a litre and a half of aloe vera juice to get through first!!!)
Hello all, I agree with the “girl” of 64 who takes Co-enzyme Q10,the ones from Holland & Barrett are very good,a bit dearer than the supermarket ones but 3 times the potency. These have done me a lot more good than all the multi-vits etc,even the sweats & flushes have abated but that could be because the Femara has now been in my system for 6 months. I dont truly think that surgeons & oncs know enough about supplements to commit themselves,mine wont say they help,just says they won`t harm.
Cheerio love Mags x
Hi, i have read through a book called Lifestyle and Cancer, written by someone at the hopsital i attend, that taking any supplement is detrimental because anything put in supplement form is not good - i agree and have felt this since my diagnosis in May, that no-one knows, which is so unhelpful! You want to do your best, but know one knows what that is. I was taking a pure Aloe Vera based drink during my chemo but stopped because i got bad hearburn - now take a high potency anti-oxidant drink.
Karen x
I was told to take extra calcium throughout Rads, as radiotherapy causes the bones under the treatment area to be more prone to Oestoperosis. I also take flax seed
rhian
Hi biggles!
I don’t understand what you mean by “anything put in supplement form is not good.” Why isn’t it? Who says it isn’t? I take a number of supplements because I know they are doing something for me, and no matter how well balanced a diet, it’s not possible to get enough of some vitamins and minerals just from what you eat.