Relief from cancer chemotherapy side effects with pharmacologic vitamin C.
Fatigue is a common, often debilitating, side effect of cancer chemotherapy. Pharmacologic vitamin C has been used as an alternative treatment for the disease itself but its effects on fatigue have not often been documented. Here we report on the case of a woman with recurrent breast cancer, undergoing weekly chemotherapy, with lethargy as a major symptom. Vitamin C (50 g/session) was administered twice weekly and quality of life and multidimensional fatigue symptomology questionnaires were undertaken. Dramatic decreases in fatigue and insomnia were observed, as well as increased cognitive functioning. There were no adverse side effects of i.v. vitamin C.
Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. anitra.carr@otago.ac.nz.
Anitra C
AC
Carr
Margreet C M
MC
Vissers
John
J
Cook
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001205:Ascorbic Acid