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Catalyst
January 2001
Nutritional Support for Chemotherapy, Radiation & Surgery

By Bill Asenjo, PhD, CRC

NOTE: This information is for educational purposes only — it is not intended to replace medical attention, nor as a claim for cure or mitigation of disease. It is to be used as a complementary modality to: provide nutritional support for the body's innate healing capacities; bolster resistance to cancer progression; enhance the effectiveness/reduce the undesirable side-effects of allopathic cancer therapies; and enhance quality of life.

ALOE VERA

Topical: Applied liberally helps protect skin surface from radiation burn, reduces toxic side effects (hair loss, damage to mucous membranes).

Oral: Reduces or eliminates nausea; stimulates immune system (George's Aloe Vera — marketed by Warren Labs, tastes like water when refrigerated compared to the strong taste of most brands). Recommended: 2-8ozs. orally several times daily.

ANTIOXIDANTS

Co-Enzyme Q10: Supports the immune system. Nutrition-oriented health professionals recommend from 100-450 mgs daily (guideline: take approximately 1 mg. per pound of body weight in divided doses with meals). Best absorbed in oil based combination (look for soft gels containing, e.g., rice bran oil).

Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol with mixed tocopherols): Works synergistically with vitamin C, selenium and co-enzyme Q10. Stimulates immune system; helps change newly formed cancer cells back into normal cells; boosts chemotherapy's effectiveness. Recommended: 400-800 IUs daily with meals in divided doses. (CAUTION: Do not use prior to surgery. Do not exceed 200 IUs daily if taking anticoagulant drugs Warfarin, Coumadin, aspirin, or if at risk for cerebral hemorrhage).

Selenium: Aids DNA repair, simulates immune system. 200-600 mcgs. daily. (NOTE: mcgs. = micro-grams, NOT milli-grams)

Vitamin C: Enhances effectiveness of high-energy radiotherapy and chemotherapy while protecting healthy tissue; strengthens immune system. Some patients report improved appetite and reduced need for pain medication while taking vitamin C. Recommended: 1-10+ grams daily in divided doses to bowel tolerance (loosening or softening of stool). If not accustomed to taking C, start with lower dosage and increase daily (buffered, powdered form is more easily absorbed).

WHEY PROTEIN POWDER:

Boosts immune function; depletes cancer cells of glutathione while maintaining adequate levels in healthy cells--renders cancer cells more vulnerable to free radical destruction than normal cells. Recommended: 30-60 grams in divided doses-ideally begin 10 days prior to radiation and continue 30 days afterward.

ENZYMES:

Wobenzym is a clinically tested German product, enterically coated to enhance its effectiveness. Enzymes, essential for digestion, are destroyed during treatment as well as by stress.

TAURINE:

Important amino acid for regulating heart and brain electrical activity. Radiation severely depletes taurine. Taurine helps control cerebral hyperactivity and rebalance nervous system after seizures, radiation, and drug intake. Recommended: 500 mgs (preferably sublingually — open capsule placing contents under tongue) 4xdaily.

ASTRAGALUS ROOT:

Reduces conventional cancer treatments toxic effects-particularly protects the liver against chemotherapeutic side effects. Mimimizes fatigue; bolsters immune system. Recommended: 250-500 mgs/2-3 X daily.

MELATONIN:

Supports immune system; reduces damage to healthy cells. Recommended: 3-10 mgs of melatonin at bedtime — however, you may require more. Start with low dose and increase nightly, if drowsiness occurs the next morning reduce dosage.

FLAX SEED OIL:

Combine 1-2 tablespoons with 2-4 ozs. low-fat cottage cheese 4xdaily. German researcher, Dr. Budwig, has shown impressive results (see Pioneer's pamphlet rack for more information).

ESSIAC:

Protects liver, strengthens immune system, reduces toxic effects of many drugs, reduces inflammation, increases energy — 2 ozs., twice daily on empty stomach.

ELIMINATE SUGAR:

If no one's told you yet, cancer cells love sugar! In particular, tumor cells are glucose metabolizer — "sugar feeders." If you must eat something sweet, consume it with other foods-preferably protein. Also reduce animal fat consumption.

Recommended Resources

No one list could possibly offer all the nutrients recommended by every recognized expert and professional. And, of course, each patient's situation is unique-what works for some may not work for others-or not as well (that holds for conventional treatments, too). For further information I highly recommend the following sources. Contact me for information about additional online sources and discussion groups.: (319) 658-2016; basenjo@avalon.net.

References

Cameron, E. & Pauling, L. (1993). Cancer and Vitamin C. Camino Books.

Diamond, W. John, Cowden, W. Lee, & Goldberg, B (1997). An Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide to Cancer. Future Medicine Publishing.

Life Extension Foundation: www.lef.org

Quillin, P. (1998). Beating Cancer with Nutrition (Revised edition). Nutrition Times Press.

Jaakkola, K., et al. (1992). "Treatment with antioxidants and other nutrients in combination with chemotherapy and irradiation in patients with small-cell lung cancer." Anticancer Research 12, 599-606.

Lamm, D., et al. (1994). "Megadose vitamins in bladder cancer: a double blind clinical trial." Journal of Urology, 15, 21-26.

Wallace, J. An Integrative Nutritional Protocol for People with Cancers of the Brain. (1998). Nutritional Solutions.

Zhang, Z., et al (1990). "Hepatoprotective effects of astragalus root." Journal of Ethnopharmacology 30, 145-149.

© 2009 Bill Asenjo

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