More on glutathione and Cancer

[Guest guest]

I just read abstracts from a few scientific papers where glutathione

was injected into cancer patients receiving cisplatin or oxaliplatin

to test whether glutathione could reduce neuropathy.

The results were significant -- very few patients receiving the

glutathione injections developed severe neuropathy, while several not

receiving it DID develop severe neuropathy.

Now here is the interesting part -- the studies concluded that the

injections of glutathione DID NOT INTERFERE with the chemotherapy,

and in fact, may have increased its effectiveness.

What does this mean? It COULD mean that raising glutathione levels

in the body of cancer patients DOES NOT raise the glutathione levels

of the cancer cells themselves. Glutathione is one of the primary

mechanisms by which cancer cells (and all cells) counteract oxidative

stress (as induced by chemotherapy).

So the injections of glutathione (large large doses too, not

destroyed by the intestinal tract), prevented oxidative stress in

normal tissues, especially the nerve tissues, saving the nerves from

severe damage. However, the cancer cells WERE NOT similarly spared --

the chemotherapy was just as effective, if not more effective, when

gluathione was injected.

Now here is the sad part. I had actually read these studies before

receiving chemotherapy, and I PLEADED with my oncologist to give me

glutathione injections. He refused. Refused. Refused. And here I

sit with oxaliplatin induced permanent neuropathy.