Your body knows how to deal with cancer. It’s coded into your DNA as a sort of natural chemotherapy. Here’s how it works.
Day in and day out, your body is replenishing its supply of cells. As old cells die off, surviving cells use their DNA to make copies of themselves as replacements. Not surprisingly, a bad copy occasionally finds its way into the mix. In fact, medical science estimates that of the millions of cells your body cranks out on a daily basis, several hundred are abnormal. If they aren’t dealt with quickly, those bad copies could multiply and grow into cancers.
This is where the natural killer (NK) cells come in. These white blood cells, which are part of your immune system, are equipped with toxic chemicals. As the NK cells move through your body, they’re on the lookout for anything that doesn’t belong there, including microbes and cancer cells. When they find a rogue cell, they use their toxic chemicals to kill it.
So why doesn’t this happen all the time? How do some of the abnormal cells slip through unnoticed? As efficient as your immune system is, it may not be able to run down every last bad guy. It’s much the same with cold viruses: Your immune system successfully kills off most of them, but every once in a while a virus manages to escape detection—and you end up sick.
Though medical science has made impressive progress in its understanding of cancer, researchers still have much to learn about the disease and the role of the immune system in keeping it at bay. What they do know is that lifestyle factors, especially a healthy diet, can help reduce your risk. And if you’ve already been diagnosed with cancer, certain nutrients may help your body withstand the effects of treatment and speed your recovery after.
Cancer is a serious, life-changing disease that will touch every one of us, directly or indirectly, at some point in our lives. Yet while we often hear the sobering statistics about cancer being the second-leading cause of death in the United States—accounting for one in four deaths, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS)—the fact is that a majority of people who it survive it. That’s right: Some 66 percent of cancer patients successfully beat the disease.
The ACS also notes that of the 565,650 cancer deaths projected for 2008, fully one-third were “related to overweight or obesity, physical inactivity, and nutrition.” All of these are changeable risk factors—which means that if you don’t have cancer now, you can take steps to keep yourself disease-free. For example, the ACS offers these dietary strategies for cancer prevention:
Eat a diet that emphasizes foods from plant sources.
Eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables daily.
Limit your consumption of red meats and processed meats.
Select whole grains rather than refined grains.
Limit alcohol consumption.
As for supplements, research into their protective effects has produced a decidedly mixed bag of results. For one of the more recent studies, published in 2008, researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle tracked supplement use among 77,000 people over a 10-year period. In the end, they found no protective effects for a range of supplements, including multivitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, and folic acid. In fact, they saw a slight increase in lung cancer risk among smokers who took large doses of vitamin E (400 IU or more). Based on their finding, the researchers concluded that “patients should be counseled against using these supplements to prevent lung cancer.”
Bear in mind that population studies like this one only identify potential associations between factors; they aren’t able to establish cause and effect. Until the science is clearer, the best advice for preventing cancer is eat a wholesome, balanced diet and get your nutrients from foods.
Proper nourishment becomes even more important if you’re undergoing cancer treatment. In this case, nutritional supplements may prove beneficial, if the latest research is any indication.
In 2007, for example, Charles Simone, MD, and his colleagues at the Simone Protective Cancer Institute in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, published a review of 50 clinical studies that examined the use of nutritional supplements during cancer treatment. Their conclusion: “These studies show that vitamin A, beta-carotene, and vitamin E do not interfere with and can actually enhance the killing capabilities of therapeutic modalities for cancer; decrease their side effects; protect normal tissues; and, in some cases, prolong survival.”
“Specific nutrient supplements play a vital role for people living with or recovering from cancer,” agrees Daniel Rubin, ND, adjunct professor of oncology at Southwest College of Natural Medicine in Tempe, Arizona. The caveat here—and it’s a critical one—is to never add any supplement to your treatment regimen without consulting your doctor. The two of you need to be sure that whatever you decide to take will not interfere with other aspects of your treatment.
“There’s a difference between trying to improve your diet and beginning a supplementation regimen,” Dr. Rubin explains. “Most doctors say ‘no antioxidants during chemotherapy,’ but they wouldn’t mind if you ate a pint of blueberries every day.”
Antioxidants, which include many of the vitamins and minerals found in the typical multivitamin preparation, work by neutralizing harmful free radicals, molecules that your body naturally produces all the time. And many forms of chemotherapy work by creating free radicals that target cancerous tissues. So even something as seemingly harmless as taking a daily multivitamin could interfere with cancer treatment.
That’s just one example. There are many, many others, and it can be a challenge even for cancer specialists to keep up with them. (See “Checking for Safety” on page 000.)
