We are pleased to introduce a new daily supplement called SafeVite, a multi vitamin that has been specifically formulated for cancer patients during and after treatment.

Over the years, patients have frequently asked, “what vitamins should I take?” As cancer doctors, our first priority is to cure cancer and help patients understand their prognosis and treatment. But even if less critical, they should still have an answer to the vitamin question. As we looked into it further we just couldn’t find an appropriate answer or product, so we formed the SafeVite Research Team and got to work.

Over the last 4 years our findings have surprised us in that, although there is a tremendous body of evidence and prior studies regarding vitamins and cancer, it just hadn’t been put together in one logical product… until now. SafeVite has been formulated by our Research Team of Cancer Doctors, carefully considering which vitamins to include and in what doses, in an effort to maximize the benefit to patients in and after cancer treatment.

Some of the questions our Research Team has answered in formulating SafeVite:

• There are certain vitamins to avoid during curative treatment
• Treatment can lead to specific long-term vitamin deficiencies
• Cancer patients run the risk of dangerously elevated vitamin levels
• Cancer treatment can lead to long-term toxicities like hair thinning and nerve damage

And these are just a few examples.

We know the answer is not ‘more vitamins are better’ or just buying a multivitamin off the shelf, as they do not address the specific deficiencies, toxicities and conditions caused by cancer and/or cancer treatment as found in our research. The answer is SafeVite and it’s our goal that SafeVite supports your body’s vitamin needs as you continue your fight against cancer.

There is a problem; supplemental vitamin needs are not being addressed with most cancer patients. Doctors are focused on treating and curing cancer and there is no one product that solves the problem so it becomes complex in an already complex field.

Doctors, Research Scientists and Nutritionist rarely disagree that cancer and/or cancer treatment can place a nutritional, vitamin and mineral toll on the body. There is however considerable debate as to which vitamins and doses are appropriate in providing the patient a safe and consistent daily multi vitamin regime.

Safevite has been formulated to solve the problem, making it easy for doctors to recommend by addressing patient vitamin needs across the spectrum and putting it into one daily multivitamin.

The emotional impact on lives as well as financial and career changing costs are often overwhelming for both patient and family. Though great strides are currently being made in the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of cancer, the word ‘Cancer’ appropriately instills tremendous fear and anxiety. In fact, according to information listed on the American Cancer Society website, nearly 1 out of every 2 men will develop a potentially fatal (invasive) cancer in their lifetime. For women, this is more than 1 in every 3. Given this reality, there is understandably extreme interest in the latest cancer treatments and new advances. At the same time we have found that vitamin use, though prevalent, is often inadequately addressed. Despite these facts, vitamins have been extensively studied in cancer; both the beneficial as well as potentially harmful or inconclusive findings (comprehensive number of published medical articles and research studies were analyzed in formulating SafeVite; see our reference guide)

A cancer doctor’s priority is appropriate surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted agents and the new field of immunotherapy, as they strive to cure or treat a cancer patient. They are often assisted by a team comprised of psychologists, financial advocates, social workers, rehabilitation staff and specialists in survivorship as well as unfortunately in some cases, end of life issues. Adding to the matrix, Oncologists are, in addition to cancer screening, addressing the proven benefits of nutrition and exercise. This is not to say Oncologists are not interested in the science of vitamins, but in reality they have to prioritize their time, first and foremost discussing the important treatment pathways for a specific cancer. They also worry that addressing vitamins may confuse or minimize their focus on the necessary treatments and other items such as lifestyle, financial and emotional costs. This also goes for the family doctor who unfortunately is also very busy with specific ailments as well as wellness tests that may be required by governmental agencies or insurance providers. In fairness it is also complicated. Some patients are on active radiation or certain chemotherapy treatments. Some have developed toxicities from their current or previous cancer treatments, while others are simply considered survivors of cancer. Some individuals simply have a diagnosis of pre-cancer. In fact everyone to some degree carries this risk. The most significant risk factors beyond genetics, smoking and lifestyle issues appear to be aging, likely due to immune factors, often in the normal aging process. Knowing these realities and knowing there is significant science and research when it comes to cancer and vitamins, our doctors after careful consideration formulated SafeVite by analyzing a comprehensive list of published medical articles and research studies. With a daily multivitamin that covers many aspects of the spectrum regarding a cancer patients vitamin needs during and after treatment, doctors now have a recommended choice for their patients, its SafeVite.

Using the most current references and studies, our research team has focused on vitamins that can be safely recommended for all cancer patients.

Examples are:

• D deficiency is widespread and frequently seen in patients receiving cancer treatments including colon and breast cancer patients.
• B6 (pyridoxine) — Likely protects or mitigates the nerve damage by chemotherapeutic agents and possibly targeted agents that are often used to treat lymphoma, breast, colon, lung, sarcoma and myeloma (and other cancers). B6 is associated with lower risk of hormone positivebreast cancer and likely helpful in colon and pancreatic cancer.
• B12 is deficient in many types of cancer including breast cancer and multiple myeloma. B12 deficiency often results from deficiency of the protein intrinsic factor produced by the parietal cell in the stomach and thus frequently present in cancer patients and likely requires a very high dose in order to be absorbed by passive diffusion. B12 based on homocysteine alternations likely mitigates bone turnover and bone fracture risk.

Based on the most credible research available, Safevite’s Cancer specialists have concluded that it is appropriate to avoid some vitamins from use in order to maximize your body’s fight against Cancer.

• Calcium – One out of every four cancer patients will have significantly elevated calcium levels at some time in their life. Although calcium may be necessary for certain patients (like those on bone strengthen agents) it is best to avoid added calcium until confirmed with your doctor what amounts are appropriate.
• Zinc – Though Zinc can specifically help with taste alterations due to radiation damage in oral cavity; it could mitigate the curative effects of this treatment. This is currently still being studied. For now likely best to avoid since its known benefits are limited to this specific situation and it definitely leads to cooper deficiency.
• E & A – Vitamins E and A, beta-carotene and selenium definitely interfere with potentially curative chemotherapy and radiation treatments while surprisingly seem to not be helpful in cancer prevention or possibly harmful in the development of cancers like lung cancer or prostate cancer.