Children receiving cancer treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiation) can experience side effects caused by their treatment. Many patients and families would like to use complementary and alternative medicines such as natural health products to help with these symptoms.
What are natural health products?
Natural health product is a term used to refer to a group of health products including:
- vitamins and minerals
- herbal remedies
- homeopathic medicines
- Chinese medicines or Ayurvedic medicines (East Indian)
- probiotics
- other products like amino acids and essential fatty acids
These products may be natural but they can cause side effects. They may also interact with cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy or other medicines.
Are natural health products regulated in Canada?
Not all natural health products that you can buy have been assessed by Health Canada. Products that have been assessed by Health Canada may have a Natural Product Number (NPN) or Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label. Ask your pharmacist to show you if the product you are considering buying has one of these numbers. You do not need a prescription to buy natural health products.
Can natural health products be used safely during chemotherapy or radiation therapy?
Most natural health products have not been studied together with chemotherapy and their safety is unclear. Before you give a natural health product to your child, talk to your child's health-care provider to review its safety. Also review with your child's health-care provider the chance that a natural health product may interact with your child's other treatments.
How can natural health products interact with chemotherapy or radiation therapy?
Natural health products can interact with chemotherapy drugs in different ways. For example, they can change how much chemotherapy is absorbed into the bloodstream, where the chemotherapy acts in the body and how quickly the body breaks it down. Using a natural health product at the same time as chemotherapy or radiotherapy may:
- Decrease the amount of chemotherapy in the bloodstream. This may decrease how well the chemotherapy works.
- Block the action of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. This may decrease the how well the therapy works.
- Increase the amount of chemotherapy in the bloodstream. This may cause more side effects of chemotherapy.
Is it true that some natural health products can be used to treat side effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy?
There are some natural health products which have been studied in humans and have shown to help reduce some of the side effects caused by cancer treatment. However, some of these natural health products may also decrease how well the chemotherapy works. We recommend that the use of any natural health products be discussed with a health-care provider.
Can I give my child antioxidants to prevent the side effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy?
Some people think that antioxidants, such as vitamin C, might protect normal cells from cancer therapy. However, vitamin C and other antioxidants may reduce the effectiveness of cancer therapy. We recommend that antioxidants like vitamin C not be given as a supplement during radiation or chemotherapy that relies on oxidation to work properly. Please discuss with your child's health-care provider whether it is safe to give an antioxidant to your child during their cancer therapy.
Can I give my child a multivitamin during their chemotherapy or radiation therapy?
Various ingredients in multivitamin products may interact with cancer therapy or may be unsafe during cancer treatment (for example, vitamin C, vitamin E, folic acid, iron). Before giving your child a multivitamin, ask your health-care provider to review if a multivitamin is safe and beneficial for your child during cancer therapy.
While my child receives cancer therapy, should I avoid spices and herbs in cooking?
No. Spices that are used in normal amounts in cooking do not pose a risk for an interaction with chemotherapy.
While my child receives cancer therapy, can I give my child a probiotic supplement?
No. Probiotic supplements are natural health products which contain purified bacteria in large quantities and may not be safe for children during cancer therapy.
While my child receives cancer therapy, can I give my child foods that contain probiotics such as yogurt, infant formula and cereals?
Yes. The amounts of probiotics found in foods supplemented with probiotics should not pose a risk to your child.
How do I know if a natural health product can interact with chemotherapy drugs or other prescription drugs?
It is important to talk to the health-care providers that your child sees at the hospital or cancer clinic before giving your child any natural health product.
Health Canada. (2011, November 14). Drugs and Health Products. Retrieved January 2013 from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodnatur/applications/licen-prod/lnhpd-bdpsnh-eng.php
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. (n.d.). About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products. Retrieved January 2013 from http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/about-herbs-botanicals-other-products
Reynolds, S. (2009). Dietary Supplements and Cancer Treatment: A Risky Mixture. NCI Cancer Bulletin, 6(16), 6. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/archive/2009/081109/page6
Jellin JM, Gregory PJ et al. (2004). Pharmacist's Letter/Prescriber's Letter Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. 12th ed. Stockton, CA: Therapeutic Research Faculty.