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Posted 5/13/2020 4:51 PM (GMT -5)
Does anyone here know if taking antioxidant supplemental during the course of external beam therapy treatments actually diminishes the effect of the radiation itself to any significant degree? I have read conflicting reports this afternoon. The reason I ask, I've been taking an antioxidant (Mangosteen) daily for nearly 2 years for overall health benefits, but today the Dietitian at UT Southwestern told me to stop taking any antioxidant supplemental until my treatments end and for a month thereafter.
Posted 5/13/2020 5:09 PM (GMT -5)
anti-oxidants are always a good thing to take especially if one engages in intense cardio exercise...nor sure it's effect on radiation s/e
Posted 5/13/2020 5:35 PM (GMT -5)
My doc had me stop antioxidants during my radiation. I can't recall the specifics anymore, but since the radiation is supposed to be killing cancer cells, it didn't make sense to also be repairing them with antioxidants. I'm sure someone here can weigh in with more of the science behind that.
Posted 5/13/2020 5:54 PM (GMT -5)
Good logic.......no one told me to stop any antioxidant supplement until today.
Posted 5/13/2020 7:06 PM (GMT -5)
I took antioxidants all through treatment.
Posted 5/13/2020 7:53 PM (GMT -5)
Wayne - there is a lot of info on this subject from a quick search and no conclusion. An excerpt is below that defines the issue:

Antioxidant supplementation during conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy is a controversial subject. Some studies suggest taking antioxidants supplements during treatment may be beneficial; however, there are just as many studies that tell us this may be harmful. The scientific evidence on this topic is not strongly for or against taking antioxidant supplements during cancer treatment.

It is possible that taking antioxidant supplements during treatment can protect normal tissues from the damaging side effects of treatments, and may improve tumor response and patient survival (1-3). On the other hand, some studies indicate that taking antioxidant supplements may interfere with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, by reducing their effectiveness. It is possible that antioxidants may protect tumor cells, in addition to healthy cells, from the oxidative damage intentionally caused by conventional treatments. This, in turn, may reduce the effectiveness of the treatments (4-7).

We need more research to definitively settle the question of whether taking antioxidants during cancer treatment is harmful or helpful. It is very likely that antioxidants during cancer treatment may be beneficial for some people, yet harmful for others(8,9). No two people, or cancers, are the same.

There is no evidence to support that antioxidant-rich, whole foods or drinks should be avoided during cancer therapy. It is believed that the level of any one particular antioxidant in a whole food is unlikely to interfere with treatment. The same cannot be said about high-dose antioxidant supplements.

Please inform all members of your oncology team if you do decide to take any vitamin, mineral, and/or herbal supplements during cancer treatment,. Your doctor, dietitian, and pharmacist can help you evaluate the quality of the advice, articles, or information from books, from the Internet, or from other practitioners. The most important thing is to engage your health care team to help you make the best choice for you.
Posted 5/14/2020 5:17 AM (GMT -5)
I elected to have SBRT as my monotherapy treatment last year. During my pre-treatment counseling session I was told to stop taking any supplemental antioxidants. I did stop and have decided not to resume them for one year...my personal decision not based on any known science. I do take my other supplements in the mean time. I maintained the low bulk/low residue diet for one month after treatment. Since them I have resumed my normal diet which does include foods with antioxidants. I have done research on the issue and have read that the amount of antioxidants in foods does not affect the radiation treatment but the amounts in supplements may potentially do so.

I decided to limit the antioxidants and increase my exercise frequency in my "unscientific" attempt to give my treatments every opportunity for success. My two post-treatment PSA's have been good.
Posted 5/14/2020 6:07 AM (GMT -5)
I stopped my C and D regimen during radiation therapy and waited about three months to start again, in accordance with my radiation oncologist’s direction. He said the antioxidants help all cells including the PCa cells. I figured a six month antioxidant vacation would not be in any way harmful.
Posted 5/14/2020 6:41 AM (GMT -5)
Radiation treatment acts by increasing the level of oxidants in the irradiated area. Cancer cells are physiologically challenged due to the mutations that make them cancer cells so they are less able to defend themselves against the rise in oxidants and are more likely to die as a result of the onslaught. Taking antioxidant supplements thus defeats the very purpose of the radiation therapy and helps protect the cancer cells from the rise in oxidants caused by said radiation.

You should make your own decisions on this and any other treatment options though. smile
Posted 5/14/2020 2:38 PM (GMT -5)
I may be mis understanding your post...Trailguy...to my knowledge...antioxidants kill free radicles released by cardio exercise...I admit to zero knowledge as they relate to radiation...I do know that free radicles (no 60's jokes) attack the dna in cells and have been linked to cancer,,, specifically PCA...ex.. Distant runners...Bill Rodgers of boston Marathon fame...logoslidat of 4 back to back Boston marathon in the 70's one of which was with and right behind Bill Rodgers...well not right behind...but behind the behinds,,,er behinds...ex 74 75 76(run for the hoses google) and 77...loved running the gauntlet at Welsley...finest kine of the richest er never mine anyhoo
Oh also the guy that used to run the NYC marathon.back in the late 70's early 80"s..forget his name...died of a brain tumor some related to free radicle damage
Posted 5/14/2020 4:47 PM (GMT -5)
For a decent definition of free radicals try https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc3249911/. While some free radicals are indeed the product of metabolism, there are a lot of other ways to get some in you.

Stuff like tobacco smoke byproducts, lead, arsenic, chromium are also free radicals in that they will cheerfully combine chemically with stuff like DNA and cause it to mutate. smile

No, distance running does not cause cancer, sorry.
Posted 5/14/2020 10:09 PM (GMT -5)
Good points have been made about RT oxidizing cancer cells. Hence it might be smart to not load up on pills that might end up protecting cancer cells from oxidation, even if it’s also protecting your normal cells as well. There is conflicting info, so just listen to your doctor.

However, there is one possible exception. Vitamin C, especially in certain amounts, can act either as an antioxidant, or inside cancer cells or the cells of pathogens like bacteria or cells infected with a virus, can act as a pro-oxidant. But, I’m not sure how you could know you were taking the right amount to work against the cancer cells rather than protecting them from oxidation. So I think I’d just ask my RT guys and do what they say.
Posted 5/15/2020 6:16 AM (GMT -5)
? *shrug*
Posted 5/15/2020 9:20 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you trailguy...'Happy Trails to You'...me...Im off to the south shore for a 5'-7' tasman swell...mayor is doing a 2week test and opened most of the beach parks hence solving the parking problem...life is good...should get there by 615am HST stay safe logo...stay safe...
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