Men With Prostate Cancer Need To Plan Before Using Nutritional Supplements

Here is a link to an article called "Use of Nutrition Supplements Discouraged for Men with Prostate Cancer," by Denise Reynolds with EMaxHealth.com. The bottom line:

Although doctors are concerned about men with prostate cancer who take extremely high doses of nutrition supplements and its potential for negative effects on treatment, it appears that taking a standard multivitamin may be okay to take with the physician’s approval. A small study on 52 men presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology in November 2009 did not find harmful effects of normal levels of vitamin or antioxidant supplementation on radiation therapy for prostate cancer, however they also did not find a significant benefit in the treatment. Men who took a standard multivitamin had no difference in PSA response than those not taking supplements.

Dr. Zietman, of the Harvard Medical School in Boston who conducted the study, did say that men taking supplements marketed specifically for prostate health may inadvertently be getting hormonal therapy. Some dietary supplements may contain phytoestrogens or synthetic hormones which may stimulate the growth of the cancer cells.

"Cancer patients turn to supplements to aid in their treatments for a variety of reasons, but this study proves that what some patients believe is helping them may actually be harming them," said Dr. Marples. "It is very important for all patients to discuss any type of supplement they may be taking with their physician and especially important for prostate cancer patients receiving radiation therapy as this study shows that it may be negatively affecting the effectiveness of their treatments."

In our opinion, it takes more than just your doctor to help you review and approve the use of different supplements. Pattie and I have talked often about developing your "medical team." If you are going to delve into the world of "hard core" supplementation, you will need additional help. More about that tomorrow.
Feel good and keep smiling! Pat & Pattie