If you have cancer, how do you know what’s safe to take?
Doctors and nutritionists always warn that if you have cancer, you need to check in with them regarding any and all supplements that you want to take. But you hear about new things all the time. Your friends tell you about herbs and other over-the-counter remedies that might be helpful. If you spend any time at all online looking for information about your condition, you’re likely to be deluged with information about supplements that might—or might not!—be helpful. And how can you possibly keep up with the current research? It seems as though every other day a study reveals a breakthrough or unveils new concerns about a tried-and-true supplement.
Unless you have an unusually accessible cancer doctor (oncologist), it’s simply not practical to pick up the phone every other day to ask about the safety and effectiveness of every new herb or supplement that you’ve heard about. What to do?
The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York maintains a continually updated, science-based database with information about herbs and nutrients: mskcc.org/aboutherbs.
The database, managed by K. Simon Yeung, DPharm, contains information specifically for people with cancer and for the oncology professionals who specialize in treating them. Along with information about the safety and effectiveness of numerous herbs and supplements, the Web site also provides information about possible interactions with cancer drugs.
Even taking dietary supplements such as antioxidants can be problematic, says Dr. Yeung. Antioxidants work by eliminating free radicals that damage the body’s tissues. However, many chemotherapy treatments work by creating free radicals that go after cancer tissues, explains Dr. Yeung. If you take antioxidant vitamins at the same time you’re receiving chemotherapy, he says, you could reduce the effectiveness of your treatment.
If you ask your doctor about taking specific supplements, there’s a good chance you’ll get a green light to proceed. But if there’s a potential interaction with your current treatment, you definitely want to know about it. Given the discomfort and expense of chemotherapy, the last thing you want to do is cancel out its benefits by taking the wrong herb or a high-dose vitamin supplement.
If you want to try a new herb or supplement, you can check it out on this Web site. There is an entry portal for physicians and another for patients. Anyone can enter either at no charge. Tell your doctor what you are interested in taking, and what this Web site says about it.
Each person who has cancer has his or her own set of issues and individualized needs, according to Lise Alschuler, ND, author of The Definitive Guide to Cancer. Many, for example, find themselves with little or no appetite, she says. Their main issues will be getting enough calories and protein. The body’s need for protein goes way up during cancer, she notes.
Your best bet, if you’re dealing with active cancer or looking to support your body’s efforts to prevent recurrence, is to find a qualified nutrition advisor who will work with your doctor to customize a dietary regimen just for you, says Dan Labriola, ND, author of Complementary Cancer Therapies. Dr. Labriola works with oncologists at Swedish Medical Center and Children’s Hospital in Seattle and also consults on nutrition with oncologists throughout the nation.
When you ask your doctor questions about nutritional support for cancer treatment, he or she will likely be able to give you helpful information about what to eat and what not to eat, what supplements are safe and what to avoid, says Dr. Labriola. But few oncologists have the time and expertise to counsel you in detail about nutrition.
Your doctor may be able to direct you to a qualified nutrition expert, says Dr. Labriola. If you’re looking for an expert on your own, he offers a few guidelines to help you find someone who can really make a positive contribution to your treatment.
Check training. Ask for information about where the nutrition expert received training. Make sure you’re working with someone who has good science-based credentials.
Look for cancer-specific training. Make sure the individual has been trained to customize dietary recommendations for people with cancer.
Ask about a license to practice. Your nutrition advisor should be licensed to practice in your state, not some other state.
Investigate affiliations. Your nutrition advisor should be affiliated with a hospital or institution that you and your doctor recognize and respect.
A word to the wise here: There are many, many inadequately trained people who will be all too happy to give you advice about what to eat and what to take to help you deal with cancer, but who lack the training to ensure both safety and maximum effectiveness. Many of them are well-meaning. This includes many people who work in health food stores, those who sell vitamins, and online purveyors of assorted anti-cancer remedies. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
When it comes to battling cancer, what are your best nutrient choices?
“There are no two people on this planet who have the same issues in dealing with cancer,” says Dr. Labriola. “Our aim is to mobilize people’s bodies to fight this disease. The real miracles that I’ve seen in 23 years of practice are the patients who have addressed everything.”
When it comes to nutrients, it’s far more important to get some of every nutrient that your body needs rather than mega-dosing on individual nutrients, says Dr. Labriola. “Even people who are into nutrition rarely get everything they need,” he points out.
