Archive for December, 2009

Chemotherapy takes a big toll on the body of a cancer patient. It’s common to have side effects such as lack of energy, nausea, lack of appetite, mouth sores and hair loss. Many people think that because these side effects are quite common, everyone on chemotherapy will have the same experience. The good news is that this is not true.

Lack of energy, nausea, lack of appetite, mouth sores, and hair loss can be prevented by using all natural herbs that are combined in specific dosages in an herbal formula. When an all natural formula is created properly, it is not uncommon to find many patients reporting the elimination of chemotherapy side effects after using it for only 7 days. Some patients may even report that they are able to get off bed rest and start working again while others notice that nausea and lack of energy has become a thing of the past.

Why Chemotherapy Patients have Lack of Energy

chemotherapyChemotherapy drugs often cause low levels of white and red blood cells, which contributes to the feeling of lack of energy. By killing cancer cells with chemotherapy drugs, some healthy cells are also killed. It takes time for the body to recover and start the production of new cells again. In the meantime, the person feels tired and as if all their energy has been zapped out of them. Once in this weakened mental and physical state, it becomes easy to give up the will to live.

That’s where the all natural herbs come to the rescue. In many cultures, all natural herbs have been used to build the cell counts in the blood back up to normal levels. Other all natural herbs act on a part of the white blood cell line, for example, the natural killer cells which specifically kill cancer cells.

Natural Effects from Herbs Only Help the Body

The reason that all natural formulas work so well is that they combine herbs together. For example, the combination of 15 all natural different herbs with known anti-cancer effects, known action that supports the immune system, and known anti-oxidant properties can work wonders. Research on the actions of herbs is plentiful. For example, the all natural herbs Astragalus and Bai-zhu atractylodeshas activates white blood cells, both T and B cells, important in the battle against cancer. Reishi mushrooms have been heavily researched and promote the production of natural killer cells which kill cancer cells specifically.

The formula could also contain tangerine, dong quai, Chinese licorice, dendrobium, ligustrum lucidum, spatholobus, codonopsis, psoralea, polygonaturm, poria seed, lycium fruit, and rehmannia.

When all natural herbs are combined together, their effect on the body is often greater than the effect seen by each individual herb. Herbs augment each other, resulting in greater results for the person taking them. This is the case of some anti chemotherapy side effects formulas which have been found to boost energy levels, thereby eliminating the chemotherapy fatigue and lack of energy, boost production of antibodies and interferon, and also boost the levels of the white and red blood cells.

These formulas can be taken before chemotherapy starts, during chemotherapy and even afterwards. They are considered by many to be a blessing to those taking it because the all natural herbs allow them to finish their course of chemotherapy with minimal side effects. They receive the best of both worlds – medical and the all natural herb world, two opposing viewpoints that are blended together to result in a better quality of life.

It’s Dr. Donna’s passion to bring herbal info to those who are suffering from side effects of chemotherapy when there is a solution. She is a master herbalist and holds other degrees (http://www.drdonna.info) For more info on herbs that help decrease chemotherapy side effects, see http://www.immuneenhance.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Donna_Schwontkowski
Technorati Tag: Chemotherapy

chemotherapy

Chemotherapy effects would differ from person to person. It would also differ from the medicines that are given and the dosage of such medicines. Certain medicines tend to suit a person where as the same might not be effective to another.

chemotherapyThere are many chemotherapy effects. It can be vomiting, loss of hair, infertility, diarrhea, change in the taste buds, menopause, fatigue; sores in the mouth etc. there are instances where people find it very difficult to eat as they vomit just everything that they eat. This is a chemotherapy effect. Even if the patient is hungry and wants to eat he would not be able to because of vomiting. Some people also have nausea and diarrhea. Such people would become anxious and would also cause weakness. Because of this such patients tend to have burning sensation in the heart which worsens the situation.

The worst chemotherapy effect is hair loss. Many people lose a lot of their hair. There are also instances where people have gone bald because of chemotherapy. Loss of hair would cause depression and is a mental trauma to the patient. In some cases when the hair grows back it would be of a different color. When we speak of hair loss here it is not only the head but other parts of the body also. Eyebrows and eyelashes are also affected. A mild shampoo might help to reduce such hair loss. Do not be harsh on your hair in such a time.

