My throat cancer was biopsied as a "basiloid squamous cell carcinoma"... like a skin cancer in the throat.
After reading about the study below, I started taking niacinamide 500mg twice/day and I've had no recurrence
of the cancer (note: nicotinamide and niacinamide are the same thing.) I buy my niacinamide on Amazon where it is readily available and very cheap. I see that the protocol for throat cancer survivors is frequent larygoscopies
which tells me that these cancers have a high rate of recurrence. I see that dermatologists use it routinely.
"The prevention of common skin cancers and precancers is possible by taking an inexpensive, widely
available, oral pill twice daily. The pill—the vitamin B3 supplement called nicotinamide—cut the rate of new
squamous-cell and basal-cell skin cancers by 23% compared with placebo after 1 year among patients at high
risk for skin cancer. Nicotinamide also reduced the risk for developing actinic keratosis, a common precancer
of the skin.
The results of the phase 3 ONTRAC skin cancer prevention study were presented at ASCO 2015.
These findings have the potential to lower healthcare costs. In the United States, skin cancer accounts for
approximately $4.8 million annually.
The investigators emphasized that these results were achieved in individuals who previously had skin cancer
and were thus at high risk for new skin cancers. The results do not apply to other patient populations.
In addition, the investigators emphasized that nicotinamide is the form of vitamin B3 that should be taken for
prevention—not other forms of vitamin B, such as niacin—and that continuous treatment is advised.
“This
form of prevention is safe and inexpensive, costing around $10 per month, and it is widely available. It is
ready to go straight to the clinic for high-risk patients with a track record of skin cancer. This is a new
opportunity for skin cancer prevention,
” said lead investigator Diona Damian, MBBS, PhD, Professor of
Dermatology, Dermatology University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
“The pill does not take the
place of sunscreen use and regular skin checkups by dermatologists for people at high risk,
” Dr Damian
noted.
As the aging population continues to grow, basal- and squamous-cell carcinomas will become even more
common than they currently are. The investigators are from Australia, which has extremely high rates of sun-
induced skin cancers. A previous phase 2 study by this group showed that nicotinamide reduced the number
of new actinic keratoses in Australian patients with sun-damaged skin.The present study included 386 patients
aged 30 to 91 years who had ≥2 nonmelanoma skin cancers over the past 5 years, and were therefore deemed high-risk.
The patients were randomized to oral nicotinamide 500 mg twice daily or to placebo for 12 months. Dr Damian said that
the patient mix reflected those seen in a typical skin cancer clinic. The average age was 66 years, and 66% of the patients
were men, many with ongoing chronic comorbidities.
“These patients were typical of the ‘warts-and-all’ type of patients we see in the clinic,” Dr Damian said.
The patients were checked by a dermatologist every 3 months and suspicious lesions were biopsied. Nicotinamide
reduced the rates of new basal-cell cancer and squamous-cell cancer diagnoses by 23% compared with placebo (P =
.02). Nicotinamide reduced the rates of actinic keratoses (precancers) by 11% at 3 months and by approximately 15%
after 12 months of treatment compared with placebo.
“This preventive treatment has no side effects. Unlike niacin, another form of vitamin B3, nicotinamide does not cause
headache or increased blood pressure,” Dr Damian said.
This “is welcome news. With this study, we have a remarkably simple and inexpensive way to help people avoid repeat
diagnoses of some of the most common skin cancers. With just a [twice-]daily vitamin pill, along with sun protection and
regular skin cancer screenings, people at high risk for these types of skin cancers have a good preventive plan to follow,”
said ASCO President Peter Paul Yu, MD, Director of Cancer Research, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, C
My throat cancer was biopsied as a "basiloid squamous cell carcinoma"... like a skin cancer in the throat.
After reading about the study below, I started taking niacinamide 500mg twice/day and I've had no recurrence
of the cancer (note: nicotinamide and niacinamide are the same thing.) I buy my niacinamide on Amazon where it is readily available and very cheap. I see that the protocol for throat cancer survivors is frequent larygoscopies
which tells me that these cancers have a high rate of recurrence. I see that dermatologists use it routinely.
"The prevention of common skin cancers and precancers is possible by taking an inexpensive, widely
available, oral pill twice daily. The pill—the vitamin B3 supplement called nicotinamide—cut the rate of new
squamous-cell and basal-cell skin cancers by 23% compared with placebo after 1 year among patients at high
risk for skin cancer. Nicotinamide also reduced the risk for developing actinic keratosis, a common precancer
of the skin.
The results of the phase 3 ONTRAC skin cancer prevention study were presented at ASCO 2015.
These findings have the potential to lower healthcare costs. In the United States, skin cancer accounts for
approximately $4.8 million annually.
