THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 21, 1994 TAG: 9410190199
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02K EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
Researchers in a double-blind trial supported in part by National Institutes of Health's National Cancer Institute have shown that large, supplemental amounts of vitamins along with zinc can halve the risk of recurrent bladder cancer.
More than 50,000 people in the United States are diagnosed each year with carcinoma of the bladder, according to the institute.
Despite the fact that malignant tumors of the bladder can often be surgically removed before they spread, the cancers return in nearly nine out of 10 patients.
In the current study of 65 bladder cancer patients, Dr. Donald Lamm and his co-researchers assessed the value of using megadose vitamin supplements, along with zinc, in combination with standard therapy known as bacillus Calmette-Guerin to determine whether this regimen could halt bladder tumor recurrence.
Findings revealed that after 10 months, the megadose supplements appeared to help prevent tumor recurrence. Cancer returned in only 40 percent of those in the group receiving larger supplement amounts, while 80 percent of patients in the control group experienced tumor recurrence.
However, Lamm and other experts urge cancer patients to continue following their prescribed treatments and avoid megadose vitamin therapy unless advised by their physician. by CNB