Do Antioxidants really help cancer cells?

[Guest guest]

I was trying to collect information on the Antioxidants, then i found a page

over the internet

http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/55896/

THIS PAGE MADE ME REALLY TOO CONFUSED

WHETHER TO USE THE ANTIOXIDANTS (to cure cancer)OR NOT ???

Please please let me know that

1 - If a person is going through the CHEMOTHERAPY then he should have the

ANTIOXIDANTS(with intention to cure his cancer) or to avoid it???

2 - If a person is totally using the some ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT THERAPY(like

Budwing protocol or Cesium Cholride protocol) then should he use the

Antioxidants??

3 - If a person cannot use the antioxidants during the chemotherapy then,

How long the after chemo treatment one can start the use of Antioxidants ???

If someone knows the Scientific reason behind it, then please also

explain....Why or Why not. Seeking reply.

Thanks in advance

Rahul Yadav.

[Guest guest]

Posted by: " Rahul yadav " rahulyadav4785@...

<<2 - If a person is totally using the some ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT THERAPY(like

Budwing protocol or Cesium Cholride protocol) then should he use the

Antioxidants??>>

With most alt. therapies, yes, I would take antioxidants. With the Budwig

protocol, I don't know.

<<1 - If a person is going through the CHEMOTHERAPY then he should have the

ANTIOXIDANTS( with intention to cure his cancer)>>

YES.

" The data [from hundreds of articles reviewed by Moss] overwhelmingly supports

using antioxidants before, during, and after [chemotherapy and radiation] "

(Moss, 2000a, p. 102; see also Austin, 2003

[www.annieappleseedproject.org/amcolforadin1.html]; Birdsall, 2003a, b;

Block, M.D., et al, 2007 [systematic LITERATURE REVIEW in Cancer Treatment

Review], 2008 [LITERATURE REVIEW; Block found that all studies (except for one,

whose results were statistically nonsignificant) found that antioxidants

increased the effectiveness of chemo]; Boik, 2001; Borek, 2004

[www.ict.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/3/4/277]; Cascinu et al., 1995; Chiang et al.,

1994; Chinery et al., 1997; Conklin, 2000, 2004

[www.ict.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/3/4/277]; D'Adamo, 1996, 2001; Dalzell, 2002;

Diamond et al., 1997, 2000; Enig, 2005; Falcone & Sonberg, 1996; Francescott,

2005; Gadzala, 2001; Gignac, 2000; , 2000; Hawkins, 2002; Hoffer, 1994,

Hoffer & ing, 1993a, b; Hofmann et al., 1990; Horner- cited in

Bonfield, 2003; Hospers et al., 1999; Jimenez, 200?; Klein, 1999, 2000;

Kurbacher et al., 1996; Leonetti et al., 2003; Locatelli et al., 1993; ,

2003, Moss, 1992, 1999, 2000a,b, 2002, 2003;

www.cancerdecisions.com/041803.html, www.cancerdecisions.com/070608.html; Pace

et al., 2003; Page, 1998; Ripoll et al., 1986; Prasad, 1984, 2003, 2004;

Prasad et al., 1994; 1999a, b; 2001; , 1999; Sherry , 2004;

Rountree, 2000; Scambia et al., 1992, 1994; Schachter, 1998, 2001a,b;

Schmitt-Graff & Scheulen, 1986; Seifter et al., 1984; Simone, 2000; Simone et

al., 2000; Simone et al. [literature review of 50 human studies], Smyth et al.,

1997; Sugiyama & Sadzuka, 1998; Jeanne Wallace cited in Asenjo, 2001; Weisman,

1998; Yance, 1999, 2003;

www.thorne.com/pdf/journal/4-5/antioxidants_cancer_part1.pdf (Lamson & Brignall,

1999’s literature review)

www.thorne.com/pdf/journal/5-2/antioxidanst_cancer_part2.pdf (Lamson & Brignall,

2000’s QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE based on literature review)

www.cancerdecisions.com/mossreports/25PDF/001/report.pdf (review article)

www.doctormurray.com/media/system/NEW_PDF/Natural%20Support%20During%20Chemother\

apy.pdf

www.jacn.org/cgi/content/full/20/suppl_5/450S

http://w3.newsmax.com/newsletters/blaylock/issues/Nov09BWR/blaylock_Nov09BWR_65.\

pdf (p. 10; Blalock, M.D.

