Chemotherapy adjunct protocol
Many anti-cancer drugs work by targeting cells that replicate quickly. Cancer cells are such cells. Other chemotherapeutic agents act by blocking specific chemical pathways within cell metabolism in an attempt to prevent this rapid multiplication.
Unfortunately parts of the human body also replicate quickly and therefore the same biochemical pathways blocked in the cancer cell can be blocked within normal healthy cells. (1)
Furthermore, chemotherapy is generally toxic and cells and systems throughout the body, particularly the liver, have to break these toxic compounds down. In the process of this removal of the toxin cells undergo damage that can be quite severe. (2)
My Chemotherapy Adjunct Protocol aims to use natural supplements and plant extracts to protect healthy cells from these ravages. I use only products that have some clinical or scientific evidence and much of what I recommend can be read about on www.vitasearch.com by typing ‘chemotherapy’ into the search box.
Chemotherapy tends to produce oxidative stress or free radicals which are potentially harmful to both the cancer cells and the body. One published paper sums up where science sits at this time “…clinical studies must be conducted to determine both the short-term and long-term impact of antioxidants, singly and in combination, upon the efficacy of cancer chemotherapy and the development of chemotherapy-induced side effects” (3). I do not think prescribing high dose supplemental antioxidants, as found in healthy foods, is necessarily a wise choice but maintaining levels that would normally be found in the body as delivered by a healthy diet seems sensible. I am sure your oncologist has not told you to stop eating fresh fruits and vegetables!
To protect the liver and encourage its detoxification function I recommend Milk thistle (4) and N-acetyl cysteine (5) both of which have been shown to enhance certain chemotherapeutic protocols.
The bowel wall, immune system and nervous system may be protected through the use of L-glutamine and glutathione which supports the turnover of the intestinal epithelium (inner lining) (6,7, 8)
My preferred probiotic combination (Pro-otic) encourages the re-growth and replenishment of lactobacillus and bifidobacteria species as well as enhancing the bacteria that tend to grip the bowel wall adding a protective layer. These bacteria help digestion and support the immune system too. (9)
Certain herbal extracts such as rice bran extract Arabinoxylan (10,11) beta-glucan (12, 13), Shitake mushroom (14) and Astragalus (15), and Vitamin B3 (16) have all be shown in studies to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and therefore are added in to my chemotherapy adjunct protocol. Shitake and Astragalus may actually have a direct anti-cancer benefit as well.
Generalised nutritional deficiencies occur due to chemotherapy and I may vary supplementation based on the diet of individual patients and in many cases recommend nutritional testing to individualise requirements. Diets must have good levels of vitamins B1, B2, and K, and of niacin, folic acid, and thymine (17). It is important also to maintain levels of Co Q 10 (18)
I recommend one of 2 protocols generally:
CHEMOTHERAPY ADJUNCT PROTOCOL 1
| Product | Dosage | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Milk thistle | 1 bd | 10.20 |
| N.A.C | 1 bd | 27.07 |
| GLUTAMINE | 1 tds before meals | 13.24 |
| SaMe | 200 mg bd | 100.15 |
| L Glutathione | 2 caps opened and allowed to dissolve in mouth | 17.14 |
| Oxycell | 1 bd | 20.32 |
| SHITAKE | Max dose on pot 2tds 2 pots | 33.68 |
| Vit B3 | 3 bd 3 pots | 54.29 |
| Astragalas (Solgar) | 1 tds or 2 bd | 20.27 |
| Pro Otic | 1 nightly | 20.32 |
|
TOTAL £ 316.68 + P&P |
The protocol lasts for 1 month.
A recent study (19) has shown that a rice bran extract, Biobran, reduces side effects. The protocol is already expensive so the additional cost of using this should be considered , if cost is prohibitive, and this additional supplement brought into play if side effects are not being tolerated at any time.
CHEMOTHERAPY ADJUNCT PROTOCOL 2
CHEMOTHERAPY ADJUNCT PROTOCOL 1 plus
| Biobran Sachets (19) | 3mgs ( reduces side effects) | £439.37 |
| Total £756.04 + P&P |
REFERENCES
- http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy/about/how-chemotherapy-works
- http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy/chemotherapy-side-effects
- http://jn.nutrition.org/content/134/11/3201S.full
- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091215172325.htm
- http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/renacandgl.html
- http://www.ijmpo.org/article.asp?issn=0971-5851;year=2012;volume=33;issue=1;spage=13;epage=20;aulast=Gaurav
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10467614
- http://www.researchgate.net/publication/26821282_Glutamate_carboxypeptidase_inhibition
_reduces_the_ severity_of_chemotherapy-induced_peripheral_neurotoxicity_in_rat - http://www.livestrong.com/article/425940-probiotics-chemo/
- http://www.biobran.org/overview/
- http://www.theprofesional.com/article/2013/vol-20-no-1/003%20Prof-1978.pdf
- http://www.oramune.com/custom.aspx?id=8
- http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0145212604003807
- http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/cancer-questions/mushrooms-in-cancer-treatment#shiitake
- http://www.canceractive.com/cancer-active-page-link.aspx?n=536
- http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/8/4/725.full
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2296564
- http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2008/feb2008_Coenzyme-Q10-And-Cancer_01.htm
- http://www.theprofesional.com/article/2013/vol-20-no-1/003%20Prof-1978.pdf
