Targeting Pancreatic Cancer With Intravenous Vitamin C

By Eugene L. Heyden, RN

“If one patient can do it, there’s no reason others can’t. I realized that medicine has been studying its failures when it should have been learning from its successes. We should be paying more attention to the exceptional patients, those who get well unexpectedly, instead of staring bleakly at all those who die in the usual pattern.” ~Siegel, 1986

“Emerging in vitro [in the lab] data show that extracellular ascorbic acid selectively kills some cancer but no normal cells by generating hydrogen peroxide. Death is mediated exclusively by extracellular ascorbate, at pharmacologic concentrations that can be achieved only by intravenous administration.” ~Padayatty et al., 2006, emphasis added

Reports are streaming in! Not really, but if you look hard enough you will find stories in the medical literature of individuals who have achieved success by the use of intravenous (IV) vitamin C in the battle against pancreatic cancer. I will share the stories of two such individuals here. But first, a little background information is in order so everything will all make sense.

Everyone has heard of vitamin C, how it is beneficial for health and for the prevention of disease. And we usually take it by mouth, as a supplement, when we believe we are not getting enough in our diet. But did you know, if given IV, concentrations of vitamin C can reach a level in the blood stream that can fight cancer? You don’t have to answer. Briefly, IV vitamin C—at concentrations totally unattainable by vitamin C supplementation—may benefit the pancreatic cancer patient in the following ways:

In general, “Vitamin C . . . enhances the immune system.” (González et al., 2016)
“Intravenous vitamin C creates a toxic accumulation of hydrogen peroxide within cancer cells, hastening their death.” (Bigelsen, 2018)
“IV vitamin C may also cause a metabolic defect in the difficult-to-kill pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs). These are the cells most resistant to chemotherapy and are responsible for recurrence of cancer even after the metastatic cells have been destroyed.” (Bigelsen, 2018)
Intravenous vitamin C promotes the killing of cancer cells, and without negatively affecting normal cells (Padayatty et al., 2006)
Reportedly, “high doses of IV vitamin C have not interfered with the effect of conventional therapy and may decrease toxicity of chemotherapy.” (Riordan et al., 2004)
Decreases pain and promotes a sense of well-being (Padayatty et al., 2004)

So, knowing you, killing is what you are into—particularly when it comes to the pancreatic cancer cell. And knowing you, you would like to read a case report or two. The case reports that follow are from reference González et al. The names used in the reports are pseudonyms.

Case report: Maria

Maria, age 59, is a Hispanic lady who was diagnosed in 2012 as having pancreatic adenocarcinoma with metastasis to the liver, exact date not specified in the report. Shortly after diagnosis, chemotherapy commenced and was completed in May of 2013. And somewhere along the line, a surgical procedure called a Whipple was performed—a procedure that involves the removal of the head of the pancreas as well as making surgical alterations involving regional organs. So, for Maria, the past 6 months has been a busy 6 months. Maybe she is better, now. But something new has developed which drove Maria to seek medical care once again.

To make a long story short, Maria had developed jaundice, and gallstones were identified. Surgery was performed to remove the gallbladder, stones and all, and Maria was sent on her way. The report does not implicitly say, but likely this turn of events suggested to her physicians that Maria’s cancer has not gone away. A treatment plan was devised.

Soon after recovery from her “cholecystectomy”, Maria was screened for the appropriateness of intravenous vitamin C therapy. She met the criteria, and on May 5, 2013, therapy began and went something like this:

“The first dose was 25 gr of vitamin C (sodium ascorbate) in 250cc Ringer’s lactated solution during 1hour infusion. The second infusion was 50 gr of vitamin C in 500 cc of Ringer’s lactated solution over a period of 1.5 hr. The third infusion was 75 gr of vitamin C in 1,000 mL of Ringer’s lactated solution over a period of 2 hrs. A maximum of 75 gr of vitamin C in 1,000 mL Ringer’s lactated solution was given three times a week over a period of 2 months.” (González et al., 2016)

As treatment progressed, Maria responded. And a repeat PET/CT study, performed on July 05, 2013, showed no evidence of an “active neoplastic process or metastatic disease at present time.” Impressively, while receiving IV vitamin C therapy, Maria received no other cancer therapy, and no adverse effects were observed or reported.

Comment: In this clinical case, as conventional therapy was winding down, IV vitamin C commenced—so it is tempting to speculate that both treatment modalities, one following the other, produced the favorable results observed. The original case report does not give us an indication as to whether Maria’s life was spared. I’m hoping for the best.

Case report: Juan

In addition to hyperlipidemia, hypertension and diabetes, Juan, a 56-year-old Hispanic gentleman, was dealing with pancreatic cancer with metastasis to the liver, the length of time not specified. And like Maria, a Whipple had been performed to deal with all the madness. This takes us up to January 07, 2014.

