Starting chemo tomorrow with Capecitabine / Xelada. Oncologist advised not to take the following vitamins or supplements: C, E, Pobiotics, CoQ10.
Is there any scientific justification for this or just Oncologist's dated view of supplements?
Appreciate clarification.
I should first state that I’m abit of a suplement junkie, however the cold reality is that there are several recent studies showing -negative- results from suplements...
There is also a risk of interactions with chemo drugs - “Due to its antioxidant activity, CoQ10 may interfere with the actions of certain chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy. ” Kettering Sloan institute, I’ve read the same regarding vitamin C for the same reasons.
You won’t find studies on this however, as no one has the money to waste on such research when there are real drugs that can impact positively on outcomeS (including off label drugs).
It’s not some sort of conspiracy as some would make out - there are some promising off label drugs, but those are not those you’d find in a vitamin store - and are not without their own risks..
Mc-uk,
thank you for your reply. Do you have any hints on the promising off label drugs and availability? Any help is appreciated.
Thank you.
This is something id certainly discuss with your oncologist - the drugs you are on are extremely powerful and you don't want to impact their effectiveness - in either direction! (and a wide range of supplements, even some teas) certainly do.
There is research for example into Metaformin (a widely prescribed type 2 diabetes drug) to suplement chemotherapy but the science is still very mixed on that - it clearly reduces the occurrence of CRC with diabetics, but thats not remotely the same as helping those already with CRC - and its not its not without its own risks (especially for liver function compromised patients). there are some trials underway there, but the cell science isnt nearly as promising... Unless traditional chemo had failed with late stage id not even consider taking the risk until the science is clearer...and then with full oncologist support (they'd probably want to do additional blood monitoring to avoid potentially fatal lactic acidosis for example).
If we get to that stage i’ll advise or ping me off line for a research summary.
Exercise during chemo has good research behind it increasing the effectiveness of chemo by up-to 140% (at least with mice!) although how on earth a mouse runs around a wheel while on FOLFOX is beyond me..
Longer term there are some very advanced chemo drugs under development - but its a 5-10 year drug pipeline (it costs about $1B to take a new drug through trials to FDA or NICE approval, and most drugs don't pass the effectiveness or safety screening..).
(I dont work in Pharma, i work in engineering myself)
The oncologist is right. The chemotherapy is quite tolerable. You keep your hair but the cold drinks thing is not great.
It’s working out for many of us. Good luck
