What is Chemotherapy? [1]
Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells in your body. Chemotherapy is most often used to treat cancer, since cancer cells grow and multiply much more quickly than most cells in the body.It usually works by keeping the cancer cells from growing, dividing, and making more cells. Because cancer cells usually grow and divide faster than normal cells, chemotherapy has more of an effect on cancer cells. However, the drugs used for chemotherapy are powerful, and they can still cause damage to healthy cells. [2]
Many different chemotherapy drugs are available. Chemotherapy drugs can be used alone or in combination to treat a wide variety of cancers. Though chemotherapy is an effective way to treat many types of cancer, chemotherapy treatment also carries a risk of side effects. Some chemotherapy side effects are mild and treatable, while others can cause serious complications.
Why is Chemotherapy done? [1]
Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells in people with cancer. There are a variety of settings in which chemotherapy may be used in people with cancer:
- To cure the cancer without other treatments. Chemotherapy can be used as the primary or sole treatment for cancer. After other treatments, to kill hidden cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy can be used after other treatments, such as surgery, to kill any cancer cells that might remain in the body. Doctors call this adjuvant therapy.
- To prepare you for other treatments. Chemotherapy can be used to shrink a tumor so that other treatments, such as radiation and surgery, are possible. Doctors call this neoadjuvant therapy.
- To ease signs and symptoms. Chemotherapy may help relieve signs and symptoms of cancer by killing some of the cancer cells. Doctors call this palliative chemotherapy.
Risks of Chemotherapy: [1]
Side effects of chemotherapy drugs can be significant. Each drug has different side effects, and not every drug causes every side effect. Ask your doctor about the side effects of the particular drugs you’ll receive. Common side effects of chemotherapy drugs include:
- Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Hair loss, Loss of appetite, Fatigue, Fever, Mouth sores, Pain, Constipation, Easy bruising, Bleeding
Many of these side effects can be prevented or treated. Most side effects subside after treatment ends.
Long-lasting and late-developing side effects
Chemotherapy drugs can also cause side effects that don’t become evident until months or years after treatment. Late side effects vary depending on the chemotherapy drug but can include:
- Damage to lung tissue, Heart problems, Infertility, Kidney problems, Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy), Risk of a second cancer
Ask your doctor if you have a risk of any late side effects. Ask what signs and symptoms you should be aware of that may signal a problem.
How Chemotherapy drugs are given:[1]
Chemotherapy drugs can be given in different ways, including:
- Chemotherapy infusions. Chemotherapy is most often given as an infusion into a vein (intravenously). The drugs can be given by inserting a tube with a needle into a vein in your arm or into a device in a vein in your chest.
- Chemotherapy pills. Some chemotherapy drugs can be taken in pill or capsule form.
- Chemotherapy shots. Chemotherapy drugs can be injected with a needle, just as you would receive a shot.
- Chemotherapy creams. Creams or gels containing chemotherapy drugs can be applied to the skin to treat certain types of skin cancer.
- Chemotherapy drugs used to treat one area of the body. Chemotherapy drugs can be given directly to one area of the body. For instance, chemotherapy drugs can be given directly in the abdomen (intraperitoneal chemotherapy), chest cavity (intrapleural chemotherapy) or central nervous system (intrathecal chemotherapy). Chemotherapy can also be given through the urethra into the bladder (intravesical chemotherapy).
- Chemotherapy given directly to the cancer. Chemotherapy can be given directly to the cancer or, after surgery, where the cancer once was. As an example, thin disk-shaped wafers containing chemotherapy drugs can be placed near a tumor during surgery. The wafers break down over time, releasing chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapy drugs may also be injected into a vein or artery that directly feeds a tumor.
Essiac with Chemotherapy:
“CHEMOTHERAPY: This can have a devastating effect on your blood cell count. We have had reliable reports of some doctors actually telling their patients to get hold of a good supply of Essiac and take it to bring their blood count back up to an acceptable level before they undertake further chemotherapy. Essiac is generally well tolerated alongside the various chemotherapies, and seems to make a marked difference to the patient’s quality of life and general well-being during treatment.” [THE SECRETS OF RENE CAISSE’S HERBAL PHARMACY, p. 87]
‘this (Essiac) is an excellent blood cleanser and can help tremendously if someone is toxic either from chemotherapy or radiation.” statement by Dr. Jesse Stoff [THE SECRETS OF RENE CAISSE’S HERBAL PHARMACY, p. 88]
“Those taking Essiac have frequently reported well-maintained energy and immune system levels, both during and after courses of radio-therapy treatment.” [ESSIAC ESSENTIALS, p. 58]
Written by an oncology nurse, Brenda Paige: “Hi everyone!! I just thought I should clarify about my opinion & experience on the use of Essiac tea during chemo. Essiac IS an immune builder. I swear by it. However, taking it ALONE during chemo has shown no contraindications that I have ever found in research & by talking to patients over many years. It is actually beneficial. It lessens side effects of nausea, fatigue, some have actually reported less pain, less hair loss?? & it stimulates your appetite, which can be a real challenge during certain chemos due to the metal taste in your mouth.
BUT, when you mix it with Vitamin C, vitamin E & turmeric or curcumin, then, you can get into a grey area. The object of chemo is to basically destroy your immune system. Chemo cannot differentiate between fast growing cancer cells & fast growing white blood cells (our defense system), so it kills them all.
I worked for 3 female oncologists & when I mentioned Essiac tea to them, Dr.#1 said “what?” E-ZY tea? what is that!?” #2 said “never heard of it” & was done. #3 said “never heard of it but if it’s an herb, then I am against it” These were smart women, great doctors, just all conventional & only knew what they were taught. Sad to say, that is usually the case.
If you are fortunate to find an integrative oncologist, or a holistic doctor or a naturopathic doctor, they may have heard of it & give their blessing. And then there were the patients who took what they wanted during chemo & did not tell their doctors. It is a personal choice & a hotly debated one. I am writing this because I normally DO recommend Essiac with most chemo drugs.
Just know that if you are taking multiple immune builders, you are working against chemo drugs, which are immune destroyers. If you are going to put your body though chemo, which is not easy, then I advise letting it do its intended job without interference. We always have a choice, all conventional, all natural or integrative, a combination of the two. Blessings to all of us going through this nightmare they call cancer. Keep a positive attitude; that is 90% of the battle!”
Resources:
[1] Mayo Clinic: Chemotherapy – https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chemotherapy/about/pac-20385033#:~:text=Chemotherapy%20is%20a%20drug%20treatment,most%20cells%20in%20the%20body.
[2] Understanding Chemotherapy – https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/chemotherapy/understanding-chemotherapy#:~:text=It%20usually%20works%20by%20keeping,cause%20damage%20to%20healthy%20cells.“
The Secrets of Rene Caisse’s Herbal Pharmacy”, Sheila Snow and Mali Klein – https://isbnsearch.org/search?s=ESSIAC%2C+THE+SECRETS+OF+RENE+CAISSE%27S+HERBAL+PHARMACY
“Essiac Essentials”, by Sheila Snow – https://isbnsearch.org/search?s=essiac+essentials
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