The point of cancer treatments (such as chemo and radiotherapy) is to get rid and kill off the cancerous cells. Chemical substances and radiation are used to destroy cancer cells in your body. And because these are basically substances that are toxic and poisonous to your body, unfortunately, they also affect your healthy cells. Thus the side effects that many experience with these treatments.
1. Pain
You might experience pain after cancer treatment and this could have a big impact on your life. Controlling the pain may allow you to return to many of the activities you enjoy.
Whatever the type of pain that you experience, there are usually ways to manage it.
Tips:
Avoid waiting until it is out of control before doing something about it. Taking medication regularly is the best way to prevent pain from starting or getting worse. Some people call this ‘staying on top of the pain’. It may mean you can use lower doses of pain relief than if you wait until the pain gets worse.
I could not believe how much better I felt after taking some pain relief. Everything seemed less stressful and I did not feel so angry and upset all the time. I had resisted taking anything for so long. I thought I should be able to handle the pain. I now wish I had taken something sooner. Bill, 67
2. Fatigue
Fatigue and lacking energy is the most common – and often, debilitating – side effect of chemotherapy. Fatigue can include feeling exhausted, drowsy, confused or impatient. You may have a heavy feeling in your limbs, or find it difficult to do daily activities.
Being depressed or in pain, taking certain medicines, or having trouble sleeping can also make you feel tired.
Fatigue can appear suddenly and rest may not relieve it. You might still feel tired for weeks or months after a treatment cycle ends.
Tips:
- You might find it helpful to keep track of your energy level. Use either a notebook or your phone to jot down how you feel everyday.
- Be as active as you can. Do light exercises like short walks, a little of stretching, etc.
- Let your friends and family help. Take some time off work, do less.
- Listen to your body. Rest when you feel tired.
I was so tired. It was hard to do even simple things. My nurse said to stay as active as I could. I found that taking short walks each morning gave me more energy during the day.
3. Changes in skin, nail & hair
Some chemotherapy drugs may cause some of your hair to fall out. There are also others that cause all the hair on your head and body fall out, including eyebrows and eyelashes. This is temporary and the hair starts to grow back a few weeks after treatment ends. But losing your hair can be distressing.
You may also experience constant and unpleasant itchiness. In some cases, your skin might become dry and red. These could be due to chronic renal disease or liver disease, or be part of a reaction to chemotherapy drugs. It’s also possible that your nails become dark, yellow or cracked during chemotherapy.
Tips:
- Wear loose, non-restrictive clothing. Choose cotton fabric instead of rough wool or synthetic fibres.
- Dust cornflour over the itchy parts of your skin.
- You may find that your skin is more likely to burn in the sun or react to chemicals. Always wear at least factor 15 sun protection before going out.
- Avoid swimming if possible as water containing chlorine can make your rashes worse.
4. Increased risk of infection
Some chemotherapy drugs affect your bone marrow which produces red blood cells, white blood cells & platelets.
If your white blood cell numbers drop during chemotherapy treatment, it can make it harder for your body to recover from colds and flu. You might also find that cuts and scratches get infected easily or take longer to heal.
If your white blood cell count is low, you are more at risk of developing infections and these can sometimes be very serious.
Tips:
- It is important to let your doctor know urgently if you have any signs of infection:
- A high temperature (38°C or more)
- Feeling cold and shiverish
- Unusual bleeding
- Persistent or severe vomiting
- Cough or sore throat
- Pain passing urine
5. Loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting
When undergoing chemotherapy, it’s common for your appetite to change. Some treatments may temporarily change your taste of food, so you may not like the foods you used to enjoy.
You may also feel sick (nauseous) or vomit when undergoing chemo. Not everyone gets this, but if nausea affects you, it usually starts a few hours after treatment. It may last for many hours and be accompanied by vomiting or retching.
Anti-nausea or anti-vomiting medication can help. This medicine can be taken before, during or after treatment.