www.annieappleseedproject.org/anincanthero.html

www.annieappleseedproject.org/anadjtherush.html

www.healthwell.com/healthnotes/Drug/Docetaxel.cfm

www.blockmd.com/AntioxidantStudy.pdf; www.blockmd.com/ASCO.pdf).

" Animal and human studies [show that] antioxidants [including vitamin C] protect

the healthy tissue of the patient while allowing the cancer tissue to become

more vulnerable to the damaging effects of chemotherapy and radiation " (Quillin,

2000, p. 2).

" Prasad et al. [1999] after reviewing 71 scientific papers, found no evidence

that antioxidants did interfere with the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy and,

on the contrary, suggest the hypothesis that it would increase the

efficacy....[oncologist] B. Simone et al. [2000] (...also examined 71

scientific papers) came to the same conclusion. " (Hoffer, 2002 [www.tldp.com;

METAREVIEW]).

“In general, I like antioxidants as part of cancer therapy. Their activity

can be decidedly pro-oxidant.†( Gammill, ScD, 9/30/05)

BUT it is still important to inform your oncologist of any supplements you are

using.

[Guest guest]

My oncologist would not allow me to take my antioxidants during chemo for

hodgkins. Only a multi like one a day from the drugstore. I had one chemo

session then quit. Started back on all my supplements right after that (year and

a half ago). I'm not cancer free but managing my disease with alternative

therapies. Val

[Guest guest]

Thanks for ur reply, Leonard

I ASKED TO YOU ---------- <<1 - If a person is going through the

CHEMOTHERAPY then he should have the

ANTIOXIDANTS( with intention to cure his cancer)>>

AND YOU REPLIED ------------- YES.

What i know that(it might be wrong) ,

Chemotherapy generates Free Radicals to destroy the rapidly growing

cell(both cancerous and non cancerous)

And Antioxidants works by neutralizing the Free Radicals

means both work in OPPOSITE manner.

So the Free radicals generated by Chemotherapy are not able to destroy the

cell(both cancerous and non cancerous) because they gets neutralised by the

Antioxidants.

So i CONCLUDED that Antioxidants reduce the performance of Chemotherapy ?

Now i would like to make a request that please tell me,

Is my Conclusion INCORRECT ??? Please explain..........

On Thu, Mar 4, 2010 at 8:37 AM, Leonard <leonardleonard1@...>wrote:

>

>

> Posted by: " Rahul yadav " rahulyadav4785@...<rahulyadav4785%40gmail.com>

>

> <<2 - If a person is totally using the some ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT

> THERAPY(like

> Budwing protocol or Cesium Cholride protocol) then should he use the

> Antioxidants??>>

>

> With most alt. therapies, yes, I would take antioxidants. With the Budwig

> protocol, I don't know.

>

> <<1 - If a person is going through the CHEMOTHERAPY then he should have the

> ANTIOXIDANTS( with intention to cure his cancer)>>

>

> YES.

>

> " The data [from hundreds of articles reviewed by Moss] overwhelmingly

> supports using antioxidants before, during, and after [chemotherapy and

> radiation] " (Moss, 2000a, p. 102; see also Austin, 2003 [

> www.annieappleseedproject.org/amcolforadin1.html]; Birdsall, 2003a, b;

> Block, M.D., et al, 2007 [systematic LITERATURE REVIEW in Cancer

> Treatment Review], 2008 [LITERATURE REVIEW; Block found that all studies

> (except for one, whose results were statistically nonsignificant) found that

> antioxidants increased the effectiveness of chemo]; Boik, 2001; Borek, 2004

> [www.ict.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/3/4/277]; Cascinu et al., 1995; Chiang et