Another common chemotherapy effect is menopause. This would depend on the age of the person. During this time the periods of ladies would not be regular. If the women are of a younger age then the periods would be normal after the chemotherapy treatment is over. But for ladies who are older and their menopause is not too far away, then for such ladies periods might totally stop. This chemotherapy effect can cause mood swings in the person. The person might become a little more emotional and the confidence might dip. This can even cause infertility in women.

Some patients have an effect of chemotherapy in the form of fatigue. This is seen with women in the case of breast cancer. They might not be willing to do any work and would feel a little bored too fast. Such patients would be asked to take lots of rest and relax. A daily routine should be followed in order to keep the patient active. A good lifestyle can help such patients to get over the fatigue.

Manuel Wiggins is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
To learn more about chemotherapy effects [http://bestchemotherapyoptions.info/chemotherapy-effects] visit Best Chemotherapy Options [http://bestchemotherapyoptions.info] for current articles and discussions.
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Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with drugs that can destroy cancer cells. These drugs often are called “anti-cancer” drugs. Your doctor will recommend an appropriate chemotherapy plan based on your medical history, type of cancer, extent of cancer, current state of health, and updated research.

chemotherapyMany people hear about chemotherapy from friends and family or read about it in books or brochures. What you hear and read can give you a general idea about chemotherapy treatments; however, all of the information may not apply to you and your specific situation. Before deciding to begin chemotherapy, you should ask your doctor questions that will help you understand treatment and what to expect during treatments.

Some of the important questions to ask your doctor are:

• Why do I need chemotherapy?

• What are the risks of chemotherapy?

• What are the benefits of chemotherapy?

• What do you hope the chemotherapy will do for me?

• What are the specifics of chemotherapy treatments in my case?

• Are there any other possible treatment methods for my type of cancer?

• What type of chemotherapy drugs will I be given?

• How will the chemotherapy drugs be given to me?

• How long will I be receiving chemotherapy treatments?

• How long will each treatment last?

• Who will give me the treatments?

• How will I feel during chemotherapy?

• What are the short term side effects of chemotherapy?

• Are there any long term side effects of chemotherapy?

• How soon can I expect any side effects to occur and how long will they last?

• What can I do to prepare for any side effects?

• Are there medicines available to help me manage any side effects I may have?

• Can I continue to work or go to school during treatment?

• Will I see a doctor at each treatment?

• Should I bring a family member or friend along to each treatment?

• Will I need someone to drive me to and from treatments?

• How will we know if the chemotherapy treatments are working?

• After I finish chemotherapy, what kind of follow-up care will I receive?

• What activities should I do or not do to take care of myself?

• Are there any clinical trials for my type of cancer?

• What other resources offer information and support for chemotherapy patients?

When you sit down and ask the doctor these important questions regarding chemotherapy, the following tips might help you keep track of the information you learn during visits with your doctor:

• Bring a friend or family member to sit with you while you talk with your doctor. This will help you understand what your doctor says during your visit and they can help refresh your memory afterward.

• Ask your doctor for printed information that is available on your specific type of cancer and treatment.

• Take notes during your appointment. If you need more time to write ask your doctor to talk slowly.

• You may want to ask if you can use a tape recorder during your visit. Take notes from the tape after the visit is finished. That way, you can review your conversation later as many times as you wish.

Chemotherapy is difficult for anyone to undertake but if you are prepared by knowing what to expect throughout the treatment you may be able to handle it better both physically and mentally.

Article by Patricia Kopp. Please visit our site http://www.natural-cancer-cures.info for information on natural cancer treatments. We also provide resources for cancer self help therapies.
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Technorati Tag: Cancer Treatment, Chemotherapy

chemotherapy

One of the most frightening diseases you can get is cancer. However, thanks to the improvement modern medicine has made, there is hope for thousands of people suffering from this dreaded and life-threatening disease. This said, the treatment for cancer can be quite debilitating, especially chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can cause a lot of side effects ranging from severe nausea, anemia and, of course, hair loss.

chemotherapyHair loss is a difficult to handle for any cancer patient. Besides feeling sick with the disease and subsequent treatment, you now have to cope with being self-conscious. This feeling is completely natural and it the person’s family, doctor and friends should reach out and lend support at this hour.

