Any integrative practitioner knows that nutritional supplements are worth their weight in gold. And harnessing the healing potential of these vitamins, minerals, herbs and nutrients is taking powerful medicine. When it comes to cancer—or most any health concern—there is no such thing as a magic pill or a single supplement that can eliminate the disease completely. But there are several cancer-fighting powerhouses worth mentioning.
Before you start any new regimen, I suggest you work with an integrative physician to ensure you get the precise supplements you need to fight your health battle. We welcome patients from all over the world at my clinic in Irvine, California. You can visit cancercenterforhealing.com to learn more.
An excellent resource for finding a practitioner near you is acam.org. Look for the supplements in this article at your local reputable health food store or visit perfectlyhealthy.com to order. Now, let’s dive deeper into why you should consider adding anti-cancer nutritional supplements to your treatment plan.
Cancer is a tricky disease; as such, you need to attack it from multiple angles for the best chance at success. This is where nutritional supplements come in. Supplements have four primary purposes in cancer treatment:
One imperative recommendation is that you not only use targeted anti-cancer supplements but change and rotate these supplements based on the type of cancer you have. Blood tests, ordered by your doctor, can help determine which supplements may help eliminate specific types of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating stem cells (CSCs). Chemotherapy and radiation cannot kill these cells, so it is crucial not to ignore them, as they are responsible for 95 percent of metastases.
Please talk with your doctor about RGCC testing, which Research Genetic Cancer Center (rgcc-group.com) developed to analyze CTCs and CSCs. The test results give your doctor valuable information that they can use to prescribe the most targeted treatment course.
Ask them to test your nutrient levels as well. Getting an overview of any nutrient deficiencies helps your physician create the proper foundational nutritional protocol for your specific needs and health challenges.
We prescribe the following core nutrients to every single one of our patients, and they should be the foundation of any anti-cancer regimen. Like eating salmon and spinach, these supplements should be a building block of your regimen, regardless of the treatment route you choose.
If you opt for chemotherapy and radiation, they take a toll on the body, and you’ll need to shore up your nutritional status in order to heal.
Vitamin C is an immune-boosting, anti-cancer powerhouse. Linus Pauling, the late two-time Nobel Prize–winning biochemist, was one of the first scientists to suggest that high doses of this vitamin may be lethal to cancer cells.
Without getting too technical, when administered intravenously in high doses, vitamin C produces hydrogen peroxide within cancer cells, causing them to self-destruct. Taken orally, vitamin C has potent immune-enhancing properties and is an excellent nutrient for cancer prevention and treatment.1
Consider trying liposomal vitamin C. More bioavailable (better absorbed) to the body, this type of vitamin C is encased in phospholipids derived from sunflower lecithin and is easier for the body to utilize. It’s a bit pricier than other forms of vitamin C, but a little goes a long way. Avoid vitamin C products made from GMO corn.
The average daily amount I recommend for patients with cancer is 8,000 mg. For prevention and general well-being, 4,000 mg per day should suffice.
A note on RDAs
You will notice most doses of supplements prescribed by your integrative physician exceed the woefully low recommended daily allowance (RDA) of specific vitamins and nutrients. This is because the recommended RDA amount is the minimum to prevent disease.
Take vitamin C, for example. The RDA is 60 mg with an upper limit of 2,000. That mere 60 mg is the amount you need to consume daily to prevent scurvy—not what the body needs for peak functioning. Keep this in mind when you see suggested therapeutic doses.
Vitamin D3—the most bioavailable form of this vitamin—may well be one of nature’s most powerful anti-cancer nutrients. With positive influences on 200 genes in the body, vitamin D is well known for boosting immune function and reducing inflammation.2 It has also been shown to inhibit cancer cells’ growth and replication cycle, decrease new tumor blood vessel growth and possibly prompt cancer cell apoptosis, or self-destruction.3
Regardless of health status, almost everyone can benefit from supplemental vitamin D3. While most people are fine taking a low dose without first checking their levels, a simple blood test prescribed by your physician can let you know exactly how much you need to take to get your vitamin D3 status into the therapeutic zone.
In my experience, most patients require 5,000–15,000 IUs daily to raise blood levels into the optimal 50–70 mg/ml range.
