Vitamin C – also known as ascorbate or ascorbic acid is one of the vitamins that can’t be ‘made’ by the human body. It can only be absorbed by the body through fruits and vegetables. Biochemist Albert Szent-Gyorgyi prepared the first Vitamin C in 1923, calling it L-ascorbic acid.

There are many known reasons why vitamin C aids in preventing cancer. Let’s recap on them:
. Vitamin C neutralises free radicals – A high load of free radicals causes a deficient and stressed immune system. If too little vitamin C is available cancer can become the host.
. Vitamin C is your cells’ first line of defence – It builds the collagen (cell binding mortar) of cells, therefore aiding in tissue healing. Strong collagen makes it difficult for tumours to grow. With too little Vitamin C in the system, the hyaluronidase substance in cancer will brake poor collagen, making tumour growth easy!
. Vitamin C slows tumour growth – by strengthening cell walls (collagen).
. Vitamin C is cytotoxic – it kills cancer cells.
. Vitamin C enhances the lymphatic system and acts like an antihistamine.
. Vitamin C neutralises carcinogenic chemicals like nitrite and nitrosamine.

It is important to understand that Vitamin C alone won’t cure cancer but could prolong a patients’ life. Taken intravenously by a cancer patient is preferable, due to the higher plasma levels in that form. It is believed that between 100mg and 300mg is necessary when administered intravenously. Taking Vitamin C orally is more of a preventative measure. According to some, up to 14 000mg per day can be taken when your body is stressed, because a stressed immune system uses more Vitamin C. But the most acceptable dosage (permitted you are not a smoker, eat fruit and vegetables daily, and aren’t under stress) is a maximum of 2000mg per day. The golden rule is to start slowly and building the Vitamin C dosage up over time, allowing your system to adjust, as it may cause indigestion and diarrhoea. Never take Vitamin C on am empty stomach.

Reading up on the findings of Drs Linus Pauling and Cameron – it is believed that high dosages of Vitamin C behave like a prooxidant – killing cancer cells. It has also been observed that Vitamin C aids in the shrinking of tumours in pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer and brain cancers. There has actually been an improvement in ALL cancer types by adding Vitamin C to the system. In clinical studies, Kedar N. Prasad has proven that antioxidants like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, retinoids and carotenoids definitely inhibit cancer growth. The only antioxidant he warns about is sulfhydryl compounds (glutathione and dithioerythritol) which can protect cancer cells against radiation therapy.

On the contrary: Studies – not clinical trials on cancer patients – by Mark Heaney claims that Vitamin C protects the mitochondria (the power source) of cancer cells up to 70%. His concern is that some drugs produces oxygen free radicals (the cancer killing property), and Vitamin C – being an antioxidant – then attacks these oxygen free radicals. In lab mice, cancer cells treated beforehand with Vitamin C grew more rapidly into tumours than those not treated. It must be noted that he mainly studied the effects on lymphoma and leukaemia. He concluded that even as little as 100mg a day may be harmful for a patient undergoing chemotherapy. Furthermore, he suggests only a maximum of 90mg a day to be taken by healthy people.

One of the reasons for the demoting of Vitamin C is (allegedly) that drug companies can’t make millions from it, as Vitamin C can be easily and inexpensively purchased by all. Clinical trials done by ‘pro-Vitamin C activists’ have demonstrated that Vitamin C is a cancer therapy OPTION, as in their studies it definitely increased survival rates and even decreased side effects of therapy.
To test the results is your choice, for it’s consequently YOUR life! The suggestion is that the possibility of harm done by Vitamin C is equal to the possibility of you winning the lotto. If you decide to continue taking Vitamin C during your therapy, you and your oncologist should monitor and evaluate your progress. Remember to withhold all vitamins on the day of therapy!