In this article
Antioxidant Supplements and Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Risks
New studies have found that taking supplements like antioxidants may carry significant risk during breast cancer chemotherapy. A small study found out that patient taking supplements during breast cancer chemotherapy have higher chances of cancer recurrence leading to deaths. However, taking multivitamins is not found to be risky. The study was published online December 19, 2019 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. It was led by researchers at the SWOG Cancer Research Network, funded by the National Cancer Institute.
Purpose of this study was to find out widespread use of dietary supplements during cancer treatment, few empirical data with regard to their safety or efficacy exist. Because of concerns that some supplements, particularly antioxidants, could reduce the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy, we conducted a prospective study ancillary to a therapeutic trial to evaluate associations between supplement use and breast cancer outcomes.
SWOG Study Findings and Dietary Recommendations
In the above-mentioned study 1134 patients who were undergoing chemotherapy in breast cancer were asked questions with respect to the supplement they are consuming. Questions were asked with respect to supplements like Vitamin A, C, E, carotenoids and Coenzyme Q10. It was found out that 41% of the patients are likely to have a recurrence and 40% of them are likely to die.
Co-author Christine B. Ambrosone, PhD, says cancer patients should be cautious about taking supplements while in chemotherapy. “People diagnosed with any cancer should talk with their doctors about whether they should be taking vitamins or other supplements,” she said in a statement. “I’d recommend that they try to get their vitamins and minerals – including antioxidants – from food. With a healthy and balanced diet, you can get all the nutrients your body needs, even while undergoing chemo.”
How CancerFax Helps
CancerFax is a specialist cancer access and patient-navigation platform. We help patients and families understand their options, organise medical records, coordinate hospital communication, and support cross-border treatment planning where appropriate.
We help collect and organise reports, scans, pathology, biomarker results, and treatment history for structured case review.
We communicate with hospitals or trial teams to assess whether a case may be suitable for further screening.
We support appointment coordination, document submission, translation, and direct communication with international departments.
For international patients, we help with practical coordination — travel planning, hospital admission guidance, and local support.
If this option is not suitable, we help explore other relevant treatments, clinical trials, or advanced care pathways.
From inquiry through to follow-up, our coordinators provide a single point of contact for the family.
CancerFax does not guarantee treatment access, eligibility, or clinical outcome. Our role is to help patients access accurate information, structured review, and appropriate specialist pathways.
About Sai Sree
✓ Reviewed for medical accuracy by the CancerFax review panel.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only and should not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified oncology specialist. Every patient's case is different. Treatment decisions should always be made after a review of complete medical records by the treating medical team.
Treatment availability, eligibility, timelines, and access can change. Any clinical trial participation depends on detailed review and approval by the trial hospital or investigator.