The best sources for omega-3s
Essential fatty acids, particularly omega-3s, are an important part of any anti-cancer regimen. When cell membranes are healthy and strong, your cells are better able to absorb nutrients and expel waste. Omega-3s from food sources play an essential role in the state of these membranes, helping to oxygenate them and increase their stability.
Cells in this healthful state are more open to receiving more oxygen, which helps keep normal cells healthy and aids in getting rid of damaged or cancerous ones. Conversely, low omega-3 levels can lead to low amounts of oxygen in the cells and increase cancer risk.
Rather than supplementing, however, the goal is to get your essential fatty acids from food sources. Focus on eating more beans, olive oil, avocado, sardines, mackerel, salmon, herring, oysters, anchovies, caviar and walnuts. (Avoid seed oils.) If you do choose an omega-3 supplement, make sure it is derived from alpha-linoleic acid.
Use as directed.
Most people don’t produce enough pancreatic enzymes. Whether low production is due to stress, toxins, a poor diet or other factors, supplementing with these enzymes can benefit everyone.
A simple blood or stool analysis can let your doctor know if your body is producing enough. Getting these digestive enzymes in balance is important because they help the pancreas break down and digest food and keep it from becoming overtaxed by too much protein.
Furthermore, pancreatic enzymes appear to strip cancer cells of fibrin, an outer coating that protects them from the immune system. Dissolving this outer layer helps the immune system find and destroy these errant, malignant cells.4
The use of pancreatic enzymes for cancer treatment was first noted in the 1900s by Scottish embryologist John Beard. His theory and research on enzyme therapy are published in a monograph called The Enzyme Treatment of Cancer. Dr Beard witnessed many thousands of late-stage cancer patients heal using this modality.
Not all pancreatic enzyme formulations are created equal. Make sure you find a broad-spectrum product that contains several enzymes, such as pancreatin, bromelain, papain, lipase, amylase, trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin.
Use as directed.
That rounds out the three supplements I recommend to all my patients, with or without a cancer diagnosis. Now, let’s examine other supplements that may be beneficial.
The acidity or alkalinity of any substance can be measured using a pH scale. This scale ranges from 1–14 with 1 as the most acidic, 7 as neutral and 14 the most alkaline. For blood pH, a level of 7.43—slightly alkaline—is ideal.
If the body is too acidic, a host of health problems can arise. The 100 trillion cells in our bodies can’t communicate effectively in this state, and over time this highly acidic environment accelerates aging and creates problems in all the body’s systems. An overly acidic atmosphere is also hospitable to cancer cells, which thrive in the low-oxygen setting.5
Fortunately, it’s fairly straightforward to bring your body into an optimally alkalized state. One way is to take baking soda mixed in water. Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, helps neutralize acids and can be helpful for easing heartburn and indigestion as well. It’s best to work with a practitioner to determine which dose is right for you or a supplement that can help. And be sure to choose a baking soda that does not contain aluminum.
Digestion can be a problem for patients with cancer, and they are often encouraged to take various supplements to improve digestive function. Hydrochloric acid, digestive enzymes (different from pancreatic enzymes), probiotics and foods that contain probiotics can all help.
Hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes break down and help the body digest foods, while probiotics—in supplement and food form—populate the large and small intestines with beneficial bacteria. Many people lack this “good bacteria” in their gut, which is problematic as a large part of your immune system depends on healthy gut flora.
In today’s world, gut health can be compromised by a variety of factors ranging from environmental toxins and overuse of antibiotics to excess stress and a poor diet. To bolster your digestion and achieve a healthier gut overall, you can use these supplements and focus on including more fermented or “prebiotic” foods in your diet. Great options include kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha and kimchi.
The supplements above can be helpful whether you want to prevent cancer or have a better chance of fighting it. Now, let’s look at more patient-specific supplements. Again, your integrative cancer physician can order bioenergetic and RGCC tests and examine these and other lab results to determine the perfect regimen that boosts your immunity, targets specific cancer types and personalizes your individual protocol with the supplements that will work best for you.
CoQ10: Free radicals—unstable molecules—cause oxidative damage to cells, and this same oxidative damage also causes cancer. Fortunately, the supplement CoQ10 is one of the most powerful intercellular antioxidants known to man, and it does an excellent job of mopping up those excess free radicals and protecting cells.
