Chemotherapy can dramatically increase the chances of surviving certain types of cancer. During the chemotherapy treatment, many patients experience a series of unwanted side effects including nausea and vomiting, mouth sores, digestive disturbances, weight loss and loss of hair. Dealing with the side effects of chemotherapy can be overwhelming, and as a result, many fail to finish their chemotherapy treatment, or reject this life-saving treatment from the start. A well-prescribed diet and additional supplements can alleviate some of the side effects and allow the person to complete his prescribed chemotherapy treatment. Natural medicine works best when prescribed by a holistically trained practitioner, such as a naturopathic physician. Consult a physician before beginning any alternative medicine regimen.
Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are two of the most common side effects of chemotherapy, leading to very low appetite, weight loss and nutritional deficiencies, especially if the chemotherapy treatment is long-term. Daily berry and protein smoothies may be the answer to this problem, since they are better tolerated than other foods and provide easy to assimilate amino acids and antioxidants. Ken Wizer, N.D., oncology professor at National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Ore., recommends smoothies that incorporate a mix of berries, protein powder, green powder, lecithin, ground flaxseeds and flax or fish oil. Because each person's nutritional needs are unique, working with a naturopathic physician will yield the best results.
Mouth Sores
Chemotherapy is designed to stop the tumors from growing by targeting fast dividing cells. Because the mucosal cells lining the gastrointestinal tract are also fast dividing cells, they are sensitive to chemotherapy. Cancer chemotherapy treatment disrupts their integrity and may lead to formation of painful ulcers in the mouth, also called mucositis. In his book, "Textbook of Natural Medicine," Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., recommends deglycyrrhizinated licorice and the amino acid glutamine for faster healing of mouth sores.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a common side effect of certain chemotherapy drugs because of the damage they cause to the lining of the intestine. For faster repair of intestinal cells, Pizzorno recommends the amino acid glutamine. Glutamine is one of the major sources of fuel used by the intestinal cells for energy production and regeneration. Due to its high glutamine content, raw cabbage juice may be useful along with glutamine supplementation. Daily supplementation with probiotics may also be helpful if the diarrhea is caused by disruption of intestinal flora.
Fatigue and Low Immunity
During cancer treatment, chemotherapy kills healthy cells along with tumor cells. Fatigue occurs as the body attempts to repair damaged tissue and replace the missing cells. Immunity is lower due to the lower number of white blood cells. Loss of sleep, increased stress, anemia and nutritional deficiencies possibly occurring during chemotherapy treatment may also cause fatigue and decreased immunity. Pizzorno recommends a daily regimen of high-quality multivitamins with extra vitamin C and fish oil. Consult a naturopathic physician for supplement recommendations based on individual need.
References
- "Textbook of Natural Medicine"; Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D. & Michael T. Murray, N.D.; 2006
- "Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America"; Dietary Supplement Use in Cancer Care: Help or Harm; Mary L. Hardy, M.D.; August 2008
- Ken Wizer, ND; Adjunct Faculty, NCNM, Portland, OR
