Dealing with the Side Effects of Chemotherapy and Radiation

Since many people use a combination of conventional therapies with alternative, we have been asked to provide a list of ways to deal with the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.  Some suggestions include:

• Acupuncture can be used to help with nausea and pain
• THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) is useful for treating cancer pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and poor appetite/wasting. It can be prescribed in pill form, while some people find relief from smoking marijuana. However, it is illegal in most states, but your doctor may be willing to prescribe it.
• For nausea, both ginger and caraway seed can often help. Caraway seed can be used to make a tea to be used after radiation treatment. To prevent nausea, hold a slice of fresh ginger in your mouth while undergoing therapy; if you become nauseous, chew on it. Fennel tea calms the stomach and prevents nausea. Acupuncture or an acupressure wrist band may also help.
• Pressure points on the wrists that can help reduce nausea. There is a special wrist band that uses electrical stimulation of the nerves in the wrist for this by Woodside Biomedical Inc. in Carlsbad, CA at (888)668-6648. However,  do not use it if you have a pacemaker.
• For pain or burning in the stomach, mix one heaping teaspoon of kudzu or arrowroot in six ounces of water or licorice tea. 
• Use imagery, visualization and other mind-body techniques to lessen the side effects and stresses of the cancer treatment.
• Alpha Lipoic Acid, an antioxidant, can help with nerve death-neuropathy
• Exercise can help with fatigue, nausea, anxiety, and a variety of other ill effects
• Banana peels can help with planters warts. Cover the warts with banana peels for 7 days and the warts will dry up.
• Soy Unique is a fermented soy product that can help enhance the immune system and help increase blood counts. It is easily digested and is very nutritious, making it great for those who have trouble eating. It is available at http://www.naha.theshoppe.com/soyunique.htm.
• Dr. Whitaker recommends a product called Defience PhytoTherapy, a  powdered supplement formulated by oncologist Mitch Gaynor, M.D., of the Strang Cancer Prevention Center in New York City, specifically for patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. It contains milk thistle, grapefruit seed extract, N-acetyl-cysteine and other agents that aid in detoxification, as well as soy isoflavones, other immune enhancers, and plant extracts. Patients state that it gives them more energy. It is available from Healthy Directions at (800) 722-8008.
• Ganoderma can be used as a supplement during chemotherapy or radiotherapy to reduce side-effects such as fatigue, loss of appetite, hair loss, bone marrow suppression and risk of infection. 
• Propax - www.propax.com - Helps with fatigue associated with chemotherapy
• Spirulina helps to reduce the side effects of radiation therapy, including weight loss
• Other immune builders, like colostrum, ImmunoPower, astragalus, MGM3, IP6, and Transfer Factor can also help with side effects by keeping the immune system going without interfering with the treatments.
• Chinese herbal remedies can be helpful. Go to http://acupuncture.com/Herbology/Chemo.htm for suggestions
• For hair loss, consider EVP3 from Janbe. Vitamin E prior to beginning chemo can also help. Ice caps (ice cap, cold cap, caps) sometimes retard hair loss from chemotherapy.
• After the chemo and radiation is over, check with your doctor about adding antioxidants to your diet to build your system back up. (See note about antioxidants below.)
• Some people use a zapper during treatments to help keep their system going
• Hydrazine sulfate is an anti-cachexia drug which acts to reverse the metabolic processes of debilitation and weight loss in cancer.
• For constipation or gas, enzymes such as Beano, probiotics, sena, buckthorn, epsom salts, or high fiber can help, but be sure to check with your physician. Walking also helps.
• For anemia - B12, beet juice, and shark liver oil can help.
• For insomnia - try melatonin.
• For pain - try acupuncture, biofeedback, or hypnosis.
• For radiation burns, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help.
• For the drying effects of chemo, the European University of Chinese Medicine recommends Z02.
• Diarrhea can also be a problem for some patients. To help control it, try limiting the amount of fat in the diet.
• Seacure from Proper Nutrition, Inc. is a dietary supplement derived from deep-ocean undenatured white fish that can also help with nutrition and pain. http://www.propernutrition.com/products.html or call 800-555-8868.

There is a belief among oncologists that chemotherapy can be rendered
ineffective to varying degrees if the patient ingests antioxidants. They believe this because one of the ways chemotherapy works is by introducing free radicals into
cancerous tissues to destroy them. Accordingly, some cancer doctors tell
their patients NOT to take any antioxidant supplements during treatment. In fact, some doctors refuse to treat patients who are using supplements. There are some researchers that disagree with this and they recommend some supplementation when undergoing chemotherapy including: CoQ10, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and kelp (to provide trace minerals). You should talk to your doctor about this before adding any supplements or herbs to your diet. 

Two good books on this topic are: