10 minutes first to activate the key ingredient.

Vitamin C. A deficiency in calories often means a deficiency in vitamin C. Like other antioxidants, vitamin C may help chemo and radiation kill cancer cells while protecting your healthy cells from harm. Dosage: At least 1 gram daily, taken with meals in divided dosages.

Vitamin E. If you can’t stomach vitamin E-rich foods like nuts, vegetables, and egg yolks, you may miss out on the benefits of this powerful nutrient. Studies have shown that supplemental E eases the neurotoxic side effects (tingling, numbness, and pain) of chemotherapy. And when you feel better, you’re more likely to eat well. Dosage: 400 IU mixed natural tocopherols and 400 IU vitamin E succinate daily, taken with meals in divided dosages.

Beta-carotene. This carotenoid may decrease treatment side effects and improve your chance of surviving cancer. Ideally you want to get beta-carotene from yellow and orange fruits and vegetables—which also contain thousands of bioflavonoids and numerous other carotenoids—but supplemental beta-carotene still benefits you, too. Dosage: 15 mg (25,000 IU) daily, taken with meals in divided dosages; or eat as much fresh colorful fruits and vegetables as your digestive system tolerates.

Kathy Summers is a health writer in Cave Creek, Arizona.


RESOURCE BOX: Find Out More
Cancer Nutrition Info (www.cancernutritioninfo.com) provides a wealth of information about nutrition and dietary supplements for cancer patients and survivors.

Beating Cancer with Nutrition by Patrick Quillin (Nutrition Times, 2005) is an excellent resource that lists hundreds of nutritionally oriented cancer doctors.

Cancer and Nutrition, A Ten Point Plan for Prevention and Cancer Life Extension by Charles B. Simone (Princeton Institute, 2005)

The Cancer Lifeline Cookbook: Recipes, Ideas, and Advice to Optimize the Lives of People Living with Cancer, by Kimberly Mathai and Ginny Smith (Sasquatch, 2004)

One Bite at a Time: Nourishing Recipes for Cancer Survivors and Their Friends, by Rebecca Katz, Marsha Tomassi, and Mat Edelson (Celestial Arts, 2004)