> al., 1994; Chinery et al., 1997; Conklin, 2000, 2004 [

> www.ict.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/3/4/277]; D'Adamo, 1996, 2001; Dalzell,

> 2002; Diamond et al., 1997, 2000; Enig, 2005; Falcone & Sonberg, 1996;

> Francescott, 2005; Gadzala, 2001; Gignac, 2000; , 2000; Hawkins,

> 2002; Hoffer, 1994, Hoffer & ing, 1993a, b; Hofmann et al., 1990;

> Horner- cited in Bonfield, 2003; Hospers et al., 1999; Jimenez, 200?;

> Klein, 1999, 2000; Kurbacher et al., 1996; Leonetti et al., 2003; Locatelli

> et al., 1993; , 2003, Moss, 1992, 1999, 2000a,b, 2002, 2003;

> www.cancerdecisions.com/041803.html, www.cancerdecisions.com/070608.html;

> Pace et al., 2003; Page, 1998; Ripoll et al., 1986; Prasad, 1984,

> 2003, 2004; Prasad et al., 1994; 1999a, b; 2001; , 1999; Sherry

> , 2004; Rountree, 2000; Scambia et al., 1992, 1994; Schachter, 1998,

> 2001a,b; Schmitt-Graff & Scheulen, 1986; Seifter et al., 1984; Simone, 2000;

> Simone et al., 2000; Simone et al. [literature review of 50 human studies],

> Smyth et al., 1997; Sugiyama & Sadzuka, 1998; Jeanne Wallace cited in

> Asenjo, 2001; Weisman, 1998; Yance, 1999, 2003;

> www.thorne.com/pdf/journal/4-5/antioxidants_cancer_part1.pdf (Lamson &

> Brignall, 1999’s literature review)

> www.thorne.com/pdf/journal/5-2/antioxidanst_cancer_part2.pdf (Lamson &

> Brignall, 2000’s QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE based on literature review)

> www.cancerdecisions.com/mossreports/25PDF/001/report.pdf (review article)

>

>

www.doctormurray.com/media/system/NEW_PDF/Natural%20Support%20During%20Chemother\

apy.pdf

> www.jacn.org/cgi/content/full/20/suppl_5/450S

>

>

http://w3.newsmax.com/newsletters/blaylock/issues/Nov09BWR/blaylock_Nov09BWR_65.\

pdf(p. 10; Blalock, M.D.

> www.annieappleseedproject.org/anincanthero.html

> www.annieappleseedproject.org/anadjtherush.html

> www.healthwell.com/healthnotes/Drug/Docetaxel.cfm

> www.blockmd.com/AntioxidantStudy.pdf; www.blockmd.com/ASCO.pdf).

> " Animal and human studies [show that] antioxidants [including vitamin C]

> protect the healthy tissue of the patient while allowing the cancer tissue

> to become more vulnerable to the damaging effects of chemotherapy and

> radiation " (Quillin, 2000, p. 2).

> " Prasad et al. [1999] after reviewing 71 scientific papers, found no

> evidence that antioxidants did interfere with the therapeutic effect of

> chemotherapy and, on the contrary, suggest the hypothesis that it would

> increase the efficacy....[oncologist] B. Simone et al. [2000]

> (...also examined 71 scientific papers) came to the same conclusion. "

> (Hoffer, 2002 [www.tldp.com; METAREVIEW]).

> “In general, I like antioxidants as part of cancer therapy. Their activity

> can be decidedly pro-oxidant.” ( Gammill, ScD, 9/30/05)

> BUT it is still important to inform your oncologist of any supplements you

> are using.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Following is a paragraph taken from a piece for which the full article can

be found using the link at the bottom. The last line shows the intent of

the article but one must know which of the few instances that Antioxidants

do interfere with Chemotherapy. Note the use of " may " when discussing

Cisplatin. Joe C.