CoQ10 is also believed to enhance the activity of macrophages, immune cells in the body that digest cellular debris, microbes, foreign substances and cancer cells in a process known as phagocytosis.6 Additionally, CoQ10 encourages the production of another type of immune cell called a granulocyte.
The suggested dose is 300–400 mg per day.
Quercetin: Another potent antioxidant is the supplement quercetin. Perhaps most famous for its ability to modulate a gene signal called NF-kappaB, which helps the body manage stress and inflammation, quercetin also prompts cancer cell self-destruction, inhibits tumor growth and reduces cancer’s resistance to chemotherapy.
Studies show quercetin impacts several types of cancer, including esophageal, colorectal, liver carcinoma, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate. Quercetin may also help chelate, or “transition,” heavy metals out of the body that have not yet found a place to nest deep within the tissues.7
Brands of quercetin vary, so use it according to your doctor’s or the package’s instructions.
Melatonin: Naturally secreted by the pineal gland at night, melatonin is a powerful antioxidant that not only helps us sleep better but is also a potent anti-cancer agent. An analysis of 10 studies published in the Journal of Pineal Research showed that melatonin lowered the risk of many cancers by up to 34 percent!
“The substantial reduction in risk of death, low adverse events reported, and low costs related to this intervention suggest great potential for melatonin in treating cancer,” the authors say.8
For improved sleep and cancer prevention, 1–3 mg a night should do the trick. For cancer treatment, the dose can range from 10–20 mg or more, depending on the patient’s needs. (Note that melatonin is banned from being sold in the UK.)
Artemisinin: Derived from the herb artemisia, also known as wormwood, artemisinin reacts with the iron inside cancer cells that is triggering free-radical production. This process destroys the cell membrane and disables the malignant cells. Taking supplemental artemisinin also helps to oxygenate the body, which helps fight cancer.
Research suggests that artemisinin could have anti-cancer effects on several different types of cancer. Better still, this supplement may be effective against cancers historically resistant to chemotherapy.9
Though contraindications and side effects are few, if you have a history of liver disease, you must consult with your doctor before using this supplement, as some liver problems have been noted, particularly with higher doses.
Use as directed by your physician.
Garlic: Potent and pungent garlic is delicious and, as it turns out, a powerful medicinal supplement. Multiple studies show that regular consumption of garlic can reduce the risk of several cancer types, from stomach and colon to esophageal, pancreatic and breast.
In addition to its anti-cancer properties, garlic boosts the immune system and increases the production of natural killer (NK) cells, one of the body’s premier defenses against cancer. Garlic also helps detoxify the liver and stimulates the production of the vital antioxidant glutathione.
In addition to enjoying lots of garlic in your food, if testing indicates your particular type of cancer may respond well, supplemental garlic may also be beneficial.
Use as directed. Note: garlic can lower blood pressure, so it may be contraindicated in some individuals.
Green tea extract: Green tea is loaded with powerful anti-cancer chemicals called polyphenols. One of these polyphenols, EGCG, is particularly beneficial for cancer treatment. EGCG scavenges damaging free radicals, has potent anti-inflammatory effects, and may even induce malignant cell death and halt tumor blood vessel development (angiogenesis). Some researchers even believe EGCG to be a more powerful antioxidant than vitamins C and E.
You can purchase green tea extract over the counter. Use as directed.
Indole-3-carbinol: Cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts and cabbage are chock-full of the compound indole-3-carbinol (I3C). I3C is essential because it blocks some of the effects of chemicals that have xenoestrogenic effects in the body, which increase the risk of certain cancers, particularly reproductive cancers such as prostate, breast, uterine and cervical.
Work with your doctor to do hormone testing and see if excess estrogens or xenoestrogens are putting you at a greater risk of developing cancer or playing a role in your current disease. If you find you have too much “bad estrogen,” increase your intake of the vegetables mentioned above and consider taking an I3C supplement.
I3C supplements can be found in health food stores. Use as directed.
Curcumin: Curcumin, derived from the popular spice turmeric, is yet another potent antioxidant filled with anti-cancer properties. Curcumin can halt the initial processes in the body that can lead to cancer and disrupt the mechanisms that allow tumors to grow, the development of cancer stem cells and the production of inflammatory chemicals that spur cancer development.
