I recently heard that we shouldn't take vitamin C supplements because it can damage DNA and increase your risk of cancer. Does this mean we should be careful of fruits and vegetables high in Vitamin C, too? What fruits and vegetables are high in Vitamin C?

There is no evidence that supports vitamin C supplementation causes DNA damage or increases the risk of cancer. Recently, a small English study reported that the people who took 500 mg of Vitamin C daily for six weeks sustained DNA damage. Unfortunately, the study has received uncritical media coverage that has led to confusion over the safety of vitamin C. Many leading scientists in the study of vitamin C have discovered serious flaws with this study. They have found that the methods used in this study may be the cause of most of the genetic damage attributed to vitamin C.

You don't have to throw away your vitamin C supplement or stop drinking orange juice. Numerous studies suggest that vitamin C may have potential good benefits such as preventing certain cancers. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can combat free radicals (unstable compounds that can damage cells) as well as block the conversion of nitrates and nitrites into cancer causing compounds. Studies also suggest that low intake of vitamin C is associated with increased risk of stomach and esophageal cancers. It can also play a part in preventing heart disease and birth defects.

Foods offer important combination of nutrients. Vitamins and other antioxidants work synergistically and may work best in their natural setting such as fruits and vegetables. Supplements can be helpful in certain situations but they can not replace a healthy, varied, balanced diet.

The following is a list of fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C:

asparagus	grapefruit	pineapple
broccoli	green pepper	raspberries
brussel sprouts	lemons	strawberries
cabbage	limes	sweet potatoes
cantaloupe	oranges	tangerines
cauliflower	peas	tomatoes

My oncologist has recommended that I stop taking all of my herbal supplements. He feels I should save my money because these herbs have not been proven effective. My herbalist tells me that I should continue them to protect against the side effects of chemotherapy. I don't know what to do. Since these herbs are natural what harm could they do even if we don't know how they work yet?

The popularity of herbal and dietary supplements has increased greatly in the past few years due to people wishing to improve their health or find a cure for various ailments. Efficacy and safety of many herbal products out in the U.S. market have not been proven. This is not to say that there may be herbs currently being sold that may not be proven effective in the future. After all, some of our most potent drugs such as aspirin, digitalis, taxol, and vincristine, are from plants. However, at this time the production, distribution, and labeling of herbal preparations and dietary supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

This means that there is a lack of standards regarding identity and quality of herbs and herbal products. If you choose to use herbal preparations you may be risking unexpected or undesirable interactions between the preparations and prescribed medications such as chemotherapy. You may also be exposing yourself to the risk of bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections these herbal preparations might be harboring. Finally, there are a few specific preparations that have been repeatedly associated with serious toxic side effects. These toxic side effects include cardiac toxicity, liver toxicity and disease, hypertension, hypotension, strokes, convulsions, respiratory depression, coma, blood clotting problems, and stomach problems

Natural doesn't necessarily mean safe. It pays to do some research and make an informed decision. The following organizations are reliable sources of information:

American Cancer Society
Committee on Questionable Methods of Cancer Management
(404) 329-7607

Cancer Information Hotline:
1-(800) 4-Cancer

National Cancer Institute
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 496-5615

National Council Against Health Fraud
P.O. Box 1276
Loma Linda, CA 92354
(909) 824-4690

Office of Alternative Medicine/National Institutes of Health
9000 Rockville Pike, Mailstop 2182
Bldg 31, Rm 5B-38
Bethesda, MD 20892
(800) 531-1794

US Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
(800) 332-0178
http://www.fda.gov/fdahomepage.html

The most terrible problem my sister experiences during and after chemotherapy is nausea. She starts eating after about 4 days post chemotherapy but for about a week she barely drinks water. I can't believe a person can go for that long without food. What should she be eating during the terrible nausea phase?

It is very important to maintain good nutritional status during cancer treatment. Patients who eat well during cancer treatment are better able to cope with side effects of treatment and fight off infection. Unfortunately, there are times that side effects of the chemotherapy make it difficult to eat. In your sister's case, nausea decreases her oral intake for a few days.

Managing nausea is very individual. Foods that make one person feel better may make another feel worse. Your sister has to find methods and foods that help make her nausea better. The following are tips she may want to try:

• Ask your doctor about medications to help control nausea and vomiting.
• Try these foods -- toast and crackers, yogurt, sherbet, pretzels, baked potato chips, angel food cake, oatmeal, skinned chicken (baked, broiled, or boiled), soft and bland fruits and vegetables (peaches, pears), clear liquids (jello, apple juice, popsicles, chicken broth), ice chips.
• Small, frequent meals and/or snacks.
• Avoid stuffy, warm rooms, or cooking odors that might disagree with you.
• Drink beverages cool or chilled. Freezing favorite beverages in ice trays are a nice alternative.
• Eat foods at room temperature or cooler. Hot foods may add to nausea.
• Avoid favorite foods when nauseated. You do not want to acquire a learned food aversion.
• Wear loose fitting clothes.
• Keep a journal and try to keep track of when your nausea occurs and what causes it. This information can help you make appropriate changes in your diet or schedule.