A month later and weighing in at 97 lbs. (he should be somewhere around 120 to 130 lbs.), Juan presented in clinic for evaluation and treatment. A previous CT scan identified “a moderately defined mass at the head of the pancreas, measuring 6.5 x 4.5 cm.” For Juan, things were clearly headed in the wrong direction, as he had developed jaundice including a yellowing of the whites of his eyes. Aware of the options, the patient of our story “decided not to receive chemotherapy.” As an alternative, intravenous vitamin C was offered and accepted. Subsequently, blood work and a urinalysis cleared the way for therapy. And although it is said that Juan declined chemotherapy, he actually chose chemotherapy after all. IV vitamin C is toxic to cancer cells, and therefore should be considered to be a chemotherapy agent.

The treatment approach for Juan was identical to Maria’s—initial lower dose IV vitamin C, increased in stepwise fashion to reach the therapeutic dose desired. And like in the previous case report, IV vitamin C therapy continued for a period of 6 months. Most relevant, the only therapy for Juan’s pancreatic cancer was IV vitamin C.

As treatment progressed, Juan’s laboratory data progressively improved. And the story ends like this:

“A whole body PET/CT study was performed on August 27, 2014. The liver appeared slightly enlarge [sic] with no FDG activity. No focal areas of abnormal FDG uptake were noted within the hepatic parenchyma. The spleen, adrenal glands and pancreatic portions showed no area of abdominal FDG uptake. According to the PET/CT impression ‘no hypermetabolic foci to suggest F-18 FDG avid active neoplastic process or metastatic disease at present time.’ The patient’s weight went up to 145 pounds. No adverse side effects were reported by the patient during and after the intravenous vitamin C treatment.” (González et al., 2016, emphasis added)

This is impressive! Wish we knew how Juan is doing now.

Not for everyone

There are contraindications and precautions that should be placed under consideration when deciding whether IV vitamin C is an appropriate medical intervention. The rules of the road are: If you have a unique medical condition called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, have systemic iron overload (for whatever reason), have renal insufficiency, are undergoing renal dialysis, or have a history of kidney stones, IV vitamin C may not be for you (see Padayatty et al., 2006).

Conclusion

The author holds the view that an individual with pancreatic cancer, or with any disease, should become aware of the alternative and complementary treatments available, but not dispense with profession guidance in the decision-making process. With respect to pancreatic cancer—typically diagnosed when stage 4 has already been reached, is most likely inoperable, and has a survival rate of only about 1%—extra care should be taken by the patient to avoid treatments that are dubious, at best, and may lead one to travel down the wrong path. There is not a lot of time here to experiment around! That being said, with respect to IV vitamin C, there is ample evidence that this is a promising, viable alternative to conventional therapy in the battle against cancer, pancreatic cancer included. And it may be that IV vitamin C should be just one part of a comprehensive treatment program aimed at defeating this disease and allowing life to continue. And we may be in luck.

A pancreatic cancer treatment protocol, which includes the use of intravenous vitamin C, has been prepared by a physician, for a physician—to help him in his own battle against stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The following paper tell his story and gives the details of his integrative approach to treating pancreatic cancer.

Bigelsen S. Evidence-based complementary treatment of pancreatic cancer: A review of adjunct therapies including paricalcitol, hydroxychloroquine, intravenous vitamin C, statins, metformin, curcumin, and aspirin. Cancer Management and Research. 2018;10:2003. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6049054/

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References

Bigelsen S. Evidence-based complementary treatment of pancreatic cancer: A review of adjunct therapies including paricalcitol, hydroxychloroquine, intravenous vitamin C, statins, metformin, curcumin, and aspirin. Cancer Management and Research. 2018;10:2003. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6049054/

González MJ, Berdiel MJ, Miranda-Massari JR, López D, Duconge J, Rodriguez JL, Adrover P. High dose intravenous vitamin c and metastatic pancreatic cancer: two cases. Integr Cancer Sci Ther. 2016 Dec 29;3(6):1-2. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jorge-Miranda-Massari/publication/313092221_Case_Report/links/588fe32e45851573233e8408/Case-Report.pdf

Padayatty SJ, Sun H, Wang Y, Riordan HD, Hewitt SM, Katz A, Wesley RA, Levine M. Vitamin C pharmacokinetics: implications for oral and intravenous use. Annals of internal medicine. 2004 Apr 6;140(7):533-7. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/abs/10.7326/0003-4819-140-7-200404060-00010

Padayatty SJ, Riordan HD, Hewitt SM, Katz A, Hoffer LJ, Levine M. Intravenously administered vitamin C as cancer therapy: three cases. Cmaj. 2006 Mar 28;174(7):937-42. https://www.cmaj.ca/content/174/7/937?sid=c4b05

Riordan HD, Riordan NH, Jackson JA, Casciari JJ, Hunninghake R, González MJ, Mora EM, Miranda-Massari JR, Rosario N, Rivera A. Intravenous vitamin C as a chemotherapy agent: a report on clinical cases. Puerto Rico health sciences journal. 2004;23(2). https://prhsj.rcm.upr.edu/index.php/prhsj/article/download/469/332

Siegel BS. Love, Medicine, & Miracles: Lessons Learned about Self-Healing from a Surgeon’s Experience with Exceptional Patients. New York: Harper & Row; 1986.

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