Chemotherapy
Description
Chemotherapy, basically, is treatment in the form of a chemical agent/s (of which there are now 40 in the medical armamentarium), usually to destroy cancer cells on a selective basis. It can also include radioactive isotopes: "unsealed radioactive chemotherapy". This is most commonly used for thyroid disorders (iodine 131). Patients with advanced lung cancer may be given radioactive gold 198. Phosphorus 32 is used for leukemia.
Chemotherapeutic agents are often used in combination with radiation treatments for their synergistic effect. A tumor may be exposed to a chemotherapeutic (cytotoxic) agent rendering it more sensitive to radiation exposures, which can then require lower dosages of radiation and/or fewer treatments and, above all, have the best chance for success.
Causes
Chemotherapy essentially, is a form of treatment but it may also have serious side effects and consequences, which may be mild (nausea) or fatal, if the dosage is too high, or there is an excessive reaction from a particularly sensitive patient.
Signs & Symptoms
Any visit to a cancer ward, or encounter with a cancer patient, even in a movie, will outline the most obvious side effects generally referred to under the label of "radiation sickness": nausea, alopecia.
The patient may be radioactive and the room will be monitored by a Geiger-Muller counter.
Nutritional Supplements
Structure & Function:
Detoxification
Immune System Support
Antioxidants &
Multi Vitamin/Multi Mineral Formulas
---------------------------------
General Supplements
---------------------------------
Multi Mineral Complex (with Trace Minerals)*
Selenium*
Vitamin E*
*Please refer to the respective topic for specific nutrient amounts.
Note: All amounts are in addition to those supplements having a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). Due to individual needs, one must always be aware of a possible undetermined effect when taking nutritional supplements. If any disturbances from the use of a particular supplement should occur, stop its use immediately and seek the care of a qualified health care professional.
Dietary Considerations
A high fiber diet cleanses the system.
Fasting can help detoxification.
Organically grown foods should reduce the load of additional chemical toxins. As will filtered drinking and bathing water.
Homeopathic Remedy
| Description | Remedy |
| Inflamed membranes | Bryonia alba tinct. |
| Liver damage | Carduus Marianus |
| Nephritis | Solidago |
| Pain under right scapula | Chelidonium majus |
| Pruritis | Dolichos |
Treatment Schedule
Over-the-counter homeopathic remedies may be single strength (of fairly weak potency e.g. 6X ) or a blend of several weaker strengths (6X, 8X, 10X).
This may comprise a single remedy, or several remedies.
Doses are administered on a 3 times daily (tid), between meals,schedule and continued for 3 days.
Liquid preparations usually use 8-10 drops per dose.
Solid preparations are usually 2 or 3 pellets per dose.
Children use 1/2 dose i.e. 1 pellet.
If there is aggravation of the symptoms, stop taking the remedy and consult a homeopath.
References
Murphy, R. : Homeopathic Medical Repertory. Hahneman Academy, Pagosa Springs, Colorado. 1993.
Murphy, R. : Lotus Materia Medica. Hahneman Academy, Pagosa Springs, Colorado. 1995.
Pert, J.C.: Homeopathy for the Family. The Homoeopathic Development Foundation, London. 1985 edition.
Herbal Approaches
----------
Herbs
-----------
Pau d'Arco
Reishi mushroom
Slippery Elm
Turmeric
White Oak Bark
Note: The misdirected use of an herb can produce severely adverse effects, especially in combination with prescription drugs. This Herbal information is for educational purposes and is not intended as a replacement for medical advice.
Discussion:
Autumn Crocus has approval status by the German Commission E regarding its specific pharmacological action as antichemotactic.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Aromatherapy - Essential Oils
| Fennel Essence, | Flax seed Essence, |
| Garlic Essence, |
Related Health Conditions
AbstractsReferences
Abu-Rustum NR et al., Chemotherapy and total parenteral nutrition for advanced ovarian cancer with bowel obstruction. Gynecol Oncol, 1997 Mar, 64:3, 493-5.
Aviles-A: Malnutrition as an adverse prognostic factor in patients with diffuse large cell lymphoma. Arch-Med-Res. 1995 Spring; 26(1): 31-4.
Bass-FB & Cox-RH: The need for dietary counseling of cancer patients as indicated by nutrient and supplement intake. Journal-of-the-American-Dietetic-Association, 1995 Nov; 95(11): 1319-21 (12 ref).
Berg-MJ et al: Folic acid improves phenytoin pharmacokinetics Journal-of-the-American-Dietetic-Association (J-AM-DIET-ASSOC) 1995 Mar; 95(3): 352-6 (57 ref).
Carbone-M: [Clinical nutrition in maxillofacial cancer surgery. A review of the literature]. Minerva-Stomatol. 1994 May; 43(5): 239-46.
Christensen-ML et al: Parenteral nutrition associated with increased infection rate in children with cancer. Cancer. 1993 Nov 1; 72(9): 2732-8.
