Avoiding antioxidants with radiation?

I read recently that men receiving radiation therapy should avoid any
antioxidant supplements. It seems that one on the ways radiation works
is by the creation of free radicals. Since the antioxidants act as free
radical scavengers, they may impede the radiation's ability to do its
job.

Has anyone else heard this or can anyone elaborate on it?

I wonder if that means avoiding blueberries and pomegranite juice also?

John

"JohnHace" <johnh@amcoex.com> wrote in message
news:1161018264.762121.187860@i42g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>I read recently that men receiving radiation therapy should avoid any
> antioxidant supplements. It seems that one on the ways radiation works
> is by the creation of free radicals. Since the antioxidants act as free
> radical scavengers, they may impede the radiation's ability to do its
> job.
>
> Has anyone else heard this or can anyone elaborate on it?
>
> I wonder if that means avoiding blueberries and pomegranite juice also?
>
> John
>

See http://www.cancer.prostate-help.org/caantio.htm.

"Although theoretically plausible, no reported human clinical trials have
yet shown this potential adverse effect. To the contrary, there are examples
of antioxidants preventing the toxicities of radiation[12] or
chemotherapy[13] while not affecting their antitumor effects. Since
supplement use is prevalent among cancer patients and there is potential for
negative interactions between supplements and anticancer therapy, clinical
trials investigating these potential interactions should be conducted. Until
clinical data become available, recommendations should not be made one way
or another, and caution should be exercised in the use ofany high-dose
chemical that has the potential to interact with chemotherapy or radiation
therapy."

The web page also quote both Dr. Strum and Dr. Meyers as saying the issue is
unclear.

Alex

I was expressedly told to avoid anti-oxidents during radiation treatment by
both Radiation Oncologists who are Professors at Baylor College of Medicine
and absolutely no supplements. When I began chemo again I was told no
anti-oxidents by my Medical Oncologist and he has spent the last 26 years in
Prostate Cancer research plus being a Professor at the same medical school.

This is contrary to some books, but I figure that academia who research and
teach probably have a leg-up on those who practice for $s.

The word was ALL anti-oxidents.

Gourd Dancer


"JohnHace" <johnh@amcoex.com> wrote in message
news:1161018264.762121.187860@i42g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>I read recently that men receiving radiation therapy should avoid any
> antioxidant supplements. It seems that one on the ways radiation works
> is by the creation of free radicals. Since the antioxidants act as free
> radical scavengers, they may impede the radiation's ability to do its
> job.
>
> Has anyone else heard this or can anyone elaborate on it?
>
> I wonder if that means avoiding blueberries and pomegranite juice also?
>
> John
>

Ditto for Ron when he had his HDR radiation procedures and also the 25
EBRT ones in 2003.......NO anti-oxidants at all. Docor L. said they
interfere with the treatment. I remember they even specified certain
ones that were definitely to be stopped from 2 weeks before treatment
(Vitamin E and Beta-carotene come to mind).

Cheers.....Heather
"MAS" <!!!msheets!!!@!!!sbcglobal!!!.net> wrote in message
news:sqTYg.407$T_1.42@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com.. .
>I was expressedly told to avoid anti-oxidents during radiation
>treatment by both Radiation Oncologists who are Professors at Baylor
>College of Medicine and absolutely no supplements. When I began chemo
>again I was told no anti-oxidents by my Medical Oncologist and he has
>spent the last 26 years in Prostate Cancer research plus being a
>Professor at the same medical school.
>
> This is contrary to some books, but I figure that academia who
> research and teach probably have a leg-up on those who practice for
> $s.
>
> The word was ALL anti-oxidents.
>
> Gourd Dancer
>
>
> "JohnHace" <johnh@amcoex.com> wrote in message
> news:1161018264.762121.187860@i42g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>>I read recently that men receiving radiation therapy should avoid any
>> antioxidant supplements. It seems that one on the ways radiation
>> works
>> is by the creation of free radicals. Since the antioxidants act as
>> free
>> radical scavengers, they may impede the radiation's ability to do its
>> job.
>>
>> Has anyone else heard this or can anyone elaborate on it?
>>
>> I wonder if that means avoiding blueberries and pomegranite juice
>> also?
>>
>> John
>>
>
>

JohnHace wrote:
> I read recently that men receiving radiation therapy should avoid any
> antioxidant supplements. It seems that one on the ways radiation works
> is by the creation of free radicals. Since the antioxidants act as free
> radical scavengers, they may impede the radiation's ability to do its
> job.
>
> Has anyone else heard this or can anyone elaborate on it?
>
> I wonder if that means avoiding blueberries and pomegranite juice also?

and dark-colored beans and any colorful fruits and vegetables and their
juices, *IF* that's true.

I.P.

"JohnHace" <johnh@amcoex.com> wrote in message
news:1161018264.762121.187860@i42g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>I read recently that men receiving radiation therapy should avoid any
> antioxidant supplements. It seems that one on the ways radiation works
> is by the creation of free radicals. Since the antioxidants act as free
> radical scavengers, they may impede the radiation's ability to do its
> job.

I have heard that, but I was not told to do that when I was undergoing EBRT.

--
PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75
EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32
Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05,
2/06, 6/06
PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145
Casodex added daily 07/06
Non Illegitimi Carborundum