Radiation therapy is a common type of cancer treatment that uses various types of high-energy radiation -- gamma rays, x-rays, charged particles -- to shrink or eliminate your tumors and cancer cells. The National Cancer Institute reports that about 50 percent of cancer patients undergo some form of radiation therapy while being treated for their illness. Certain supplements may help to lessen the negative health side effects associated with this treatment measure. Supplements for radiation exposure should only be used after consulting your cancer specialist.
Radiation Therapy
MayoClinic.com states that radiation therapy damages your cells by targeting the genetic material that governs the growth and division of your cells. Although both healthy and cancerous cells may be destroyed, the intention of this therapy is to minimize the number of healthy cells destroyed while eliminating as many cancer cells as possible. There are numerous side effects associated with this aggressive treatment method, including hair loss, difficulty swallowing, fatigue, shortness of breath and sexual dysfunction.
Assisting Supplements
Numerous dietary supplements may play a supporting role in your radiation treatments. According to Phyllis A. Balch, a certified nutritional consultant, nutrition researcher and author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," dietary supplements that may be helpful for radiation exposure include calcium and magnesium, coenzyme Q10, glutathione, L-cysteine, L-methionine, kelp, garlic, grape seed extract, selenium, pantothenic acid, brewer's yeast, lecithin granules, zinc and vitamin B complex. Not all supplements used for this health purpose have been studied using contemporary scientific testing methods.
A Commonly Used Supplement
Glutathione is a commonly used supplement in the treatment of radiation exposure. This dietary supplement may be used as a stand-alone therapy or in combination with L-cysteine and L-methionine for optimal health effects. Glutathione may help detoxify harmful substances in your body and protect you from the harmful effects of radiation therapy. Glutathione, notes Balch, is a powerful antioxidant synthesized in your liver. This naturally occurring substance may also be found in your bloodstream, lungs and intestinal tract.
Warning
There are numerous side effects and complications associated with radiation therapy, including second primary cancer -- a type of cancer caused by your radiation treatments. Dietary supplements may be a helpful adjunct therapy to your radiation treatments, but you should understand the immediate and long-term health implications of dietary supplements before using them for this health purpose. Your cancer specialist can counsel you on what herbs may be appropriate for your particular health problem and what side effects you might experience from their use.
References
- National Cancer Institute: Radiation Therapy for Cancer
- MayoClinic.com: Radiation Therapy
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
