Cancer patients often suffer from physical and emotional hardship, both as a direct result of their disease, or as a result of the side effects of harsh cancer treatments. While some negative effects of cancer and its treatment may require medication to improve a patient's quality of life, diet also plays a role in a patient's well-being. If you are currently, or have undergone cancer therapy, eating a diet rich in specific vitamins may assist your recovery from cancer. Always consult your physician before beginning any vitamin supplementation to prevent negative side effects.
Vitamin C
One vitamin that may assist cancer patients is vitamin C. Over the course of some cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy, some patients may develop painful side effects of treatment. A common side effect is the development of mouth sores, which occur when chemotherapy drugs interfere with the body's natural wound-healing system. These wounds can prove painful and debilitating, as they can interfere with normal speaking and eating. The University of Maryland Medical Center indicates that vitamin C supplementation can help speed wound healing by promoting the formation of collagen, a component of new tissue. As a result, vitamin C may help your body begin to heal mouth sores more quickly, improving your quality of life as you recover from cancer.
Vitamin A
Another vitamin that may assist cancer patients is vitamin A, or retinol. Vitamin A belongs to a family of molecules called antioxidants, which work to protect your cells from free radical damage. Free radicals within your cells begin to attack your DNA and cellular proteins, leading to cellular damage that can contribute to cancer development. As an antioxidant, vitamin A helps neutralize free radicals, preventing this cellular damage. As a result, vitamin A may assist your cancer therapy by helping to prevent this cancer-promoting damage. The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University explains that some forms of vitamin A may decrease the risk of skin, breast, and liver cancer, as well as prostate cancer in men.
B-Vitamins
The consumption of B-vitamins may also help cancer patients. The B-class family of vitamin contains eight members: vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B8, B9 and B12. The University of Maryland Medical Center indicates that B-vitamins aid your body's metabolism, allowing your body to break down the foods you eat and efficiently absorb the nutrients required to keep your body going. The ability to nourish your body proves important during and after cancer treatment, as your body requires fuel to recover from both the cancer growth and the side effects of cancer therapy, helping you increase your quality of life.
