Q&A - Dr Mark Matfield

Published on Tuesday 5 August 2008 22:26

Research has suggested injected vitamin C could be used to tackle cancer. But Dr Mark Matfield, of the Association for International Cancer Research, has concerns.

What did you think when you heard about this research suggesting that vitamin C could halve the growth of cancerous tumours if injected into the bloodstream?

I thought it was surprising because there was a story like this around 40 years ago, because of one scientist who had a real bee in his bonnet about it. It was very thoroughly investigated at the time and no real evidence was found to suggest it had any real anti-cancer effects. So it's a surprising result and we would be cautious and say it needs considerably more investigation.

Could this kind of research result in people thinking that they could just take more vitamin C as a means of preventing cancer developing in the first place?

If they do think that, then they are making a mistake. The whole point of that bit of research was that the scientists were showing it was injected doses of vitamin C that had an anti-cancer effect, so they claimed, not taken orally.

Will we get to a point where we have a substance as inexpensive as vitamin C that we can use that is just as effective as the expensive treatments being developed?

I would be surprised because cancer is an extremely difficult and complex disease. I think it's unlikely it will have a simple and easily available answer. It's more likely to be a difficult and complex answer.

In the absence of a cheap miracle treatment like vitamin C, what can people do to reduce their risk of developing cancer?

There are a number of factors involving diet and lifestyle which have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer. But the absolute number one, without any doubt at all, is don't smoke. Another is to keep your weight normal. Obesity is heavily linked to many cancers.