Does vitamin C interfere with chemotherapy?

Vitamin C can affect the way this medication acts in your body. Avoid vitamin C if you're on radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Vitamin C can interfere with these treatments and decrease their effects.
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Can vitamin C be given to cancer patients?

In a study of healthy volunteers and cancer patients, vitamin C was shown to be safe at doses up to 1.5 g/kg in patients who do not have kidney stones, other kidney diseases, or G6PD deficiency.
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How does vitamin C affect chemotherapy?

Many cancer patients on intensive chemotherapy lack vitamin C. Vitamin C stimulates the production and activation of immune cells, so perhaps supplementation could be used to improve the immunity in those patients. This review assesses the effectiveness and safety of vitamin C administration in cancer.
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Is it OK to take vitamins during chemotherapy?

The use of dietary supplements is common including after a cancer diagnosis. However, taking dietary supplements before and during chemotherapy may reduce the ability of chemotherapy to kill cancer cells.
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What should chemo patients avoid?

Stay away from strong smelling foods to avoid aggravating any disorders of taste. Avoid fatty fried, spicy and overly sweet foods, as they may induce nausea. Avoid refined sugars (including raw, brown and palm sugar) as well as refined carbohydrates as most tumours prefer glucose as a source of energy.
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Does IV Vitamin C Therapy Interfere with Chemotherapy? | High Dose Vitamin C and Cancer



Do and don'ts during chemotherapy?

Take care not to get infections for up to one year or more after your chemotherapy. Practice safe eating and drinking during cancer treatment. DO NOT eat or drink anything that may be undercooked or spoiled. Make sure your water is safe.
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Does drinking water help flush out chemo?

Chemotherapy can be dehydrating. Drinking plenty of water before and after treatment helps your body process chemotherapy drugs and flush the excess out of your system.
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What makes chemo less effective?

There are several possible reasons for chemotherapy resistance: Some of the cells that are not killed by the chemotherapy mutate (change) and become resistant to the drug. Once they multiply, there may be more resistant cells than cells that are sensitive to the chemotherapy. Gene amplification.
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How can I make my chemo work better?

10 chemotherapy tips from cancer patients who've been there
  1. Get some rest. ...
  2. Stay hydrated. ...
  3. Eat when you can. ...
  4. Create a sense of normalcy in your routine. ...
  5. Look to your support and care teams to have your back through treatment. ...
  6. Keep things around that bring you comfort. ...
  7. Stay ahead of your nausea. ...
  8. Stay positive.
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How can I protect my liver from chemo?

If you are at risk of liver damage following cancer treatment, you can help lower the risk by keeping your liver healthy.
  1. Get immunized against hepatitis A and B.
  2. Avoid alcohol or limit the amount you drink.
  3. Drink plenty of water.
  4. Eat a well-balanced diet and less fatty, salty, smoked and cured foods.
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Is 500 mg of vitamin C too much?

"The safe upper limit for vitamin C is 2,000 milligrams a day, and there is a great track record with strong evidence that taking 500 milligrams daily is safe," he says. Food is the best way to get all your nutrients.
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Can high doses of vitamin C be harmful?

Although too much dietary vitamin C is unlikely to be harmful, large doses of vitamin C supplements might cause: Diarrhea. Nausea. Vomiting.
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Does vitamin C affect immunotherapy?

The effect of vitamin C on immune cells activity and cytokines production. The role of vitamin C as a modulator of immune response is well documented. It has been shown that vitamin C can modulate multiple immune cells functions and therefore might exert beneficial effects in the context of cellular immunotherapy.
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What is the best vitamin for cancer patients?

Vitamin D is one of the most studied supplements for cancer prevention and treatment right now. Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E , and beta-carotene contain antioxidants once thought to help prevent cancer.
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What cancer Does vitamin C prevent?

For cancers of the esophagus, larynx, oral cavity, and pancreas, evidence for a protective effect of vitamin C or some component in fruit is strong and consistent. For cancers of the stomach, rectum, breast, and cervix there is also strong evidence.
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How do you know if cancer cells are dying?

When cancer cells die, they can cause inflammation. Small blood vessels become leaky, leading to redness and swelling. Cells of the immune system migrate to the area and can release chemicals and proteins that cause damage to the structures/cells nearby., and chronic inflammation supports the growth of cancer.
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What vitamins should I take while on chemo?

Selenium, folic acid and probiotics have been found to be safe for use during chemotherapy treatment.
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What makes chemo patients feel better?

Nausea. Ginger chews, ginger ale and saltines helped Kakutani. Eat small amounts of food throughout the day, said Joanne Taylor, who was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. She also found that chicken, salmon, broccoli and beet juice helped her feel better during chemo.
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What are the signs that chemo is working?

Complete response - all of the cancer or tumor disappears; there is no evidence of disease. A tumor marker (if applicable) may fall within the normal range. Partial response - the cancer has shrunk by a percentage but disease remains. A tumor marker (if applicable) may have fallen but evidence of disease remains.
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What are the signs that chemo is not working?

Here are some signs that chemotherapy may not be working as well as expected: tumors aren't shrinking. new tumors keep forming. cancer is spreading to new areas.
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Why do oncologists push chemo?

An oncologist may recommend chemotherapy before and/or after another treatment. For example, in a patient with breast cancer, chemotherapy may be used before surgery, to try to shrink the tumor. The same patient may benefit from chemotherapy after surgery to try to destroy remaining cancer cells.
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How can I increase my white blood cells during chemo?

They can recommend high-protein foods to boost your intake. They may recommend a multi-vitamin that contains B12 and folate, as these vitamins are needed to produce WBCs. Some patients turn to herbal supplements to boost immunity, though there is no evidence to support their use.
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Why can't chemo patients have ice?

You are being treated for cancer with a chemotherapy medication called Oxaliplatin. This medication has an unusual side effect called “cold dysesthesia”. This means that different parts of your body may be very sensitive to cold – cold drinks, cold food, and cool or cold outdoor temperatures.
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Is walking good for chemo patients?

Exercising during chemotherapy can help ease side effects, such as fatigue and nausea, and can help boost your immune system. Chemotherapy side effects can sometimes make exercising tough, but try to be as active as you're able to be. Again, walking is a good way to start.
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How many days after chemo do you feel better?

Most people say it takes 6 to 12 months after they finish chemotherapy before they truly feel like themselves again.
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