Supplements and Mesothelioma

Posted on December 14, 2008

There are real, although very limited, benefits of diet and supplements in supporting mesothelioma. There’s nothing to buy that would prevent this horrible form of cancer, although eating fresh vegetables seems to tie in to a reduction in the rate of development. More recently, the medical literature suggests that one B vitamin may at least make one form of chemo for mesothelioma less toxic.

Dr. H. L Kindler of the Hematology/Oncology Section at the University of Chicago Hospitals finds that medically supervised folic acid supplementation probably decreases the toxicity of pemetrexed (Alimta). The research absolutely, positively does not suggest that anyone taking pemetrexed should send someone running to the drugstore to pick up some vitamin B.

Pemetrexed works by interfering with the action of folic acid in cell multiplication, giving the body a chance to “catch up” with cancer cells through other immune mechanisms. Supplemental folic acid ensures its availability in other metabolic processes. You don’t want to take so much folic acid that you overwhelm the activity of the drug.

Another reason folic acid, and, for that matter, vitamin B12, and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) are useful during chemo for mesothelioma is that they support a process called methylation. Methylation turns on detoxification (which doesn’t take this drug out of the system, just other toxins that would make its side effects worse), and it also supports the production of melatonin, making it easier to sleep, and serotonin, improving mood.

Folic acid is something you should take with vitamin B-12, and before chemotherapy, not during or after. Ask your physician to make sure you are getting any vitamin B supplements you may need if you take this drug.

Some supplements are a bad idea if you have mesothelioma. For mesothelioma patients in general, calcium, vitamin D, and shark cartilage are a bad idea. If the disease has progressed, it can release calcium from bone. The additional calcium in your blood stream you can get from taking calcium, vitamin D, or shark cartilage can cause hypercalcemia. Symptoms of hypercalcemia are altered mental status, needing to urinate all the time, vague bone pain, constipation, and headache. If you’ve been taking these supplements to support mesothelioma and you have these symptoms, please consult a doctor.

Generally speaking, treatment for mesothelioma is a time to get all the calories you can. This is far more important than taking all the supplements that someone might try to sell you, although all the supplements listed here cost less than US $10 a month. If you only have energy to eat a small balanced meal or take a self-prescribed supplement, by all means, eat the balanced meal.

Robert Rister is the author or co-author of nine books and over 2,000 articles on natural health, including Is Remission from Mesothelioma Possible?

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