It depends on the cancer type and on the therapy scheme. Catechols like EGCG from Green Tea for instance can react with the boronic acid based synthetic anticancer drug bortezomib and inactivate bortezomib. So antioxidants can also have a negative effect during chemotherapy.

Personally, I'm convinced of the activity of herbal antioxidants like curcumin and EGCG. In addition, though not a classical antioxidant, the LOX-inhibiting Boswellia extract showed very promising effects in cancer patients with metastases, reduced the pain caused by chemo/radiotherapy, and reduced edema. Due to the low bioavailability of these compounds or extracts, a small amount of black pepper (containing piperine which enhances the bioavailability significantly) should be consumed together with the respective herbal antioxidant.

Very promising effect of the bee pollen for patients who needs to go through chemo- or radiation therapy especially if you want to prevent development of the condition. In this circumstance it is not only antioxidants effect but vide spectrum of more than 350 components.

As my personal experience in(treatment of pancreatic cancer with gemcitabine),

giving natural antioxidants as adjuvant for chemotherapy & radiotherapy has beneficial effects. Patient can tolerate more for the side effects of the drugs. Patient surviving after two years since initial diagnosis.

N.B experience in only one patient

It depends on the cancer type and on the therapy scheme. Catechols like EGCG from Green Tea for instance can react with the boronic acid based synthetic anticancer drug bortezomib and inactivate bortezomib. So antioxidants can also have a negative effect during chemotherapy.

Personally, I'm convinced of the activity of herbal antioxidants like curcumin and EGCG. In addition, though not a classical antioxidant, the LOX-inhibiting Boswellia extract showed very promising effects in cancer patients with metastases, reduced the pain caused by chemo/radiotherapy, and reduced edema. Due to the low bioavailability of these compounds or extracts, a small amount of black pepper (containing piperine which enhances the bioavailability significantly) should be consumed together with the respective herbal antioxidant.

Thanks for your suggestions

I was just wondering whether antioxidants from natural sources are good for improving the general health of patients after chemical chemo, rather than specific immune based chemotherapy. I mean, the toxigenic compounds effectively kill cancer cells, but the rest of cells have to resist the toxics. Anybody thinking that administering nutraceutics like carotenoids and such, would help the patient more than helping cancer cells to recover?

In general, it is not a secret that our body makes the cancerous cells all the time throughout our life. Normally, our immune system (if it is healthy – we still do not know what that means), are capable to destroy these cells. As soon as IS (immunity)has been compromised – cancerous cells become uncontrollable. If chemotherapy is administered in accordance with the level of the damage –the body should take over this job. The Problem –the many functions of the body system become also compromised. Sadly most of medical community rejects old grandma’s suggestion about chicken bouillon. For a millennia humanity learns – we are what we eat. In case of rehabilitation after radiation- and chemo therapy that is especially true. After the procedure the body is particularly starving for compounds which is going to help with the restoration of function of the immune system. It is especially true – starvation of the organism actually leads to the malfunction of the immune system. That is why at this time it is especially crucial to deliver natural (unprocessed) antioxidants, free amino acids, easily available fatty acids and glucose for nourishing the organism. In this case even if treatment can’t illuminate all damaged cells the immune system should finish this task.

Yes here are many questions that are still waiting to be answered (dosage of the therapy, form of delivery, etc.). At the same time so far anecdotal observation leads us to believe that the combination of the raw unprocessed honey, high quality bee pollen and temperate climate propolis is doing this magnificent job. At this time especially it is important to use a natural mixture of unprocessed compounds not pharmacy grade active ingredients or mixtures.

It is also very true that many natural compounds inhibit or enhance each other’s or synthetic complexes. These are not negative effects – this is a level of knowledge – that is why we must study throughout our life.