The investigators emphasized that these results were achieved in individuals who previously had skin cancer
and were thus at high risk for new skin cancers. The results do not apply to other patient populations.
In addition, the investigators emphasized that nicotinamide is the form of vitamin B3 that should be taken for
prevention—not other forms of vitamin B, such as niacin—and that continuous treatment is advised.
“This
form of prevention is safe and inexpensive, costing around $10 per month, and it is widely available. It is
ready to go straight to the clinic for high-risk patients with a track record of skin cancer. This is a new
opportunity for skin cancer prevention,
” said lead investigator Diona Damian, MBBS, PhD, Professor of
Dermatology, Dermatology University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
“The pill does not take the
place of sunscreen use and regular skin checkups by dermatologists for people at high risk,
” Dr Damian
noted.
As the aging population continues to grow, basal- and squamous-cell carcinomas will become even more
common than they currently are. The investigators are from Australia, which has extremely high rates of sun-
induced skin cancers. A previous phase 2 study by this group showed that nicotinamide reduced the number
of new actinic keratoses in Australian patients with sun-damaged skin.The present study included 386 patients
aged 30 to 91 years who had ≥2 nonmelanoma skin cancers over the past 5 years, and were therefore deemed high-risk.
The patients were randomized to oral nicotinamide 500 mg twice daily or to placebo for 12 months. Dr Damian said that
the patient mix reflected those seen in a typical skin cancer clinic. The average age was 66 years, and 66% of the patients
were men, many with ongoing chronic comorbidities.
“These patients were typical of the ‘warts-and-all’ type of patients we see in the clinic,” Dr Damian said.
The patients were checked by a dermatologist every 3 months and suspicious lesions were biopsied. Nicotinamide
reduced the rates of new basal-cell cancer and squamous-cell cancer diagnoses by 23% compared with placebo (P =
.02). Nicotinamide reduced the rates of actinic keratoses (precancers) by 11% at 3 months and by approximately 15%
after 12 months of treatment compared with placebo.
“This preventive treatment has no side effects. Unlike niacin, another form of vitamin B3, nicotinamide does not cause
headache or increased blood pressure,” Dr Damian said.
This “is welcome news. With this study, we have a remarkably simple and inexpensive way to help people avoid repeat
diagnoses of some of the most common skin cancers. With just a [twice-]daily vitamin pill, along with sun protection and
regular skin cancer screenings, people at high risk for these types of skin cancers have a good preventive plan to follow,”
said ASCO President Peter Paul Yu, MD, Director of Cancer Research, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, C
Hi @ahimsa,
I talked to my dermatologist about this Vitamin B3 supplement too but she said as of now it only is to help prevent the skin cancers not head & neck cancers. Do you have other info pertaining just to the head & neck cancers?
The point is that my throat cancer biopsy said I had a "basaloid squamous cell carcinoma" That is a
skin cancer happening in the throat, unless I'm very much mistaken. These docs sometimes have
trouble seeing outside of their particular silo.
Hi @ahimsa,
I talked to my dermatologist about this Vitamin B3 supplement too but she said as of now it only is to help prevent the skin cancers not head & neck cancers. Do you have other info pertaining just to the head & neck cancers?
@roblem, you're right that the study that @ahimsa references is about common skin cancers. Here is the original article:
- Oral Nicotinamide Prevents Common Skin Cancers in High-Risk Patients, Reduces Costs https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4570055/
@ahimsa, basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a rare and aggressive variant of oral squamous cell carcinoma, like the throat, tongue and other areas of the oral cavity. It is not the same as the more common skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma.
Please note that there are several types of vutanin B3. Nicotinamide (also called niacinamide) and another form called niacin. Like all supplements, nicotinamide isn’t risk-free—especially in high doses. Even at low doses, your doctor should check your liver function periodically—especially if you have a history of liver disease.
When considering alternate treatments, please talk with your cancer team so they can discuss the potential risks and benefits and ensure there are no negative interactions with your current treatment.
The point is that my throat cancer biopsy said I had a "basaloid squamous cell carcinoma" That is a
skin cancer happening in the throat, unless I'm very much mistaken. These docs sometimes have
trouble seeing outside of their particular silo.
@ahimsa BSCC and cutaneous squamous cell skin cancer are very different. They occur for different reasons, behave differently and are treated differently. I just finished treatment for BSCC of the tonsil. I don't believe any doctor would support the suggestion that this would aid in the prevention of throat cancer or it's recurrence.
Connect
Connect
Like
Helpful
Hug
My throat cancer was biopsied as a "basiloid squamous cell carcinoma"... like a skin cancer in the throat.
After reading about the study below, I started taking niacinamide 500mg twice/day and I've had no recurrence
of the cancer (note: nicotinamide and niacinamide are the same thing.) I buy my niacinamide on Amazon where it is readily available and very cheap. I see that the protocol for throat cancer survivors is frequent larygoscopies
which tells me that these cancers have a high rate of recurrence. I see that dermatologists use it routinely.
