The products addresses a sizeable gap in the market for products and nutritional advice for millions of people living with cancer, who often suffer from fatigue, gastrointestinal problems and nutrient deficiencies as side effects of treatments such as chemotherapy, said OncoQOL science advisory board chair James B. LaValle, RPh.
“By providing targeted dietary supplements that the consumer and the physician can rely on, OncoQOL is filling a huge void in the cancer supportive care marketplace.”
More than 100 cancer specialists have already signed up
The range is available exclusively through oncologists and other medical professionals in the US and Canada, and thus far, more than 100 cancer specialists and other health-care providers have signed up to provide the products to patients, said OncoQOL president Sreenivas Rao, MD.
The 13-strong range includes:
DaxibeQOL: A blend of branched-chain and other essential amino acids that may promote anabolism, weight gain, lean muscle mass, and muscle strength;
NutraQOL: A wheat germ extract that may reduce fatigue and helps improve social, physical, and emotional wellbeing;
VitaQOL: A mix of essential vitamins and minerals without excessive amounts of antioxidants that can interfere with cancer treatment.
Our products are designed to meet the unique needs of cancer patients
Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy often result in weight loss, fatigue, diarrhea, highly sensitive nerves and skin and nutrient imbalances and deficiencies due to inadequate nutrient intake and impaired gastrointestinal function, said Dr Rao.
These can affect quality of life and make it harder for people to complete their treatment, he said.
“For many cancer patients the side effects of treatment have a significant impact on their health and quality of life, often making it difficult for them to continue with their therapy.
“Our products are designed to meet the unique needs of these patients.”
Many commercial supplements are not designed for people with cancer
Many commercial supplements are not designed for people with cancer, added Lawrence Piro, MD, president of The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute in Santa Monica.
“In our practice we see firsthand the challenges that patients face in managing the side effects of chemotherapy and trying to optimize their overall health and diet during treatment.
“A high fraction of patients take nutritional supplements during therapy, but many commercially available supplements are not designed for people with cancer. Selecting products and managing combinations of supplements is very confusing to patients, and many interact negatively and unpredictably with their cancer treatment.”
1.639m new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in the US in 2012
The JV has also developed a new range ofpersonal care products for cancer patients called DermaQOL, which are manufactured without the use of plasticizers, foaming agents, and preservatives.
OncoQOL uses ingredients provided exclusively through Thorne Research, Swiss pharmaceutical firm Helsinn Healthcare SA and Italian botanical extracts specialist Indena, as well as information and medical education through an alliance with online portal Health Elements.
According to the National Cancer Institute, About 1.639m new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in the US in 2012 (figures exclude noninvasive cancer of any site except urinary bladder and basal and squamous cell skin cancers).
While incidence rates of lung, colorectal, cervical, stomach and prostate cancers have decreased, incidence rates for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal cancer; esophageal adenocarcinoma; melanoma of the skin; and cancers of the pancreas, liver and intrahepatic bile duct, thyroid, and kidney and renal pelvis are increasing, said the institute.
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