Vitamins improve outcomes for breast cancer patients: study

A December Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention study finds no evidence that the use of vitamins during first 6 months after a diagnosis of breast cancer adversely affected outcomes. In fact, vitamin use appeared to have a beneficial effect among patients with breast cancer who underwent chemotherapy. Vitamin use — and the use of vitamins C and E in particular — appeared to be associated with reduced risk for mortality and recurrence. Patients who used antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C, multivitamins) had an 18% reduction in their mortality risk, and the risk for recurrence was decreased by 22%. This association was observed whether vitamin use was concurrent or nonconcurrent with chemotherapy. However, this benefit was only seen in patients who did not receive radiotherapy.