One way to handle the stress of hair loss is to use chemotherapy head scarves, caps and hats. These hats for cancer are more popular for women than men. In addition, the scarves are not expensive at all and you can purchase many in different colors and styles to complement the outfits you wear. Many of the chemo head scarfs are long so that they can be wrapped around the head. Many of our styles are made from cotton, any textured fabric, linen and silk.

If you’re suffering from cancer, you should not consider chemotherapy head scarves as a way of hiding your disease. You should view these scarves positively as they can be used over and over again even after the disease is cured and your hair grows back. Even as a cancer patient, wearing the scarf is like a fashion statement rather than proclaiming your illness.

Some women undergoing cancer treatment are afraid to use chemotherapy head scarves because they feel that tying the scarves will be an issue. Tying a head scarf is not as difficult as it looks and you can concentrate on honing your scarf tying skills. A simple method of tying the head scarf is by folding it into a triangle, putting the scarf on your head with the point of the triangle facing your back. Take the two ends of the scarf and tie them behind your neck towards the base of your head. Make sure that you tie the knot over the point of the triangle. Of course, this is only necessary for head scarves and not required for a cap or hat.

As mentioned earlier, the good thing about chemotherapy head scarves is that you can continue wearing them even after your hair grows back. But, it is not necessary then to wear them on your head. You can drape them round your shoulders, tie them round your neck, use them as belts or just wear them in different styles on your head. The difference will be that when you do this, you will have a head full of hair!

To discover the many choices in womens head scarves, caps and hats, you’ll want to visit http://www.FashionScarvesAndShawls.com They have many head scarfs that are perfect for anytime… around the house, doing errands, going to the grocery store, plus are perfect for chemotherapy and cancer treatment patients. Check out this online store today. They have thousands of satisfied customers worldwide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Meryl_Rougeaux
Technorati Tag: Cancer Treatment, Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is very effective and standard treatment for cancer patients. Mostly, the chemotherapy drugs act on those cells that move through their respective cell cycle including the normal cells from hair follicles, bone marrow, gastrointestinal lining, ovaries, testicles and cancer cells. It helps to determine the side effects occurred by chemotherapy such as hair loss, diarrhea, mouth sores and low blood counts.

Most of patients experience chemotherapy toxicity because it’s heavily protein bound drugs.

chemotherapyChemotherapy drugs may affect normal cells or their processes that include synthesis of DNA and RNA, cellular division and many other chemical reactions within the cell. There are some complementary medicines that can lighten these side effects without compromising the benefit. You can move towards acupuncture, nutritional, massage and Reiki therapy.

Patients having chemotherapy of heavily protein bound drugs such as celecoxib, amlodipine and omeprazole along with chemotherapy drugs may experience hematologic side effects such as low count in white blood cells. Patients may experience nonhematologic unpleasant effects from chemotherapy such as diarrhea and fatigue by taking the drugs that reduce cytochrome P450 enzyme such as ketoconazable and amiodarone.

Other factors may influence chemo-toxicity that include higher body mass index, tumor stage, lower mean albumin and higher serum aspirate aminotransferase before starting chemotherapy. Adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy give excellent benefit in breast cancer. However, both can damage normal tissues in way and affect the quality of life. This effect on normal cells causes due to apoptosis of normal cells.

Ectopic over expression of the anti- apoptotic molecule Bcl-2 may slow down the chemotherapy and radiation induced apoptosis of normal cells and helps to reduce the toxicity of chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

Chemotherapy drugs may also cause skin toxicity. There are skin rashes such as Alopecia that is hair loss, acral erythema, recall reactions, skin necrosis, photosensitivity, acneiform reutions, nail changes, neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis, mucositis, hyperpigmentation, sclerotic dermal reactions, vascular injury, xerosis and other reactions.

Acral erythema is also known as palmoplantar erythrodysesthesia or hand foot syndrome. It is noticeable with redness of the skin of the palm and soles. This system may come first by sensation of the skin and gives severe pain that may affect on daily activities.

The Chemotherapy toxicity cause symptoms like cardiodepression, central neurotoxicity and myelosuppression that can make the treatment complex.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kate_Savage
Technorati Tag: Chemotherapy

chemotherapy
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