Ford C et al., Glutamine-supplemented tube feedings versus total parenteral nutrition in children receiving intensive chemotherapy. J Pediatr Oncol Nurs, 1997 Apr, 14:2, 68-72.
Gould-K: Nutritional aspects of cancer rehabilitation. Rehabilitation-in-Oncology. 1995; 13(3): 12-22 (30 ref).
Grant-MM & Rovera-LM: Anorexia, cachexia, and dysphagia: the symptom experience. Seminars-in-Oncology-Nursing, 1995 Nov; 11(4): 266-71 (32 ref).
Grindel-CMG: The Effects Of Chemotherapy And Disease On The Nutritional Patterns Of Breast Cancer Women During The First Six Months Of Treatment. University Of Maryland At Baltimore 1988 Ph.D. (205 P).
Grindel-C et al: Quality of life and nutritional support in patients with cancer. Cancer-Practice:-A-Multidisciplinary-Journal-of-Cancer-Care (CANCER-PRACT) 1996 Mar-Apr; 4(2): 81-7 (36 ref).
Hanigan-MJ & Walter-GA: Nutritional support of the child with cancer. Journal-of-Pediatric-Oncology-Nursing (J-PEDIATR-ONCOL-NURS) 1992 Jul; 9(3): 110-8 (46 ref).
Herrmann-VM & Petruska-PJ: Nutrition support in bone marrow transplant recipients [see comments]. Nutr-Clin-Pract. 1993 Feb; 8(1): 19-27.
Jeevanandam-M: Adjuvant recombinant human growth hormone normalizes plasma amino acids in parenterally fed trauma patients. JPEN-J-Parenter-Enteral-Nutr. 1995 Mar-Apr; 19(2): 137-44.
Kondrup-J et al: [Nutrition therapy in 542 hospitalized patients]. Ugeskr-Laeger. 1996 Feb 12; 158(7): 893-7.
Lubke-HJ & Kalde-S: [Diet therapy in cancer] Schweiz-Rundsch-Med-Prax. 1995 Nov 21; 84(47): 1383-8.
Mejia-Arangure JM et al., Nutritional state alterations in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during induction and consolidation of chemotherapy. Arch Med Res, 1997 Summer, 28:2, 273-9.
Monnin-S: Nutritional concerns of women with breast cancer. Journal-of-Cancer-Education. 1993 Spring; 8(1): 63-9 (25 ref).
Montbriand-MJ: An overview of alternate therapies chosen by patients with cancer. Oncology-Nursing-Forum. 1994 Oct; 21(9): 1547-54 (74 ref).
Ovesen-L et al: Effect of dietary counseling on food intake, body weight, response rate, survival, and quality of life in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: a prospective, randomized study. J-Clin-Oncol. 1993 Oct; 11(10): 2043-9.
Robuck-JT; Fleetwood-JB: Nutritional support of the patient with cancer. Focus-on-Critical-Care 1992 Apr; 19(2): 129-30, 132-4, 136-8 (41 ref).
Rougereau-A: [Adjuvant treatment of patients with neoplastic lesions using the combination of a vitamin complex and an amino acid. Apropos of a series of 17 cases of epidermoid carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract]. Ann-Gastroenterol-Hepatol-Paris. 1993 Mar-Apr; 29(2): 99-102.
Sarna-L et al: Nutritional intake, weight change, symptom distress, and functional status over time in adults with lung cancer [published erratum appears in Oncol Nurs Forum 1993 Jul;20(6):851] Oncol-Nurs-Forum. 1993 Apr; 20(3): 481-9.
Satoh-S: [Nutrition control of cancer patients under chemotherapy]. Kango. 1994 May; 46(5): 199-212.
Shirotani-N et al: [Home therapy approach in cancer patients-nutrition therapy (case 1-1)--a case of recurrent gastric cancer with home parenteral nutrition]. Gan-To-Kagaku-Ryoho. 1994 Dec; 21 Suppl 4: 537-40; discussion 541.
Stahelin-HB: Critical reappraisal of vitamins and trace minerals in nutritional support of cancer patients. Support-Care-Cancer. 1993 Nov; 1(6): 295-7.
Taj-MM: Effect of nutritional status on the incidence of infection in childhood cancer. Pediatr-Hematol-Oncol. 1993 Jul-Sep; 10(3): 283-7.
Toba-K et al: [The importance of the host nutritional and immune status on the prognosis of urinary tract infection in the elderly] Nippon-Ronen-Igakkai-Zasshi. 1993 Jun; 30(6): 487-96.
van Zaanen HC et al., Parenteral glutamine dipeptide supplementation does not ameliorate chemotherapy-induced toxicity. Cancer, 1994 Nov 15, 74:10, 2879-84.
Yu-QS: [Clinical study on early use of Chinese medicinal herbs and chemotherapy after operation of gastric cancer]. Chung-Kuo-Chung-Hsi-I-Chieh-Ho-Tsa-Chih. 1995 Aug; 15(8): 459-61.
| Signup Free Applied Health Journal |
||||
|
FREE Sample Issue Your email address is all we need to start you on a better path to health. We respect your privacy.
|
