Ask Dr Miriam

Q I’ve got cervical cancer and I’m going to have radiation therapy. I’ve heard that blueberries could help. What do you think? A To be honest I’m undecided. The evidence doesn’t come from tests in patients, but on cancer cells.

Taking blueberry extract during radiation therapy for cervical cancer may be an effective way to reduce the number of cancer cells, at least in laboratory studies where this combination reduced cancer cells by about 70%.

US scientists from the University of Missouri concluded that blueberry extracts help to make cancer cells more vulnerable to radiation therapy by checking the abnormal cell growth that boosts cancer development. Lead study author, Dr Yujiang Fang explains that cancer cells are tricked into dying while the development of new ones is inhibited. Further research is needed but the researchers say blueberries may be a promising part of treatment strategy for cervical and others types of cancer. So why not eat a handful of blueberries for good health?