Furthermore, curcumin enhances the efficacy of certain types of chemotherapy and has been found to be as effective as some pharmaceutical drugs when treating cancers of the mouth, esophagus, liver, breast, colon and prostate.
Intravenous (IV) curcumin therapy is even more powerful than supplemental curcumin. (I will share more on the benefits of this miraculous modality in a future article.)
The suggested dose of oral curcumin is 500 mg three times a day and sometimes more. If you are allergic to plants in the ginger family or yellow food coloring, check with your physician before trying this treatment.
Essiac Tea: Essiac tea is a blend of four main herbs: burdock root, slippery elm inner bark, sheep sorrel and Indian rhubarb root.
Named for a nurse in Canada (Rene Caisse) who successfully used it alongside injections to treat thousands of patients with cancer, this supplement has a wide range of cytotoxic properties. Its benefits include better immune function, improved energy, increased appetite, pain relief and reduced inflammation. It also helps rid the organs of excess mucus.
Though you can purchase essiac capsules, teas and other forms from several outlets, not all brands are created equal. You can find quality products at essiacproducts.com, which uses only the original formula designed by Caisse in its supplements.
Use as directed on product labels. Note: Essiac tea is contraindicated for a few health conditions, so talk to your doctor before using it.
Medicinal mushrooms: Mushrooms have been used medicinally in Asia for millennia, and their popularity has gained ground worldwide in recent decades. Their anti-cancer and immune-boosting properties make them a front-runner in many patients’ anti-cancer regimens.
Shiitake, maitake, Ganoderma, reishi and cordyceps are some of the most widely used, but I could fill pages with the different types of fungi and their benefits. Medicinal mushrooms are an excellent addition to any anti-cancer protocol or cancer prevention regimen.
With so many varieties and brands on the market, you need to consult a physician to find out which products will benefit you most.
Use as directed per product label.
Research continues to uncover even more natural substances that may be effective for treating and preventing cancer. Talk with your doctor about these as well:
There are a variety of research-supported, effective anti-cancer supplements available today. Finding the best ones for treating a specific type of cancer requires testing, preferably done by an integrative cancer physician.
Talk to your doctor about RGCC tests, other lab work and bioenergetic tests that can determine the perfect, personalized protocol for you. This individualized approach will give you the best chance at winning your cancer battle and improving your overall health and well-being.
For more in-depth discussions of these supplements, suggested brands and information on where to purchase them, read my book The Cancer Revolution. It is available in all formats on Amazon.com. Hardback copies are available at perfectlyhealthy.com.
To order the supplements discussed in this article, try your trusted local health food store or shop online at perfectlyhealthy.com.
Our regular columnist Dr Leigh Erin Connealy joined us for a discussion about cancer—its origins, the best anti-cancer diet, other ways to prevent it, and strategies to support any treatment you’re having.
Since Erin joined the WDDTY team, we’ve been constantly amazed at her breadth of knowledge about the disease that afflicts so many of us.
Not surprisingly, she is one of the most sought-after cancer specialists in the US, and so we were especially privileged that she is finding time in her busy schedule to talk with us.
What do you think? Start a conversation over on the... WDDTY Community
References
1. National Cancer Institute, “Intravenous Vitamin C (PDQ®)–Patient Version,” June 24, 2022, cancer.gov
2. Genome Res, 2010; 20(10): 1352–60
3. Leigh Erin Connealy, The Cancer Revolution, 98
4. John Beard and Nicholas J. Gonzalez, The Enzyme Treatment of Cancer and Its Scientific Basis (New York: New Spring Press, 2009)
5. Robert O. Young and Shelley Redford Young, pH Miracle: Balance Your Diet, Reclaim Your Health, revised and updated (New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2010); Theodore A. Baroody, Alkalize or Die: Superior Health through Proper Alkaline-Acid Balance (Kansas City, MO: Eclectic Publishing, 1991)
6. Leigh Erin Connealy, The Cancer Revolution, 98; Antioxidants (Basel), 2021; 10(5): 759
7. Christianne Schelling, “Quercetin is a Multi-Faceted Cancer Fighter,” 2022, quercetin.com
8. J Pineal Res, 2005; 39(4): 360–6
9. Pharmacol Ther, 2020; 216: 107706
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