Question about Vitamin C

Myra Lynn · 05-16-2010, 08:13 AM

Does anyone know what the prevailing wisdom says about Vitamin C through food or supplements once you're finished with chemo & radiation? I know about the Sloan Kettering study, but don't know if I can resume normal eating. I would like to eat oranges again without guilt! I have also stopped taking any Vit. C supplements.
I am on Herceptin until Sept. and Arimidex for the next 5 years.

ElaineM · 05-16-2010, 11:53 AM

Hi,
I don't know about the study, but I would like to share something for thought. So many foods (especially fruits and vegetables)have vitamin C that it would be very difficult to eliminate vitamin C from a diet completely. I would say go ahead and enjoy an orange now and then.
Take good care of yourself.

Karen Wheel · 05-17-2010, 05:30 AM

I know nothing about this study --- I'm not sure why anyone would want to cut out Vitamin C. All the diet and nutrition books (and most the website information I have read) also the Naturopath that I consulted --- all say lots of Vit C is very important for us fighting cancer.

Cancer Battle Plan Sourcebook talks of 5,000-10,000 mg per day ---
Dr. Gerson's Diet Plan - they have 13 fresh juices done daily (one is straight orange) and they add another 1.5 gm (1,500 mg) of Vit C on top.
Beating Diet with Nutrition talks about Vit C...

So, after consulting with my Naturopath --- I settled into taking 5,000 a day (powdered in my fresh juice)--- plus I know I get more in natural format in the fresh fruits and vegetables I eat and juice.

I would like to read what they are talking about in this study - it could be the type of Vit C that is ingested.

From the book " The Gerson Therapy - The Amazing Nutritional Program for Cancer and other Illnesses by Charlotte Gerson: "Inasmuch as the Gerson diet contains large amounts of natural vit C a routine daily supplementation with this vitamin should not be necessary, however, Vit C is the prime nutrient when it comes to overall support of the immune system. Vit C is used supplementally as a tool for fighting infection, and as part of a pain-relieving triad of natural and nontoxic medications. It also offsets free radical pathology created by the administration of chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
The Gerson Therapy's dose of vitamin C cones in orally administered crystalline (powdered) form such as Bronson's Vitamin C in an amount of 1 to 1.5 grams per day. NEVER use calcium or sodium ascorbate, since these two particular products will bring about serious detrimental effects. High doses of intravenous vitamin C are associated with long-term survival in patients with a variety of cancers, even after the tumors have metastasized." (the book then footnotes to Null, G. The Complete Encyclopedia of Natural Healing, New York Kensington Books, 1998, p.102.

I have also read a LOT that Vitamin C is a miracle worker - that high doses are not dangerous and can be linked to recovery from many immune system disease ---

I vote to use it - and not sparingly!

Karen

StephN · 05-17-2010, 12:41 PM

Just realize that excess vitamin C is expelled from the body on a a daily basis. My understanding is that our bodies can metabolize only a certain amount of any given vitamin or supplement. The rest just gets flushed.

I have known a couple of women with BC who tried megadoses (even drips) of vitamin C. It did not help them in the end.

Does anyone know just HOW vitamin C can work against OUR kind of cancer??

TanyaRD · 05-18-2010, 06:34 AM

The role of vitamin C in cancer treatment and prevention remains unclear. Some studies have demonstrated that high doses of supplemental vitamin C can interfere with the effectiveness of certain chemotherapy agents (From MSK: Vitamin C can reduce the effectiveness of many antineoplastic agents, include vincristine, doxorubicin, methotrexate, cisplatin, and imatinib.) The amount of vitamin C consumed in the average diet is not enough to worry about. I do not advise my patients to avoid fruits and vegetables during chemo/xrt treatment but discourage use of vitamin C supplements as a precaution. I do caution against some of the special formulated juices (including excessive homemade juicing) designed for a high dose of antioxidants. Even when chemotherapy is complete I do not put vitamin C supplementation at the top of my list due to limited and conflicting research on the benefits. I would rather my patients obtain the vitamin c and other nutrients in their diet. We have a lot of definitive research demonstrating the benefits of high fruit/vegetable intake in breast cancer.

Westcoastgirl · 05-18-2010, 10:16 AM

My readings have encouraged me to take only Fish Oil, Calcium and Vit D supplements. I have even stopped taking a multi vit/min. There is too much conflicting data that I have decided to make sure I have an extremely healthy diet with lots of leafy greens, etc. It is not hard to take in all the required vitamins in a good, well rounded wholesome diet. We estrogen + girls need to be extra careful but as long as we ingest the suspect elements in food as opposed to supplements we are pretty safe. Good to read the labels though. Carolyn

Rich66 · 05-19-2010, 11:01 AM

Have a thread of Vit-C bits here:
http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=41852