10 Tips for Getting Through Chemo

Chemotherapy and radiation are the go-to treatments for treating cancer. While these treatments do a good job of killing off cancerous cells and preventing them from regenerating, they also kill healthy cells. Chemo is known to cause a wide range of side effects, including fatigue, anemia, nausea, vomiting, appetite changes, and an increased risk of infection.

Even though this cancer treatment can feel like an uphill battle, there are steps you can take to make getting through chemo a little easier. Keep reading to learn about 10 helpful tips. 

1. Eat Healthily Each Day

Your food and beverage choices are two of the most powerful changes you can make in protecting yourself from chemo side effects. Making healthy dietary choices also makes treatment more effective and may even prevent cancer recurrence.

2. Drink Raw Vegetable Juices

Juicing is more than a social media fad. During cancer treatment, juicing raw vegetables is a great way to heal your body. Juice from raw beets, carrots, spinach, kale, and other dark leafy greens gives your immune system the boost it needs. Be sure to use a juice that includes the pulp so that you’re able to take in all of the vitamins and nutrients from the vegetables.

3. Antioxidants

Increasing your antioxidant intake during cancer treatment will protect your body from damage caused by free radicals, which are produced by toxic chemicals and ionizing radiation. Not only do antioxidants protect healthy tissues in your body, but they may also make chemo even more effective.

The most critical antioxidants include carotenes and pycnogenol, along with vitamin C and E. These antioxidants can be found in many foods, including:

• Carrots
• Sweet potatoes
• Nuts and seeds
• Broccoli
• Strawberries

By eating these foods during chemo, you can protect your body from harmful free radicals and other chemicals.

4. Co-Enzyme Q-10

Co-Q10 is a naturally occurring enzyme that’s found in every cell in your body. The enzyme assists in cellular respiration, energy production, and oxygenation. Co-Q10 also has immune-enhancing properties, an important factor when undergoing chemo treatments.

5. Magnesium

Certain chemotherapies and pain medications are known to cause constipation. Not only is this side-effect frustrating, but it can also become quite painful. Magnesium is a natural laxative that can keep you regular during cancer treatment.

Undergoing chemotherapy also has a mental and emotional toll. Taking magnesium may help with these side effects, as the mineral also aids in treating anxiety and depression.

6. Thymus Extract

Thymus tissue extract helps to prevent thymic atrophy that can be caused by radiation and immunosuppressive drugs. These extracts are also beneficial in preventing anemia and poor blood counts. By taking thymus extract, you give your thymus gland a boost. This gland is the master of stimulating T-cell activity and immunity.

7. Viscum Album

Viscum Album, also known as Mistletoe and Iscador, is a well-known botanical product that’s been used in Europe as a cancer treatment for decades. The plant is a potent immune-potentiator, meaning it prevents thymic atrophy, immuno-suppression, and bone marrow depression, all of which are common chemo side effects.

8. Zingiber Officinale

Zingiber Officinale, better known as ginger, offers a wide range of benefits during chemo treatment. Ginger not only aids in digestion, but it also controls nausea and detoxifies the liver. Drinking organic all-natural ginger ale or consuming ginger root powder is extremely helpful in reducing the severity of cancer treatment side effects.

9. Seven 7 Cream

The skin can be severely damaged during radiation treatment. To help rejuvenate the skin, what’s known as the Seven 7 Cream was created. This topical treatment uses:

• Marigold
• Aloe vera
• Manuka honey
• Calendula
• Avocado oil
• Coconut oil
• Shea butter

This combination of natural ingredients helps in healing burned tissue. These ingredients also hydrate the skin.

10. Medicinal Mushrooms

There are many types of medicinal mushrooms that are beneficial to eat or drink in powdered form during chemo treatment. Some of the most potent and beneficial mushrooms include Shiitake, Maitake, and Reishi.

These mushrooms increase disease resistance, stimulate the immune system, and enhance T-helper cell function.

Other Tips for Getting Through Chemo and Radiation

These 10 tips are just a few of the many ways you can make undergoing chemo/radiation cancer treatment a little less difficult. Using these tips, you can minimize chemo side effects while also improving your immune system and your overall well-being.

Want to learn more? Check out our e-Book for a full list of all tips.