Here for my mum - IV Vit C? Advice please

Hi LH24 and welcome to the forum

I notice you have an appointment today with your mum’s surgeon, so although I don’t have experience of high dose vit c, I wanted to recommend that you speak to the surgeon about this when you see them.

It is very tempting to look at all sorts of information online, and consider various options but when you don’t know what treatment plan would be needed, it is best to wait. 

NHS England has not suggested that this therapy can be helpful, and could be dangerous. Bear in mind that it’s expensive and needs to be done privately as it is not something that the nhs would routinely do.

When someone has chemo, they are carefully monitored and any side effects are managed-but not everyone on chemo suffers difficult side effects. Other treatments not provided as part of someone’s chemo regime outwith the nhs are not monitored by your own doctors and could interfere with standard treatment. 

The surgeon today will be seeing how your mum is and talking about the surgery she has had, but others may be involved in planning any further treatment so it’s important that you make them aware that you might be thinking of considering vit c therapy. Please do not believe all you read on the internet, as private clinics are in the business of making money, and you do not have the benefit of verifiable proven research for these treatments. 

I had chemo for a different cancer, and trusted my doctors to make the best decisions for me. It’s best to discuss fully any other treatments you or your mum might consider taking to be fully informed about the potential risks/benefits of them. 

There will be a wait to get the pathology results from surgery, so it’s difficult for you to anticipate any next steps, but I wish your mum well in her recovery.

Sarah xx

Thank you for your reply Sarah x

You are of course right in everything you say, and there may be contraindications to any chemo so absolutely, it’s not something we’re considering going ahead with regardless. I just wondered if anyone had any experience alongside chemo. 

Hope you are well and you are on a positive path with your cancer journey x

Hi , I’m sorry you find yourself in this situation. There is so much uncertainty during the diagnosis process it’s understandable that you search for ways to help your mum. I have heard about IV vitamin c , not experienced it myself and would definitely discuss this option with your medical team before going ahead. I had surgery in June, similar to your mum. Ive also had chemotherapy and to be honest the side effects were way more manageable than I expected, I found the operation was the toughest. When having chemo, blood tests are taken regularly to monitor the impact of chemo. I did discuss taking supplements with my oncologist but I was wary of how they might negatively interact with the chemo so decided against and focused on healthy diet instead. You mention your mum was very fit and active, this will help her get through. I know it’s hard waiting for results. I hope you’re mums appointment with the surgeon goes well this morning and she is recovering from the operation. Take care of yourself too. Xx

Thanks LH24 

We need to be careful within the community when discussing treatments which are not mainstream medicine, and in my time on the community I’ve seen this topic brought up for discussion just once in the cervical group where I tend to post. 

You may find others who have had this therapy, but in my own experience in almost 4 years of being here I think it might be unlikely as it’s not a standard part of nhs treatment, and discussions around it here will be closely monitored and maybe even removed if anyone tries to recommend it. 

I hope you can have a full discussion with the surgeon today and things go well but it sounds like you will take the necessary advice before considering going ahead with this. 

Sarah xx

That’s great to know, thank you Sarah x

Hi SEM.24,

Thanks so much for your reply. The last experience we had of relatives experiencing chemo has been rough, so the stories I’ve read on here, as well as your own experience of it being more manageable than expected is a real comfort. 

I hope you’re well and really appreciate your input. X

Hi , yes I’m doing really well. Completed front line treatment now. Everyone does respond differently to chemotherapy and I hope for your mum side effects are minimal too. There are charities that specialise in OC who have helpful websites too. Target ovarian cancer and ovacome. Both have helpline numbers. Target ovarian cancer has nurses who are very knowledgeable, I know some people call before appointments to help think through worries and questions to ask. Just a thought. X

That’s really helpful, thank you so much x

I’ve just remembered when I was researching supplements ovacome shared comprehensive information about supplements and how they interact with treatment , they do always advise to discuss with oncology which is something I’m sure you have in mind. it was interesting and helpful. Might be worth giving them a call , number is on their website. Good luck this morning. X

Hello L,

I know nothing about the Vitamin C treatment you mention, but like another responder on this forum I too have had a similar operation to remove ovaries, peritoneum & omentum (had a partial hysterectomy years ago), and looking back, the chemo was honestly not as bad as I feared.   I'm 66.  I had 4 chemos before the op and 2 afterwards.  In the moment it was alll unpleasant and uncomfortable, especially in the week after the operation.  Chemo makes you feel as if you have been poisoned (which you have) and the side effects are unpredictable and made me feel washed out and ill.  However the support of my family and the optimism of those around me convinced me I would get through it all and life would get back on track if I just got on with the treatment and moved at my own pace through my recovery.  I'm glad I had the cold cap treatment, and I found a friend of a friend who was about 2 months ahead of me in treatment terms who I could really honestly exchange messages, observations, worries etc with.   I am now in remission and on maintenance drugs that also have side effects.  I'm glad I'm sticking with them though, albeit on a reduced dose, because with my consultant's help and advice I seem to have found a way through.  I'm feeling better every day.

So the message really is that support, optimism and encouragement will make a massive difference to your mother.   I trusted my consultant and surgeon implicitly and totally followed all their advice.  I hope you can too. 

So many people will be rooting for her!  Good luck!