Antioxidants Something could jeopardize cancer patients - but not their supplements. Instead, it is the lack of knowledge on how to help fight cancer, which is the real danger, says cancer expert Keith Block. A report published recently in the medical journal of the American Cancer Society, CA, proposes to cancer patients, the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy could be antioxidants. In fact, ArticleStates could actually be completed, "feed" the cancer, and even reduce the likelihood of recovery. Dr. Block points out, however, that the author of this article, Gabriella M. D'Andrea, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, based their conclusions on a review of a handful of human studies have shown that supplements often do not benefit cancer patients and may harm them.
"The article ignored a growing number of published research shows that just the opposite. InData, in fact, there is convincing, rational and careful use of a number of antioxidants in the treatment of cancer can be useful both as stand-alone agent or in addition to standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy, "says Dr. Block, Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), more than 1,500 Americans die of cancer every day. Advanced metastatic tumors, the prognosis isusually between one and two years. "Chemotherapy can improve survival of many of these people, but they are often at the expense of frightening the toxic side effects that can sometimes even more than the disease itself. However, some doctors have found that patients who experience few antioxidant-rich diet of side effects during and after chemotherapy. Many also believe that the treatment has raised the survival and also be improved, "said Dr. Block found.
There are a growing numberscientific research to support the cost base, including the gold standard of evidence-medicine randomized - controlled clinical trials. "Glutathione has been shown to significantly reduce the various toxic effects of cisplatin and other chemotherapeutic agents in six-controlled, randomized clinical trials to date. None of these studies found no evidence of interference between glutathione and various chemotherapeutic agents," says Dr. Block. He added that the studies referred to above, the highly effectiveMelatonin has been even more favorable, including numerous studies that show significant improvements in both performance and survival in patients with advanced cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
The number of studies that show positive results of cancer treatment is supplemented with antioxidants much higher if not randomized studies are included. "Although these studies have not considered the gold standard for medical evidence, it should be noted that almost all of them suggest a positiveResults, or at least no interference with chemotherapy, "says Dr. Block.
Where did the idea come from that supplements could be harmful to cancer patients to come? Dr. Block explains that some chemotherapy agents create free radicals or molecules similar to those reactive oxygen species (ROS) a. ROS are highly reactive and unstable form of oxygen, which have the ability to damage genes and other cellular structures. These in turn intended to cause cell damage tumor cells. BecauseAntioxidants are used to counter the adverse effects of ROS, some researchers assume, with the concomitant use of antioxidants, the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs, which were to reduce the dependence on ROS and may advise against the use of antioxidants with chemotherapy, regardless of whether that create ROS.
"This is a speculative theory," says Dr. Block. "In fact, cancer researchers of others, as I work from the premise that cancer and many cancer drugs can causeincreased production of free radicals and ROS that tend to fuel cancer progression. In other words, it promotes the oxidation of malignant progression and pushes a cancer cell, more aggressive. This helps explain why many antioxidants have been shown to slow the growth and spread of cancer. Some scientists believe that ROS produced by chemotherapy drugs may actually hinder the effectiveness of the drugs themselves. "
Dr. Block says both sides ofAntioxidants in cancer therapy debate can agree on one thing: More research is needed to understand how best to use supplements to help fight cancer. "But I can problem with doctors who say, if the patient before recommending antioxidants, there is enough evidence to support their effectiveness will be," he says. "Patients should not, however, indiscriminately take antioxidants in the hope that it will be useful, they have contacts with professionals who adviseExperience in this area before the election to use antioxidants with chemotherapy. I think that people especially a late stage, advanced or life-threatening cancer, he must use every tool available to prolong survival, under the supervision of doctors who are open to the use of supplements and has worked on face with patients in this situation. Currently, the majority of evidence supports the use of antioxidants in patients with cancer. Until well-designedStudies show in fact a real disorder, I continue to ask the patient, adds that the ideal composition for the fight against cancer appear to have tolerated the improvement of capacity to be better able to receive treatment and to support the treatment of these patients. "Dr. Block is Medical / Scientific Director of the Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care and Optimal Health.
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The Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care and Optimal Health, located inEvanston, Illinois, was founded in 1980 by Penny and Keith Block, MD founded with a focus on treating the patient as a whole person, not just the diagnosis or treatment of symptoms. Research Center based treatment integrates an innovative approach to involve the best of conventional medicine with scientifically based complementary therapies - therapeutic nutrition, botanical and phytonutrient supplement, prescriptive, and to improve the mind body strategies systematically - for recoveryTrial. Block has this form "approach to cancer treatment and the pioneer of optimal health - Develop a comprehensive plan of treatment that is tailored to the needs of individual patients, a unique combination of clinical laboratory procedures and reviews. The Block Center is breaking new ground with the creation and development of Cancer Rehab as an innovative method of treatment, and is currently the only private North American medical centers with chemotherapy chronomodulated. WhileBlock Center is a full treatment clinic, is in the field of clinical cancer research with other academic institutions in the United States and Israel (www.blockmd.com) involved.
