Chemotherapy and Radiation Protection
1. Chemotherapy Neuropathy prevention:
Icing during chemotherapy, also known as cryotherapy, is a method used to reduce the risk of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), especially with drugs like paclitaxel or oxaliplatin. The idea behind icing is that cold temperatures constrict blood vessels, limiting the amount of chemotherapy drugs that reach the nerves in the hands and feet, which may help reduce nerve damage.
To use icing during chemotherapy to help prevent neuropathy, you’ll need gel cold packs or ice gloves/socks (which can either be purchased specifically for chemo or made with gel packs or frozen peas). You can also use a thin cloth or towel to wrap around the ice packs if they are too cold to place directly on your skin.
You should start icing about 15 minutes before your chemotherapy infusion begins. Continue icing throughout the entire infusion, especially when the drug that causes neuropathy is being administered, such as paclitaxel. After the infusion, keep the ice on for another 15 to 30 minutes, for a total of around 60 to 90 minutes of icing.
The cold should be applied to your hands (palms and fingers) and feet (soles and toes). You can use frozen gloves or wrap ice packs around your hands and use frozen socks or packs around your feet. In some cases, people also ice their mouth by chewing ice chips, but this is more for preventing mouth sores, not specifically for neuropathy.
It’s important to regularly monitor your skin while icing to avoid frostbite, and take breaks if the cold becomes uncomfortable. If you have conditions like Raynaud’s disease, cold intolerance, or circulatory issues, make sure to talk to your oncologist before using this method.
Icing helps reduce blood flow, so you want to keep your extremities cold consistently during the infusion process.
2. Antioxidant Supplements
Although Chemotherapy and Radiation are Oxidant therapies, most antioxidant supplements kill cancer in the presence of cancer but at the same time protect healthy cells and healthy tissues and they work synergistically with chemo and radiation and boost the overall therapeutic effectiveness of the treatment. Here are some of these you can take during chemo and radiation for protection and in helping killing cancer.
Astragalus
Spirulina
Ashwagandha
Genistein
Green Tea extract
EGCG
Berberine
Danshen
Melatonin
Shark Liver Oil Use coupon code: halil10
D-limonene (it can cause long duration burping after ingestion)
Curcumin
Olive leaf
Feverfew
CBD Oil
Black Seed Oil
Resveratrol
Quercetin
Milk Thistle