Tips:
- Avoid fried foods, fatty foods or foods with a strong smell
- Eat several small meals and snacks each day (instead of large meals) and chew your food well
- Drink plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration
- Sip small amounts of liquid often, rather than trying to drink a lot at once. Sucking on ice cubes or ice-blocks can also help to increase your fluid intake.
Not everyone undergoing chemo/radiotherapy will experienced all the side effects mentioned.
Depending on your Immunity and health condition, you might experienced some. And the intensity of the side effects also varies.
Having said that, if you or your loved ones have cancer, we strongly encourage that you seek professional treatments as all these are proven science (despite the side effects) instead of going with unproven traditional treatments, hearsay and soothsayer.
Finally, what can you do to reduce the side effects of these treatments and support your body to ‘fight’ and overcome the disease?
What you can and should do is to raise your glutathione levels. This would help reduce or even eliminate the side effects of your chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
Thousands worldwide has chosen to use Immunocal to raise their glutathione levels in addition to their chemotherapy or radiation treatments with good success. You can have your doctor look this up in his Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR).
Did you know: Many cancer cells have particularly high Glutathione (GSH) levels.
Cancer is the ONLY condition whereby tightly regulated GSH levels are exceeded. It is the characteristic of cancer cells to bypass normal regulatory controls.
But wait, there’s good news!
There’s a process called negative feedback inhibition in your body. So when you take in enough building blocks to increase your body’s glutathione production (i.e. consuming Immunocal) , the cancer cells shut down their protective glutathione production, making them more vulnerable to the treatment. Hence your anti-cancer treatment (chemo or radiation) would be more effective!
And at the same time, your healthy cells have more Glutathione which protects them from the chemo and radiation. Thus lessening or even eliminating the side effects for you!
Your healthy cells live, the cancer cells die off and you feel better through it all!
The doctor told me that I could have different reactions to the chemo like vomiting, nausea, hair loss, sores in my mouth, etc. After checking me out and prescribing the antibiotics, Dr. Dowell introduced me to Immunocal. He explained that it would help my immune system.
I began taking Immunocal. Incredibly, I had already noticed a change in my system … I was especially interested in Immunocal for its detoxification process since it would help my body eliminate the drugs. I had more energy than I have had in a long time and my body recovered from chemo much quicker without any side effects!
This is definitely due to Immunocal. I continue to take Immunocal faithfully and continue to build up my strength and hope to be back to normal in a few months. Immunocal has given me a better quality of life. Mary
Ivy is a very active thirty-seven year old breast cancer survivor. After undergoing her initial surgery, the pathologist’s report suggested she undergo a dozen sessions of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She experienced many side-effects, including profound weakness and fatigue – a new experience for her.
Later to treat her side effects, she was put on 30 gm/day of Immunocal. Her strength and sense of well being improved within a week and she tolerated her last session of chemotherapy with few side effects. She is back to her usual routine, and remains disease-free.
I would like to share my story of how Immunocal has saved my life.
I had cancer (lymphoma). As my doctor put it, this can be like a raging lion within the body, but chemotherapy is very successful in knocking it back. By mid–August, after six treatments, I was in pretty bad shape with terminal lymphoma (Stage IV, rampant/wasting). The last scan still showed cancerous nodes on my abdomen and chest. My grand-daughter was a great help to me, as I just didn’t have the energy to do very much for myself. I had a walker by my bed, but couldn’t even get out of bed to stand or use the commode.
In early September, I tried Immunocal. I took three packs per day, and by November, was feeling much better. My last scan was completely clear, and I am doing really well. But, I am still taking two packs of Immunocal per day to keep the cancer from coming back.
If I hadn’t taken Immunocal, the story would have been a lot different. Edith
DISCLAIMER
**Please be aware of imitation and other products that claim to boost Glutathione or your immunity. Do they have clinical studies and proof?
Don’t compromise on Quality and Effectiveness!
Especially when it comes to the health of you and your loved ones.. Insist on Immunocal.
