Antioxidant Therapies Do Not Interfere with Radiation Treatment in Cancer Patients
November 12, 2006 by Gloria Gamat
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
According to research findings presented this weekend at the Society of Integrative Oncology’s Third International Conference in Boston, cancer patients can get the vital nutritional benefits from taking antioxidants without the risk of interfering with radiation treatment.
The said study, entitled: “Effect of Concomitant Naturopathic Therapies on Clinical Tumor Response to External Beam Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer”, conducted by researchers of Cancer Treatment Centers of America reviewed PSA levels of prostate cancer patients after receiving radiation therapy and found no difference between patients taking antioxidants and those who did not.
The antioxidants used in the study included the following: green tea extract, melatonin, high-potency multivitamins, vitamin C and vitamin E.
According to Timothy Birdsall, ND, vice president of integrative medicine for Cancer Treatment Centers of America and lead author of the paper:
“This study provides evidence that antioxidants as a complementary therapy in cancer treatment do not interfere with external beam radiation Therapy. Antioxidants are one of many complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies that are crucial in today’s fight against cancer.”
Sure, advanced radiation, chemotherapy and surgery remain the best medical option for patients against treating cancer. However, there are the devastating side effects that debilitate the patient, physically and emotionally.
Therefore this new study combines the best of traditional medicine with scientifically supported complementary and alternative therapies, via a fully integrated whole person care model, providing patients a chance to live a better quality of life.
Find more details from the press release.
