Over-the-Counter Drugs and Supplements
Over-the-Counter Drugs and Supplements
There are a number of agents available over-the-counter that have promising anti-cancer properties, and it is reasonable to believe that these can increase the chances of surviving. Some of these with supporting clinical evidence (e.g., proton pump inhibitors such as Prilosec) have been discussed above. A frequent conflict between patients and their oncologists is that patients, often desperate to find treatment agents that will improve their chances of survival, are eager to use such adjunctive treatment while their oncologists generally oppose using such supplementary agents, on the ground that they might interfere with the standard treatment. While negative interactions are possible, to date there have been very few if any documented cases.
Given the bleak prognosis of a glioblastoma diagnosis, my belief is that concerns about negative interference are misplaced and get in the way of potentially useful treatment adjuncts. However, it is important to attend to the evidence supporting the use of any specific agent under consideration, as there are many products on the market that are hyped, supported only by testimonials of dubious validity, and some have the potential for harm.
