Radiation therapy is a commonly-used therapy in cancer treatment. The National Cancer Institute states that radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy radiation to reduce the size of tumors and kill cancer cells. The delivery system for radiation therapy is either via machine outside your body or a radioactive substance placed internally. Nutritional supplements may be a helpful adjunct therapy in minimizing the harmful effects of radiation therapy on healthy cells. Always discuss the health implications of nutritional supplements with your healthcare provider before using them.
Cancer Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy may be performed at numerous points during your cancer treatment and for numerous reasons, notes MayoClinic.com, including before surgery to reduce the size of your tumor, after surgery to retard the growth of remaining cancer cells and in conjunction with chemotherapy to eliminate cancer cells. In some cases, radiation therapy is used as the primary, or only, cancer treatment. Risks associated with cancer radiation therapy include nausea, vomiting and shortness of breath.
Nutritional Supplements
Radiation therapy often leads to radiation sickness, which involves nausea, vomiting, hair loss and other symptoms, states certified nutritional consultant Phyllis A. Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Commonly-used nutritional supplements in treating radiation exposure and sickness include magnesium, calcium, kelp, glutathione, selenium, vitamins A, B-5, C and E, lecithin granules and zinc. More research may be required to validate the use of these supplements as adjunct therapies for radiation exposure and sickness.
Highlighted Supplement
Glutathione may be one of the most frequently-prescribed nutritional supplements for people undergoing radiation therapy for cancer. Glutathione is a substance synthesized from two amino acids: glycine and glutamic acid. Glutathione is a strong antioxidant that may help protect your body against the injurious effects of radiation. It has also been used to mitigate some of the deleterious effects of tobacco smoke and may also help protect your liver from alcohol-related damage.
Additional Information
Radiation therapy is a powerful treatment measure that may cause numerous side effects. Although nutritional supplements may help mitigate some of these side effects and protect you from radiation-related cellular damage, not all herbs may be appropriate for you. Before using nutritional supplements for this health purpose, discuss proper dosage, potential side effects, likely drug interactions and the immediate and long-term health effects of these natural substances with your doctor. Your cancer specialist can provide you with detailed information about the role of nutritional supplements in your cancer treatment plan.
References
- National Cancer Institute: Radiation Therapy for Cancer
- MayoClinic: Radiation Therapy
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
