Antioxidants

Some Antioxidants Vitamins like vitamin C slow and hinder the chemo from working

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=93

but other Antioxidants Vitamin like vitamin D3 make chemo and ionizing radiation work better they be come more potent when fighting  the cancer but on the other hand the vitamin D3  help stop the damage the chemo dos to your body like stoping induced alopecia ( thats your heir falling out) vitamin  D3 also stops nerve damage and a whole pile of bad side effects  

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12678720

http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6291443/description.html

wish you well hope this helps Ray

 My formal education is in Public Health, and I was the primary caretaker for my Mother who did an excellent job of managing her health care and her daily regimen of supplements. Her death in August 2007, was from a sudden heart attack. She did very well for twelve years by boosting her immune system. If you are the cancer patient then you've learned the treatment is best directed toward that individual. In much the same approach to boosting the immune system, that support is best tailored to the individual. I was aware that massive doses of any antioxidants can disrupt chemotherapy treatment. Their are good measures to take that can facilitate boosting the immune system to aid the body's own defenses to aid in the identification of harmful and destructive cancerous cells.

I urge you to seek the input of some highly regarded professionals in your local area who have  practiced and kept abreast of innovative alternative health supplements that proven records. My goal was to improve my Mom's quality of life; ensure proper nutrition, enhance her immune system, and use a limited amount of nutritional supplements that would help manage the cancerous cells and keep them from growing. 

During the last twelve yrs of my Mom's life she had eight years free of cancer, but then she developed, diabetes, and a undiagnosed heart condition. Conventional medical doctors usually shy away from discussing the subject of nutritional supplements.They may have a very limited understanding of nutrition and the impact of nutritional supplements. Will in medical school they may only be required to take one formal nutrition course, perhaps two. In their practice they get a lot of input from visiting pharmaceutical representatives. So it will behoove the patient and the family to educate themselves. Even if the family has limited funds, start at the local library and follow the rule, if it sounds too good to be true it is probably so. I wish you well, JZ

On 5/13/2009 tommyhar wrote:

Does anyone have a handle on whether or not antioxidants help or hinder chemo, specifically Gemcitabine aka Gemzar? Have never received a straight answer on this.

Many forms of chemotherapy work by actually causing oxidation and in general antioxidants need to be stopped long before chemo starts. This generally applies to platinum compounds, adriomycin etc. So is radiation  therapy. However, they are unlikely to interfere with the specific agent you mentioned.

Contrary to the belief, vitamin D is not an antioxidant. Compunds such as resveratrol, genistein, vitamin E etc in the asbence of any chemotherapy could slow down the progression of tumors, but should be avoided once chemo is considered.

They also accumulate in body's tissue as they are fat soluble. It might take a while to "deplete" them.