Vitamins and Cancer-Related Pain
Monday, April 21, 2008High-potency vitamins and other complementary treatments may help relieve some of the painful effects of cancer. Dr. Ken Davis discusses a study that looks at the subject in today’s 60 Second Housecall.
High-potency vitamins, melatonin supplements and other complementary remedies may help relieve the debilitating pain and fatigue experienced by most people with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Researchers studied 50 people with advanced pancreatic cancer treated with chemotherapy, sometimes in conjunction with radiation.
The participants were already taking narcotic drugs and anti-inflammatory agents to help control their pain.
Thirty-six of the 50 participants were given complementary remedies, including green tea extract, melatonin and high-potency multivitamins.
At the start of the study, 40 percent of those taking a complementary remedy had pain that was considered manageable, as opposed to 35 percent not on complementary treatment. Six months later, 67 percent on complementary treatment had manageable pain, as opposed to 22 percent not on complementary treatment.
While complementary treatments in conjunction with conventional treatment may help with pain, patients should alert their doctor when taking these treatments. Some complementary medicines make cancer treatment less effective.
For North Mississippi Medical Center, I’m Dr. Ken Davis.