IV vitamin C infusion therapy may be used as an adjuvant therapy for many health conditions including cancer treatment.  Intravenous vitamin C is an immune system booster with anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-histamine properties.  A high dose of vitamin C appears to be toxic to cancer cells.

The high doses of vitamin C required to be effective for cancer treatments (15 to 60 grams/infusion) may only be given by an intravenous route.  Oral administration of a dose this high would not be tolerated or absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract.  IV infusions of high doses of vitamin C along with various other antioxidants and nutrients may be given to assit in treating various cancers.

Each patient is individually evaluated at the Wycoff Wellness Center and a specific treatment protocol is recommended.  A typical protocol would include vitamin C and various other antioxidants and nutrients administered as follows:

• Week 1: 15 grams vitamin C + antioxidants/nutrients per day, 2-3 per week
• Week 2: 30 grams vitamin C + antioxidants/nutrients per day, 2-3 per week
• Week 3: 60 grams vitamin C + antioxidants/nutrients per day, 2-3 per week
• Weeks 4-8: 60 grams vitamin C + antioxidants/nutrients per day, 2 per week
• Ongoing: 60 grams vitamin C + antioxidants/nutrients per day, 1 per week

Patients are encouraged to take oral ascorbic acid (vitamin C) at a dose of 4 grams (4,000 mg) per day on days when they are not receiving IV infusions.  We also encourage appropriate antioxidants and nutritional supplements be taken.  Please refer to Nutritional Supplements In Cancer Treatment under our "Learn More"category.

The initial evaluation at the Wycoff Wellness Center will include a detailed history and physical regarding your specific health issues.  Certain tests may have to be completed before treatments may be started.  Specific blood tests may be required during the course of your treatment.

Side effects of IV vitamin C treatments are infrequent and usually very minimal.  The most common side effect is irritation at the site of intravenous insertion.  Rare accounts of tumor necrosis (death) with hemorrhage have been reported in the literature.  Because of this rare concern, we begin with lower doses of vitamin C and increase the dose based upon the patient's tolerance to each dose.

Most of the patients we treat are receiving other forms of cancer treatment such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy.  We feel that IV vitamin C treatments have a synergistic (beneficial) affect on chemotherapy although some oncologists do not share these thoughts.

Intravenous vitamin C therapy has been used for years as a treatment option for various types of cancer.  Vitamin C therapy is not a cure for cancer but a viable treatment option when part of a comprehensive treatment protocol for cancer treatment.

If you would like us to provide additional information regarding IV vitamin C infusions or other treatment options offered at the Wycoff Wellness Center, please contact one of our professional staff members at our office.