The Chemo Conundrum
How to stay healthy when robbed of essential nutrients
Think chemotherapy, and hair loss often comes to mind. But loss of appetite, a far more serious problem, often accompanies treatment as well. Both chemo and radiation therapy cause nausea, vomiting, altered sense of taste and smell (food sometimes tastes like metal), sore mouth and throat, diarrhea, and constipation, any one of which can suppress appetite. As a consequence, cancer patients can become underweight and malnourished, drained of the energy and strength they need to heal.
“Most people don’t realize that 40 percent or more of cancer patients actually die from malnutrition,” says Patrick Quillin, PhD, RD, CNS, a clinical nutritionist in Encinitas, California. Good nutrition and supplements can help combat this, but unfortunately, many oncologists cling to an old mindset that rejects supplements out of concern that they’ll interfere with treatment, says Charles B. Simone, MD, medical oncologist, immunologist, and radiation oncologist at the Simone Protective Cancer Center, in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. However, Simone’s recent survey of 280 peer-reviewed studies should lay many of these fears to rest. Most of the studies found that dietary supplements did not interact negatively with treatments.
Along with supplying needed nutrients, many of them actually improved the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation, reduced appetite-suppressing side effects, and even increased survival chances. So include a cancer nutrition expert as part of your healthcare team, says Mitchell L. Gaynor, MD, clinical assistant professor of medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and president of Gaynor Integrative Oncology in New York City. Based on your type of cancer and dietary habits and on blood tests that determine your levels of vitamins, heavy metal toxicity, and immune function, nutrition experts can customize a strategy to keep you well nourished. While individual needs vary, here are six of the experts’ top picks for nutritional support.
Fish Oil. If nausea or vomiting makes eating difficult, you may become deficient in omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are critical for myriad bodily functions. One type of omega-3, called EPA, may help immune cells recognize and destroy cancer cells and thus slow their spread, says Quillin. Dosage: At least one 1,000 mg capsule of fish oil daily, containing about 400 mg of omega-3 from EPA, DHA, and ALA. Better yet, up to 1 tablespoon daily of chilled liquid cod liver oil (which contains more than 3,000 mg of omega-3 oils).
Curcumin. The popular curry spice turmeric gets its yellow color from curcumin. This potent antioxidant has been shown to induce cancer cell suicide without damaging healthy cells, helping you stay vigorous throughout your treatment. Plus, a dash of turmeric spices up the flavor-and palatability-of your food. Dosage: 100 to 800 mg curcumin in capsule form daily or liberal use of turmeric in foods.
Garlic. This popular herb may improve your appetite by reducing the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. “Like many herbs and antioxidants, garlic protects your healthy cells while leaving cancer cells vulnerable to damage from radiation and chemotherapy-thus converting cancer treatment into more of a targeted kill against the cancer, rather than a general kill against both good and bad cells,” explains Quillin. Dosage: One 600 mg capsule daily of aged, deodorized Kyolic (the trademarked product used in the studies); or use garlic daily as a seasoning, making sure to crush the garlic and exposing it to air for 10 minutes first to activate the key ingredient.
Vitamin C. A deficiency in calories often means a deficiency in vitamin C. Like other antioxidants, vitamin C may help chemo and radiation kill cancer cells while protecting your healthy cells from harm. Dosage: At least 1 gram daily, taken with meals in divided dosages.
Vitamin E. If you can’t stomach vitamin E-rich foods like nuts, vegetables, and egg yolks, you may miss out on the benefits of this powerful nutrient. Studies have shown that supplemental E eases the neurotoxic side effects (tingling, numbness, and pain) of chemotherapy. And when you feel better, you’re more likely to eat well. Dosage: 400 IU mixed natural tocopherols and 400 IU vitamin E succinate daily, taken with meals in divided dosages.
Beta-carotene. This carotenoid may decrease treatment side effects and improve your chance of surviving cancer. Ideally you want to get beta-carotene from yellow and orange fruits and vegetables-which also contain thousands of bioflavonoids and numerous other carotenoids-but supplemental beta-carotene still benefits you, too. Dosage: 15 mg (25,000 IU) daily, taken with meals in divided dosages; or eat as much fresh colorful fruits and vegetables as your digestive system tolerates.
Find Out More:
Cancer Nutrition Info (www.cancernutritioninfo.com) provides a wealth of information about nutrition and dietary supplements for cancer patients and survivors.
Beating Cancer with Nutrition by Patrick Quillin (Nutrition Times, 2005) is an excellent resource that lists hundreds of nutritionally oriented cancer doctors.
Cancer and Nutrition, A Ten Point Plan for Prevention and Cancer Life Extension by Charles B. Simone (Princeton Institute, 2005)
The Cancer Lifeline Cookbook: Recipes, Ideas, and Advice to Optimize the Lives of People Living with Cancer, by Kimberly Mathai and Ginny Smith (Sasquatch, 2004)
One Bite at a Time: Nourishing Recipes for Cancer Survivors and Their Friends, by Rebecca Katz, Marsha Tomassi, and Mat Edelson (Celestial Arts, 2004)
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Kathy Summers is a health writer for a variety of national magazines, websites, books.
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