Conditions - Cancer - Side effects

• Alternative therapies
• Side effects

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Patrick Massey MD, Integrative Medicine, ALT-MED Medical and Physical Therapy, Elk Grove Village IL and serving the Chicago area
 
“Research shows that early side-effect management and pretreatment information may help decrease patients' fears and anxiety and increase understanding of treatment.” Hofman, et al. Cancer. 2004. 101(4):851-857.
 

Most side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy get worse as the treatment goes on.  It is my belief that the worsening of many of the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy are simply the result of the body running out of resources. 
 
The physical and mental stress associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy can rapidly deplete the body of vitamins, hormones and essential nutrients.  Compounding these deficiencies, chemotherapy can profoundly affect the bowel, making digestion and absorption of food limited, and stressing the body even further.  Nutritional counseling is simply not enough.
 
Specific complementary and alternative therapies can reduce this stress and even replenish depleted vitamins and nutrients…reducing or eliminating many of the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
 
The best time to begin these therapies is early during chemotherapy and radiation therapy…but at anytime during therapy, side effects can be minimized.
 
Therapies are tailored not to counteract with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
 
Common Side Effects
 

• Anemia - Vitamin infusions(click here), specific mushrooms and herbs may protect the bone marrow

• Constipation/Diarrhea - Malabsorption related to leaky gut syndrome – from chemotherapy(click here) (http://www.alt-med.org/conditions-gastrointestinal.php)

• Fatigue - Malabsorption(click here), sick euthyroid syndrome (click here), adrenal fatigue (click here), massage (click here), acupuncture (click here)

• Hair Loss -  Malabsorption(click here), vitamin/mineral dificiency

• “Chemo-brain” - Malnutrition (click here), intravenous vitamin therapy (click here), sick euthyroid syndrome and adrenal fatigue (click here)  

• Nausea and Vomiting - Acupuncture (click here), malabsorption(click here)

• Nerve pain - Intravenous vitamin therapy (click here), acupuncture (click here)

• Hot flashes - Intravenous vitamin therapy (click here), acupuncture (click here)

 
Let us help you…call (847) 923-0046 for an appointment

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