So a good place to start—again, if you have your doctor’s nod of approval—is with a multivitamin. Look for a multi that has two or three times the Daily Value for each nutrient, he says, or you can get a multi that has 100 percent of what you need and take a double dose, says Dr. Labriola. He suggests looking at the label to make sure that each nutrient value is close to 100 percent. You don’t want to see 1,000 percent followed by 14 percent. (This would not be considered “megadosing,” by the way, as multis generally contain amounts approximating the Reference Daily Intakes. Megadosing generally involves taking amounts many times over the RDIs.)
Comparing what’s on the label with what’s actually in the bottle is important, says Dr. Labriola, and so is purity. Your doctor or nutrition advisor should be able to help you find the right products. “Quality control needs to be taken care of,” he says.
Keeping in mind that your individual needs must be considered, here are some nutrients that your doctor or nutrition advisor is likely to suggest. Most of these will be supplied by a multivitamin.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants probably have more positive human studies to back them up than any other nutrient group, says Dr. Labriola. “Most of the positive human studies deal with prevention, because it’s easier to measure,” he says. “That’s certainly going to carry over into prevention of cancer coming back a second time. You want to be certain that you’re getting an adequate amount of all of the antioxidants.”
Dr. Labriola recommends supplementing a number of specific antioxidants: vitamin A, 5,000 to 10,000 IU; vitamin C, 100 to 200 milligrams; vitamin E, 100 to 200 IU; selenium, 200 micrograms; and zinc, 50 milligrams.
B Vitamins
Your immune system needs B vitamins in order to function properly, and taking a B-complex supplement should give you what you need, says Dr. Labriola. Pay special attention to vitamin B12. When we age, he explains, it can be difficult to absorb enough of this important vitamin. Your doctor may suggest injections of B12.
Calcium and Magnesium
Getting adequate amounts of calcium and magnesium together apparently helps reduce cancer risk, according to Dr. Labriola. It’s best to take calcium in the form of calcium citrate, as it’s more absorbable, he says. He suggests taking 600 to 1,000 milligrams, though he says your doctor may recommend higher amounts. Whatever calcium dosage you take, experts generally recommend half that amount as the recommended magnesium dose. For example, if you take 1,000 milligrams of calcium, take 500 milligrams of magnesium.
Essential Fatty Acids
Studies suggest that the essential fatty acids found in fish oil help protect the body against cancer, especially breast cancer, says Dr. Labriola. He suggests taking 1,000 milligrams daily.
Vitamin D
There’s a good deal of research showing that vitamin D reduces the risk for a number of cancers, including breast and colon cancer, says Dr. Labriola. You should ask your doctor for a test to determine whether you have adequate amounts of vitamin D in your blood. If not, you’ll likely be given therapeutic doses to bring your level up to where it should be.
In general, says Dr. Labriola, it’s good to take 600 to 2,000 IU daily in the form of vitamin D3. The lower amount, he says, is for people who live in a sunny climate and get more sun exposure.
“More and more studies are showing that inadequate vitamin K is a risk factor for a number of cancers,” says Dr. Labriola.
Vitamin K is found in a lot of different foods, so taking a supplement for just half the RDI is sufficient, says Dr. Labriola. The RDI for vitamin K is 80 micrograms. Many fruits and vegetables, especially spinach, kale, and other greens, are rich in vitamin K.
Make sure you’re working with a doctor or nutrition expert to customize your nutrition program so that it complements your treatment. A good place to begin, if you have your doctor’s okay, is with a multivitamin. The following nutrients are for general information only. They represent the kind of supplements that your doctor or nutrition advisor may recommend, depending upon how they might impact or interact with any treatment you may be currently undergoing. Please bear in mind that your condition may require higher or lower doses or a completely different set of nutrients.
B vitamins* |
B-complex supplement, follow package directions |
Calcium |
600 to 1,000 milligrams |
Essential fatty acids |
1,000 milligrams of fish oil† |
Magnesium |
300 to 500 milligrams |
Selenium |
200 micrograms |
Vitamin A |
5,000 to 10,000 IU |
Vitamin C |
100 to 200 milligrams |
Vitamin D‡ |
600 to 2,000 IU in the form of vitamin D3 |
Vitamin E |
100 to 200 IU |
Vitamin K |
40 micrograms |
Zinc |
50 milligrams |
*Your doctor may recommend injections of vitamin B12, as it becomes more difficult to absorb enough of this vitamin as we age.
† Fish oil has a blood-thinning effect. So does vitamin E. If you’re taking any kind of blood-thinning drug, talk to your doctor before taking these supplements.
‡Ask your doctor for a blood test to determine your level of vitamin D. You may be asked to take much higher amounts of this vitamin for a short time.