How Did I Prepare and Maintain Myself for Chemo

How Did I Prepare and Maintain Myself for Chemo

Dr. Francisco C. Tang  a.k.a  Dr. Huang Nung Yang

Before the start of my chemo, I was able to talk to many (Lymphoma) cancer patients in the OPD who recovered or who had remissions, that walking exercise is a must for building up stamina and for increasing resistance to fatigue.  So two weeks prior to the start of my chemo, I did brisk walking exercise twice daily for 30 mins. I also maintained good nutrition, take food supplements, have adequate rest and good night sleep.

According to Dr. Keith Block of Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care in Illinois, USA who studied how diet and lifestyle changes can slow cancers, ease chemo side-effects, improve quality of life and give survivors an edge. He also noticed that nutrition had profound effect. Patients who take control of their daily choices are in a better shape to fight cancer and respond better to treatment.

Click or copy the link below to view Dr. Block's  interview.

http://www.wtsp.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=84416295001


Drs. Block and Don Colbert advise patients to eat more:

• Berries (acai berries, blue berries,  cherries, Goji berries, raspberries, strawberries, etc.) and fruits such as apple, avocado,  citrus, dragon fruit, grapes, kiwi, mangosteen,  noni, pomegranate, soursop - all  high anti-oxidants 
• Cold water fish (wild salmon, mackerel, tuna, etc) - high in omega 3 fatty acids
• Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, etc.)
• Egg whites
• Good fats ( avocado oil, olive oil, flaxseed oil, fish oil,  omega 3 and 9 fatty acids)
• Green tea -  at least 4 cups to 8-12 cups/day -prevents breast cancer recurrence in early stages
• Legumes (lentils,  beans, check peas)
• Nuts (almonds, cashew, walnut, macademia, etc.)
• Seeds and soy beans (isoflavones-phytoestrogen) prevents prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women - soy milk, tofu, miso soup, soy protein extract, soy yogurt,  soy flour  or isoflavone tablets.
• Whole cereal grains, rice bran 
• Alfalfa, barley grass, forelle, wheat grass, spirulina,  blue green algae powders - mix one tsp each with orange juice in a blender until smooth.
• Vitamin supplements - Vit. A (5,000 i.u. daily), beta carotene (25,000 i.u. daily), vit. C (500-1000 mgs.) 2-3x daily, folic acid (800-1000 ug) daily-prevents pre-malignant polyps of the colon,  vit. E (alpha, beta, delta and gamma tocopherols) (400 i.u.) daily-protects the thymus which is responsible for  the immune system and decrease risks of prostate, breast and uterine cancers.
• Minerals - Zinc; selenium(200 ug) daily-prevents cancer of the stomach and esophagus; Ca (1000 mg daily for premenopausal or 1500 mg daily for post menopausal) found in skimmed milk and skimmed cheese - prevents colon cancer;  IP6 (inositol hexaphosphate) found in whole grains cereal, legumes and soy beans - anti tumor function causing cancer cells to mature and behave similar to a normal cell, strengthen immunity and boost  activity of our natural killer cells; shark's cartilage - beneficial in preventing and treating cancer by inhibiting angiogenesis; 
• High fiber diets and supplements - lower the risks of breast cancer.

Foods to avoid:

• Bad fats -trans fats, saturated and polyunsaturated fats in processed baked goods, omega 6 fatty acids, corn, saffflower and sunflower oil - increase PGE2 - increase risks to prostate, breast and colon cancers.
• Poultry and milk products - cheese, whole milk, ice cream, butter and MARGARINE, chicken and turkey skin (promotes inflammation and mucus production)
• Processed sugary foods - cakes, doughnuts (promotes inflammation and fuels cancer) 
• Red meat and processed meats - hotdogs, bacons, hams,  (iron supports cancer cells and too high in bad fats)
• Alcohol and cigarettes

Dr. Block advises patients things to do BEFORE chemotherapy:

• take two 500. ginger root caps 15 mins. before. 
•  do 15 mins. of aerobic exercise or walikng or biking an hour before treatment. 
• take fish oil, curcumin and melatonin (both anti-inflammatory)
• sit outside in morning sun for 15 mins. to increase vit. D level - important specially in breast cancer patients.
• check vit. D levels in advance (simple blood test) - important for breast cancer patients.

Dr. Block has also noticed patients who eat nutritious foods and take certain supplements DURING chemo ease side-effects: 

• Thats' where HemoHIM+ comes in to boost vitality and immune system.

Things to take BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER chemotherapy to prevent mouth sores (mucositis) and nerve damage-neuropathy (tingling of hands and feet):

• Mix 10-20 gms of Powdered Glutamine in a bottle of water and sip and drink it before, during and after chemotherapy.
• Gargle with Chlorhexidine mouth wash every after meals.