Cannot take antioxidants during radiotherapy

[Mascouche]

My first run on Lupron a year ago had been debilitating making it very difficult for me to do my work as a software developer. I ended up going off Lupron following that first shot.

In January of this year, I went back on Lupron but I found ways to fight the fatigue and brain fog with a combination of medication (Concerta which is similar to Ritalin), actions (Wim Hoff breathing techniques, cold showers, exercise) and supplements (Gingko Biloba, Maca, Super-Energex which is basically Ginseng/Coffee in a pill). This has been working fairly well for me on most days I was able to perform my work almost to the level I use to before Lupron so that's been good.

I will be starting a treatment consisting of 38 radiotherapy sessions in about a week from now. As part of that treatment I must stop taking any antioxidant one week before the treatments begin until two weeks after the treatments have ended.

Since the supplements that I’ve listed above are all antioxidants, this means that I won’t be able to take them to help me fight fatigue and brain fog. Because I cannot afford to take time off work for the roughly two months the treatment will last, I was wondering if some of you might have suggestions on supplements that could provide benefits similar to those I was taking but without being antioxidants.

[TEBozo]

How was your blood pressure with the Concerta?

[Mascouche in reply to TEBozo]

I think it did go up a little but nothing alarming. However being on Lupron has made my blood pressure rise enough that I am now taking medication to lower it.

[Tall_Allen]

Exercise.

[Mascouche in reply to Tall_Allen]

I agree but I already exercise every day.

[London441 in reply to Mascouche]

How much exercise are you doing and what kind?

I ask this first instead of just saying, ‘do more’...

[Mascouche in reply to London441]

The breathing exercises take about 10 minutes. Then its 20 push-ups, 100 sit-ups and 10 minutes on a vibrating platform where I practice various movements. I alternate daily between doing reverse balance exercices or go on my inversion table for about 3 minutes. When my knees don't hurt too much I do about 10 minutes on the threadmill. Then I take a very cold shower for about 2 minutes. I also do between one and two 20 minute walks each day unless it rains.

[Hidden in reply to Mascouche]

you need to lift weights...pure and simple unless you do mega pushup/dip/pullups.

increase your cardio to min 30 min...

[Mascouche in reply to Hidden]

I did forgot to mention that I also lift dumbells. I used to do full weights workouts using gym machines before they got closed because of Covid. At home I can do some free weights exercise with dumbells but much less because I tend to injure my back when I use free weights rather than machines and pulleys.

[London441 in reply to Mascouche]

That all sounds very good. The question then is what gets your heart rate up and keeps it there? 70-80% of maximum is considered very beneficial, but the problem is the standard 220 minus your age formula for max rate. It’s simplistic.

At age 65, 70% of my max rate according to the formula is 109. 80% is 124. I like to maintain 140-150 when I’m working hard, and it would be higher than that but for the 18 months of Lupron now completed but still affecting me.

By the 220 minus my age standard (155) I’m pushing dangerously close to maximum. This is nonsense.

Still, my point is if I exercised at 70% of my so called maximum, or even 80% it would be too easy for me. Yet for others 70% is challenging. We find our level.

In general, regularly getting to that 80% of max range and staying there for 10-20-30 minutes or longer is critical to combat the brain fog, fatigue and everything else.

Many guys do not get there or rarely do. It’s uncomfortable and should be! But it’s more than worth it.

[Mascouche in reply to London441]

Thanks for the info. Cardio is usually boring to me but I'll work on it.

[London441 in reply to Mascouche]

You can get your cardio from anything you’re already doing. Just ramp up the intensity and take only short breaks that allow your heart rate to remain in the target zone.

[Mascouche in reply to London441]

I still have my heavy bag from my boxing days. Need to dust it off but doing 4 rounds of 3 minutes with a one minute break between each should provide me with some fun cardio provided I don't run out of steam.

[London441 in reply to Mascouche]

Boxing is great. Now also do the same thing with a simple dumbbell or calisthenics routine and you’re set.

[MateoBeach in reply to Mascouche]

Good! Now get an umbrella. 😆

[GeorgesCalvez]

I doubt that there is a definitive answer to whether you should take antioxidants during radiotherapy or not.

I was told to eat plenty of fruit and veg, avoiding certain veg like cabbage that cause gas, and meat at least twice a day. I said that I was intending on taking a small vitamin pill every day to supplement, and I was told that it was fine.

So there is plenty of antioxidants there

This paper is typical of the ones I found when I researched the subject, not much evidence either way, but don't on the grounds that we must be careful, aka avoid getting sued!

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/177...

[Turt713171]

My truck was to exercise daily. Hot flashes just lasted about 6 months. Stil on it but feeling ok

Good luck

[pjoshea13]

I take a ton of antioxidants on the basis that they become pro-oxidants at higher levels & increase ROS (reactive oxygen species).

I discussed this with my radiologist & he was OK with me continuing while on radiation.

Note that there has been much research on curcumin as a radiosensitizer:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?te...

-Patrick

[Mascouche in reply to pjoshea13]

Very interesting. I was also going to stop taking curcumin supplements during the radiotherapy because those too are antioxidants but from the articles that have surfaced here I am more confused than ever on the course of action to take in order to ensure that I get the most out of the radiotherapy. It so weird to have antioxidants reported as both helpful and detrimental to radiotherapy.

[pjoshea13 in reply to Mascouche]

The case for curcumin is fairly strong, to my mind, but it is important to take a product with high bioavailability and to take a high dose. Equally important is buy-in from the radiologist, IMO.

Longvida (CurcuBrain) has evidence of bioavailability:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/325...

swansonvitamins.com/now-foo...

-Patrick

[bobhicks]

Hi ,Is the radiotherapy to treat prostate cancer? Bob

[Mascouche in reply to bobhicks]

Yes it is. It will be my first treatment that is not Lupron plus Zitiga.

[MateoBeach]

Perfect opportunity to test low dose estradiol patch with your ADT. You may love it.

[Mascouche in reply to MateoBeach]

Tried to convince my oncologist of that a while back but he said that will never happen unless it becomes a SOC at the hospital.