Jeff asked about other tumor types and supplements like antioxidants
actually worsening things.

Check PubMed. If I recall right there are multiple suggestive findings
for some other tumor types, though the lung tumor work has loads of
independent verification which is probably why that was the first
step. The article itself refers to the findings that Vitamin E
supplementation might well worsen at least one hormonal malignancy, if
I recall right, but I seem to remember quite a few other articles on
when supplementation backfires.

Remember, malignant cells are fast growing altered cells that are
mutants of the body's own cells and it is NOT unusual for then to be
better at nutrient uptake than normal cells. They HAVE to be better
at that to grow so fast. That is why in nutritional oncology the
specialists figure out the tumor origin then reduce a nutrient that
is especially important to that cell type.

When someone I know had an appendix origin tumor which reappeared on
the colon they restricted biotin at the same time that chemo was done
after surgery because mucus membrane cells really need biotin. It was
very hard to go through, but that one-two punch appears to have worked
and she has been free of any sign of malignancy for several years now.

The point is that usually the tumor cells starve before a critical
level of the normal ones do because of the tumor cells' higher nutrient
need. It is hard but it can work.

That team plans to see if the antioxidants are dangerous not only when
malignancy in the lungs has begun but also w at least one possible
predisposing condition, but maybe other teams will look at other tumor
types, their origins, etc.

In ferrets it would be useful to know which nutrients might be
preferentially pulled up by their more common tumors, malignant or
benign based on common tissue origins. People might accidentally
worsen some ferrets while trying to help them w certain supplements.

Nutritional oncology is a rather new field, but has been having high
rewards for a number of people, but it is important to remember that
it commonly involves specific nutrient restrictions rather than
supplementations.

Another thing to remember is to restrict Vitamin C before radiation
treatments because multiple tumor types can pull it up and it winds
up providing a shield for the tumors against the radiation.

Sometimes, also, what is good for one thing is bad for another. There
was an article a few years ago indicating that supplementation of a
specific mineral was good for something (maybe the colon but I am not
sure) then last year work came out that the very same thing can worsen
glaucoma.

Usually, a balanced diet is safest. Some individuals have to supplement
for this or that, but always remember that ******almost anything that
is strong enough to help is strong enough to harm******.

> <http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24966-more-harm-than-good-antioxidants-defend-cancer-in-body.html>

[Posted in FML 8030]