Vitamins and Health Food
There is much controversy about whether to increase your ingestion of antioxidants during chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Primarily there have been very limited studies about large doses of antioxidants and their protective mechanism on healthy cells. You can ask to see the dietitian at your cancer center for guidance about current research. You may want to consider a vitamin regimen after your breast cancer treatment.
Diana Dyer, a three-time cancer survivor and dietitian, in her book, A Dietitian's Cancer Story, shares her personal story of taking vitamins to supplement her diet when her breast cancer treatment was over. She felt she needed that extra boost as a protective mechanism. A summary of her recommendations for vitamins that can assist in healing follows. However, keep in mind that there is no data on the value of supplemental vitamins and their benefits for patients with cancer, though current research is investigating this possibility.
Multivitamin and mineral supplement with approximately 100 percent of the RDA (recommended daily allowances) and a brand with 10mg or less iron per tablet
Vitamin C: 250 milligrams once per day
Vitamin E-200IU: taken once per day, with meal or snack to maximize absorption. A natural (d-alpha) vitamin E with mixed tocopherols is recommended.
Selenium: 100mcg, from high-selenium grown yeast, once per day
Calcium: 600–1,200 milligrams per day. For osteoporosis, calcium citrate with additional vitamin D is recommended.
Echinacea root and herb: 400 milligram capsule to stimulate and nurture your immune system
Astragalus membranaceus root (Chinese herb): 470 milligram capsules is an immune system modulator, one capsule per day
Herbal teas: especially astragalus, one cup per day; green tea, two to four cups per day
When choosing your vitamins or herbs, it is recommended that you choose a supplement with USP on the label, which means that certain FDA (Food and Drug Administration) requirements for vitamins and herbs have been met. Check the expiration date and take your vitamin or mineral supplement with food.
A natural alternative to help combat the nausea and vomiting associated with breast cancer treatment is ginger tea. You can make your own by steeping ginger in hot water. Also, chamomile tea is found to help induce sleep, and many other herbal teas add nutritional value to your diet. You can also look into seeing a herbologist to make recommendations for your individual needs, but make sure you seek a reputable one. Most natural health food stores may be able to recommend one, or your local cancer center may know of a herbologist that other cancer patients have used.