"The prevention of common skin cancers and precancers is possible by taking an inexpensive, widely
available, oral pill twice daily. The pill—the vitamin B3 supplement called nicotinamide—cut the rate of new
squamous-cell and basal-cell skin cancers by 23% compared with placebo after 1 year among patients at high
risk for skin cancer. Nicotinamide also reduced the risk for developing actinic keratosis, a common precancer
of the skin.
The results of the phase 3 ONTRAC skin cancer prevention study were presented at ASCO 2015.
These findings have the potential to lower healthcare costs. In the United States, skin cancer accounts for
approximately $4.8 million annually.
The investigators emphasized that these results were achieved in individuals who previously had skin cancer
and were thus at high risk for new skin cancers. The results do not apply to other patient populations.
In addition, the investigators emphasized that nicotinamide is the form of vitamin B3 that should be taken for
prevention—not other forms of vitamin B, such as niacin—and that continuous treatment is advised.
“This
form of prevention is safe and inexpensive, costing around $10 per month, and it is widely available. It is
ready to go straight to the clinic for high-risk patients with a track record of skin cancer. This is a new
opportunity for skin cancer prevention,
” said lead investigator Diona Damian, MBBS, PhD, Professor of
Dermatology, Dermatology University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
“The pill does not take the
place of sunscreen use and regular skin checkups by dermatologists for people at high risk,
” Dr Damian
noted.
As the aging population continues to grow, basal- and squamous-cell carcinomas will become even more
common than they currently are. The investigators are from Australia, which has extremely high rates of sun-
induced skin cancers. A previous phase 2 study by this group showed that nicotinamide reduced the number
of new actinic keratoses in Australian patients with sun-damaged skin.The present study included 386 patients
aged 30 to 91 years who had ≥2 nonmelanoma skin cancers over the past 5 years, and were therefore deemed high-risk.
The patients were randomized to oral nicotinamide 500 mg twice daily or to placebo for 12 months. Dr Damian said that
the patient mix reflected those seen in a typical skin cancer clinic. The average age was 66 years, and 66% of the patients
were men, many with ongoing chronic comorbidities.
“These patients were typical of the ‘warts-and-all’ type of patients we see in the clinic,” Dr Damian said.
The patients were checked by a dermatologist every 3 months and suspicious lesions were biopsied. Nicotinamide
reduced the rates of new basal-cell cancer and squamous-cell cancer diagnoses by 23% compared with placebo (P =
.02). Nicotinamide reduced the rates of actinic keratoses (precancers) by 11% at 3 months and by approximately 15%
after 12 months of treatment compared with placebo.
“This preventive treatment has no side effects. Unlike niacin, another form of vitamin B3, nicotinamide does not cause
headache or increased blood pressure,” Dr Damian said.
This “is welcome news. With this study, we have a remarkably simple and inexpensive way to help people avoid repeat
diagnoses of some of the most common skin cancers. With just a [twice-]daily vitamin pill, along with sun protection and
regular skin cancer screenings, people at high risk for these types of skin cancers have a good preventive plan to follow,”
said ASCO President Peter Paul Yu, MD, Director of Cancer Research, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, C
Hi @ahimsa,
I talked to my dermatologist about this Vitamin B3 supplement too but she said as of now it only is to help prevent the skin cancers not head & neck cancers. Do you have other info pertaining just to the head & neck cancers?
The point is that my throat cancer biopsy said I had a "basaloid squamous cell carcinoma" That is a
skin cancer happening in the throat, unless I'm very much mistaken. These docs sometimes have
trouble seeing outside of their particular silo.
@roblem, you're right that the study that @ahimsa references is about common skin cancers. Here is the original article:
- Oral Nicotinamide Prevents Common Skin Cancers in High-Risk Patients, Reduces Costs https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4570055/
@ahimsa, basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a rare and aggressive variant of oral squamous cell carcinoma, like the throat, tongue and other areas of the oral cavity. It is not the same as the more common skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma.
Please note that there are several types of vutanin B3. Nicotinamide (also called niacinamide) and another form called niacin. Like all supplements, nicotinamide isn’t risk-free—especially in high doses. Even at low doses, your doctor should check your liver function periodically—especially if you have a history of liver disease.
When considering alternate treatments, please talk with your cancer team so they can discuss the potential risks and benefits and ensure there are no negative interactions with your current treatment.
@ahimsa BSCC and cutaneous squamous cell skin cancer are very different. They occur for different reasons, behave differently and are treated differently. I just finished treatment for BSCC of the tonsil. I don't believe any doctor would support the suggestion that this would aid in the prevention of throat cancer or it's recurrence.