Health Supporting Supplements for Cancer Care
Supplement regimens for all of our patients are carefully tailored to their individual needs. However, there are handful of supplements that we find many of our patients use during their cancer journey.
Vitamin C
Oral Vitamin C helps keep plasma levels optimal between infusions and provides ammunition for the immune system.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 deficiency has been linked to most cancers and is associated with a worse prognosis. We find that most cancer patients are deficient in this critical nutrient. 1
Coriolus
Coriolus is a medicinal mushroom with immune benefits. Studies show improved outcomes in several tumor types when combined with standard therapies. 4
Melatonin
Melatonin is most often know for its sleep benefits, but it also helps with immune function, cell signaling, and hormone balance. 3
Curcumin
Curcumin is mainly used as an anti-inflammatory, and has been shown to help with all hallmarks of cancer. It may also prevent drug resistance in cancer cells. 2
This information is for educational purposes only, and we are not prescribing or recommending these products to all cancer patients. It is best to speak with a medical provider before starting a new supplement regimen.
References:
- Edlich R, Mason SS, Chase ME, Fisher AL, Gubler K, Long WB 3rd, Giesy JD, Foley ML. Scientific documentation of the relationship of vitamin D deficiency and the development of cancer. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 2009;28(2):133-41. doi: 10.1615/jenvironpatholtoxicoloncol.v28.i2.50. PMID: 19817700.
- Preetha Anand, Chitra Sundaram, Sonia Jhurani, Ajaikumar B. Kunnumakkara, Bharat B. Aggarwal, Curcumin and cancer: An “old-age” disease with an “age-old” solution, Cancer Letters, Volume 267, Issue 1, 2008, Pages 133-164, ISSN 0304-3835, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2008.03.025. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304383508002310)
- Carrillo-Vico, A., Guerrero, J.M., Lardone, P.J. et al. A review of the multiple actions of melatonin on the immune system. Endocr 27, 189–200 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1385/ENDO:27:2:189
- https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/coriolus-versicolor
