During radition

Hi has anyone taken vitimins during there radition? Have heard some do help with everything....

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    Vitamins

    I took them until I could not swallow them anymore, but check with you doctor before taking anything as some medications and Vitamins may interfere with your treatment.

    All the best as you run your race.

    Tim Hondo

  • thennies61
    thennies61 Member Posts: 285
    Hondo said:

    Vitamins

    I took them until I could not swallow them anymore, but check with you doctor before taking anything as some medications and Vitamins may interfere with your treatment.

    All the best as you run your race.

    Tim Hondo

    Just wanting to have any and

    Just wanting to have any and all tools I can...

  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103
    Checked

    I checked everything with my radiologist.  He said no to vitamins.  Interfere with what radiation is doing.

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    KTeacher said:

    Checked

    I checked everything with my radiologist.  He said no to vitamins.  Interfere with what radiation is doing.

    Vitamins

    For years I took a multi-vitamin but haven't taken them since 2012 when I had chemo/rads. I am assuming they told me to quit or they just got too hard to swallow. I never picked them back up. I do continue to drink an Ensure every morning. I would certainly ask and not assume. 

  • thennies61
    thennies61 Member Posts: 285
    hwt said:

    Vitamins

    For years I took a multi-vitamin but haven't taken them since 2012 when I had chemo/rads. I am assuming they told me to quit or they just got too hard to swallow. I never picked them back up. I do continue to drink an Ensure every morning. I would certainly ask and not assume. 

    I won't beable to start to

    I won't beable to start to drink or eat anything until I get the ok from the speach person from what my doctor said.They check to see if I swallow ok.

  • hrowe
    hrowe Member Posts: 57
    Abstract from PubMed.gov on antioxidants

    Radiation therapy is one of the major treatment modalities in the management of human cancer. While impressive progress like more accurate dosimetry and more precise methods of radiation targeting to tumor tissue has been made, the value of radiation therapy in tumor control may have reached a plateau. At present, two opposing hypotheses regarding the use of antioxidants during radiation therapy have been proposed. One hypothesis states that supplementation with high doses of multiple micronutrients including high dose dietary antioxidants (vitamins C and E, and carotenoids) may improve the efficacy of radiation therapy by increasing tumor response and decreasing some of its toxicity on normal cells. The other hypothesis suggests that antioxidants (dietary or endogenously made) should not be used during radiation therapy, because they would protect cancer cells against radiation damage. Each of these hypotheses is based on different conceptual frameworks that are derived from results obtained from specific experimental designs, and thus, each may be correct within its parameters. The question arises whether any of these concepts and experimental designs can be used during radiation therapy to improve the management of human cancer by this modality. This review has analyzed published data that are used in support of each hypothesis, and has revealed that the current controversies can be resolved, if the results obtained from one experimental design are not extrapolated to the other. This review has also discussed the scientific rationale for a micronutrient protocol that includes high doses of dietary antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E succinate and natural beta-carotene) which can be used adjunctively with radiation therapy.

    My rad onc was in the camp of no antioxident use.

  • thennies61
    thennies61 Member Posts: 285
    Also from what everyone says

    Also from what everyone says you keep sipping fluids.As of right now I won't beable to that so can I take more water into my peg tube until the speach person checks me and gives me the ok.As of right now dueing 6 cans of Jevity 1.5 per day

  • fishmanpa
    fishmanpa Member Posts: 1,227 Member
    It was a no for me

    Since rads oxidize the cancer cells, I was told to avoid anything that contained anti-oxidants. It got to a point that I couldn't swallow anyway so it was a mute point. We just threw away bottles full of fish oil and glucosamine-chondroitin because the expired. They were and are just too big and difficult to swallow. I drank the standard Ensure type drinks and used a whey protein supplement through treatment. I do a fruit smoothie every morning with whey and Metamucil to this day. 

    Positive thoughts and prayers

    "T"

     

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    No vitamins

    for me, per my Oncologist.....especially E & C, as they not only help good cells recover, they also help cancer cells. 

    If you can't sip water, then pour it down your tube!!  The more the better.  Getting up to pee 6 times a night is a pain, but dehydration is horrible (actually the time I got dehydrated was the worst I felt all through treatment).

    p

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    rads, vitamins

    thenneis61,

    I was recommended to not take supplements during treatments.  I now take a low dose multi-vitamins.

    Consult your doctor.

    Yes, you can receive all your hydration via your PEG.  Generally, swallowing is recommended for H&N patients.  It is amazing how something so simple (swallowing) can become a daunting task.  Do what you can do to make your journey back as good as possible.

    Consult your doctor.

    Good luck on your quest to slay the dragon, we have each been there and you just do the best you can.

    Matt

  • PJ47
    PJ47 Member Posts: 376
    I switched to liquid vitamins

    I think I recall my R/O saying not  to take fish oil.  I stupidly tried to swallow a fish oil capsule in the midst of radiation and it got stuck and I choked on it awhile and then it settled into my throat and took three days to melt and I smelled like fish. Liquid vitamins seem like the way to go.  Good luck to you during your radiation,

    PJ

  • PJ47
    PJ47 Member Posts: 376
    oops posted twice

    accidently