The Surprising Link Between Vitamin B12 and Cancer Treatment Outcomes
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The Surprising Link Between Vitamin B12 and Cancer Treatment Outcomes

ByHolly Zink

Mesothelioma treatment is an intricate field where even the tiniest factors can play a big role. Recently, scientists discovered something unexpected: a connection between vitamin B12 and how well certain cancer treatments work. Vitamin B12 and Immune-Boosting Cancer Treatments Let’s talk about cancer treatments that boost the immune system, often called immunotherapy. These treatments work by helping the body’s defenses fight cancer. But here’s the twist: scientists found that when people had too much vitamin B12 in their blood while getting this treatment, it didn’t work as well. Imagine vitamin B12 as a helpful friend. Normally, it keeps our body healthy by supporting nerve and blood cells. But when it’s too much, it might interfere with the special immune-boosting treatments…

Vitamin D3 May Slow the Spread of Pleural Mesothelioma, Study Shows
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Vitamin D3 May Slow the Spread of Pleural Mesothelioma, Study Shows

ByAlex Strauss

A study conducted in Italy suggests that Vitamin D3 might help keep mesothelioma cells from growing and spreading. The biologically active form of Vitamin D is calcitriol or D3. Other studies suggest it might have anticancer properties. But no one has studied its effect on mesothelioma cells until now.  The researchers applied Vitamin D3 to pleural mesothelioma cells in the lab. Not only did it weaken the cells, but it also blocked their ability to divide into new cells. The study suggests that Vitamin D may even boost the effectiveness of mesothelioma chemotherapy. The Cancer-Fighting Role of Calcitriol The body naturally produces calcitriol. It plays a role in regulating the cell cycle, including apoptosis or natural cell death. Vitamin D3…

Supplements During Chemotherapy May Work Against Mesothelioma Treatment
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Supplements During Chemotherapy May Work Against Mesothelioma Treatment

ByAlex Strauss

A new study suggests that it could be risky to take supplements during chemotherapy for mesothelioma and other cancers.  The study took place at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York. It focused on more than 1,100  breast cancer patients. It found that patients who took certain antioxidant supplements during chemotherapy had worse outcomes than those who did not.  The study’s authors say antioxidants undermine one of the main jobs of chemotherapy drugs – to create oxidative stress in cancer cells. Chemotherapy is the primary first-line treatment for malignant mesothelioma and many other cancers.  Why Avoid Antioxidant Supplements During Chemotherapy? Antioxidants are compounds found in many fruits and vegetables. Vitamins A, C, E, and B12 are examples…

Antioxidant Supplements for Mesothelioma Patients Might be Dangerous
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Antioxidant Supplements for Mesothelioma Patients Might be Dangerous

ByAlex Strauss

Two separate lung cancer studies suggest that antioxidant supplements for mesothelioma patients may not be advisable.  The studies appear in the most recent issue of the medical journal Cell.  Both focus on the role of antioxidants in the growth and spread of lung cancer. Although mesothelioma is not the same as lung cancer, it affects the same area of the body and shares many of the same characteristics.  The new research suggests that, instead of fighting cancer, antioxidant supplements for mesothelioma patients, might actually help it grow.  Supplements for Cancer Patients Antioxidant vitamins like A, C, and E are plentiful in fruits and vegetables. Many people take antioxidant supplements to make up for a poor diet. These vitamins can help…