" A test for whether or not a nutrient is interfering with chemotherapy is

whether it decreases (a) myelosuppression and ( alopecia. If it does, then

there is reason to suppose that it is interfering with the

anti-proliferative effects of chemotherapy. His major concerns are that

certain substances called thiols, as well as selenium, may interfere with

the activity of cisplatin. This is a caution I had written about in

Antioxidants Against Cancer. In general, however, antioxidants may protect

against heart or kidney damage or hearing loss, but not with the

proliferative aspect of chemotherapy.

Conklin's conclusion is that " dietary supplementation with antioxidants may

provide a safe and effective means of enhancing the response to cancer

chemotherapy. " In particular, vitamin E " may prove to be an important

nutrient for enhancing antineoplastic activity. "

Conklin's article provides not just an excellent review of the data, but a

cogent reason why antioxidants are in fact beneficial when used with

conventional treatments. While we would all like a series of well-designed

randomized controlled trials on this topic, it may be a while before we have

that.

However, we can reassure patients that the overwhelming mass of data

accumulated so far supports the concurrent use of chemotherapy with dietary

antioxidants. "

http://www.cancerdecisions.com/denmark2001.html

Additionally here's another bit discussing an article that had been written

attacking the use of Antioxidants and here is the rebuttal for that:

" Overall, I conclude that D''s article:

Cites ambiguous and/or negative studies but simultaneously downplays (and

frequently fails to mention) positive ones.

Claims (correctly) that only large-scale, randomized trials provide a valid

basis for therapeutic recommendations, yet uses only laboratory data to back

up the claim that harm results from the use of antioxidants.

Exaggerates the degree to which the laboratory data diverge in regard to the

safety and efficacy of antioxidant therapy, calling such data " conflicting

and confusing. " In fact, the great preponderance of data suggests a harmless

or even a synergistic effect with most high-dose dietary antioxidants.

Is inconsistent in its recommendations, since antioxidants are found

naturally in common foods; yet Dr. D' does not extend her warning to

include antioxidant-rich foods, especially fruit and vegetables.

Ignores the wide-scale use by both medical and radiation oncologists of

synthetic antioxidants given by prescription in order to control the adverse

effects of chemotherapy and radiation.

Resorts to " red herring " arguments, citing negative studies in the realm of

cancer prevention, rather than quoting studies that focus on the specific

issue of concurrent treatment. "

[Guest guest]

Sounds pretty typical. I wonder how much time the oncologist actually put into

investigating this recommendation... Probably not much at all...

My wife surprised 2 different oncologists with the fast tumor shrinkage which

she got with chemo, that they weren't expecting in such a short time. She was

taking pretty large amounts of a supplement cocktail daily, before, during and

after chemo. There's plenty of data out there. Personally I wouldn't choose

chemo without a lot of supplements in high doses, regardless of what the

oncologist said I must do.

>

> My oncologist would not allow me to take my antioxidants during chemo for

hodgkins. Only a multi like one a day from the drugstore. I had one chemo

session then quit. Started back on all my supplements right after that (year and

a half ago). I'm not cancer free but managing my disease with alternative

therapies. Val

>

[Guest guest]

Rahul yadav <rahulyadav4785@...> wrote:

> Chemotherapy generates Free Radicals to destroy the rapidly growing

> cell(both cancerous and non cancerous)

> And Antioxidants works by neutralizing the Free Radicals

> means both work in OPPOSITE manner.

> So the Free radicals generated by Chemotherapy are not able to destroy the

> cell(both cancerous and non cancerous) because they gets neutralised by the

> Antioxidants.

>

> So i CONCLUDED that Antioxidants reduce the performance of Chemotherapy ?

That's roughly the thinking of conventional oncologists.

My understanding is that there's a flaw in this argument.

I vaguely recall that it's something along the lines of:

Antioxidants prevent oxidation in the body BUT they PROMOTE oxidation inside

cancer cells; thus they enhance the effectiveness of chemo and radiation.

I'm not sure if this is exactly accurate, and I know NOTHING else about the

matter.

However, I would emphasize:

Whatever the theoretical mechanisms, in real life, antioxidants consistently

substantially enhance the effectiveness of chemo.

Leonard