Not all vitamins are out with cancer, but you can't take them willy-nilly There is evidence that taking free-radical-scavenging anti-oxidants (Vitamin E, especially) should not be done when undergoing radiation as the production of free radicals and the damage they cause to the cancer cell, (which it cannot easily repair compared to a healthy cell) is part of your treatment and these anti-oxidants can reduce the impact.

However there are other studies which show improved survival in patients who take anti-oxidants during treatment. Hmmmm...

And the free-radical damage to those healthy cells may also lead to other malignancies down the road (e.g. doubling of risk of bladder cancer in parients undergoing brachytherapy for prostate cancer). Gues there's no free lunch!

There are some vitamins that seem to be related to increased cancer risk, such as beta-carotene (this was found in a NCI trial looking at lung cancer). However vitamin D has been related to a lowered risk of cancer.

It is probably a good idea to run all your supplements (vitamins, neutraceuticals, etc.) by your doctor before starting treatment.

Gail Mackiernan