Can you take vitamins during radiation therapy?
Taking small amounts of antioxidants does not affect your radiation treatment. Small amounts of antioxidants like those found in food and some multivitamins are safe.
What vitamins are good for radiation treatment?
Vitamin D is an important supplement for cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.
What supplements should I take for radiation exposure?
In a radiation emergency, some people may be told to take potassium iodide (KI) to protect their thyroid. Do not take KI unless instructed by public health or emergency response officials or a healthcare provider.
What vitamins can cancer patients take?
Vitamin D is one of the most studied supplements for cancer prevention and treatment right now. Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E , and beta-carotene contain antioxidants once thought to help prevent cancer.
What supplements should not be taken during radiation therapy?
During radiation therapy, patients should not take these supplements in doses greater than what is in a multivitamin:Theanine.Silymarin.Vitamin C/Emergen-C.Vitamin E.Vitamin A/Beta-carotene.CoQ10.Quercetin.Turmeric/Curcumin.More items...
Can I take vitamin C during radiotherapy?
Avoid vitamin C if you're on radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Vitamin C can interfere with these treatments and decrease their effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you're taking acetaminophen (paracetamol®). Vitamin C can increase the side effects of this medication.
Does vitamin D protect against radiation?
A form of vitamin D could protect us against damage from low levels of radiation according to new research in the International Journal of Low Radiation.
How do I reduce radiation in my body?
Gently washing with water and soap removes additional radiation particles from the skin. Decontamination prevents radioactive materials from spreading more. It also lowers the risk of internal contamination from inhalation, ingestion or open wounds.
How can you minimize the side effects of radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy side effects: 5 tips to copeGet enough sleep during radiation therapy. ... Treat skin exposed to radiation with TLC. ... Maintain a well-balanced diet. ... Commit to physical activity. ... Get the support you need.
Should cancer patients take vitamins?
Taking dietary supplements instead of conventional cancer treatment could harm your health. It might reduce the chance of curing or controlling your cancer. It is important to talk to a health professional if you're thinking of taking nutritional supplements. They can refer you to a dietitian.
What supplements should cancer patients avoid?
Echinacea, curcumin, St. John's wort, valerian root, and allium (an extract of garlic) — all are examples of herbal supplements that can disrupt the toxicity-efficacy balance of chemotherapy. In addition, the doses of herbal supplements are not standardized.
Are multivitamins safe for cancer patients?
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against the use of both beta carotene or vitamin E supplements for the prevention of cancer. The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) states there is insufficient evidence to recommend the use or against the use of multivitamins for chronic disease prevention.