About the Series
Our Becoming Your Own Advocate series of articles are designed
to empower patients with information so that they'll be able to make
better, more informed decisions. Please
help support this series by making a donation now. Is there a topic
you'd like to see discussed in a future article? Please
contact us to let us know.
We've recently launched Spanish language versions of many of our articles: Conviértase
en su propio defensor.
CURRENT ARTICLES
Lymphoma, Chemotherapy, & Antioxidants
By Johanna Altgelt & Michael McCulloch
Using antioxidants during chemotherapy is an important and controversial question
among health care providers, patients, and their support teams. In previous issues
of Avenues, we have researched this subject thoroughly for prostate, breast,
lung, colon, and ovarian cancers. In this article, we turn our focus to lymphoma,
conducting a systematic search for published research that would support or discourage
the use of antioxidants in combination with chemotherapy
Ovarian Cancer, Chemotherapy, & Antioxidants
By Johanna Altgelt, Helen Ly, & Michael McCulloch
Chemotherapy drugs used in the treatment of ovarian cancer work, in part, by
inducing even higher levels of oxidative stress to attack cancer cells. This
increased oxidative stress also causes chemotherapy related side effects. Oncologists
have been concerned that antioxidants, which can decrease oxidative stress, can
therefore also decrease chemotherapy treatment effectiveness or increase resistance
to chemotherapy. However, no substantial clinical research has emerged to support
the assertion that antioxidants are contraindicated during chemotherapy.
Colon Cancer, Chemotherapy, & Antioxidants
By Johanna Altgelt, Helen Ly, & Michael McCulloch
Although not commonly addressed in clinical consultation, scientific evidence
suggests that combining certain chemotherapy treatments with specific antioxidants
at defined dosages can improve drug effectiveness or may reduce side effect severity
in the treatment of colon cancer.
Lung Cancer, Chemotherapy, & Antioxidants
By Johanna Altgelt & Michael McCulloch
There is a growing body of evidence that suggests combining specific chemotherapy
treatments for lung cancer with certain antioxidants at defined dosages can help
improve drug effectiveness or reduce the severity of side effects. In this evidence-based
review article, Johanna Altgelt, an associate researcher at the Pine Street Foundation,
searched through thousands of peer-reviewed, published studies and discusses
how antioxidants may enhance or, in some cases, inhibit the therapeutic action
of specific chemotherapy drugs used in the treatment of lung cancer.
Breast Cancer, Chemotherapy, & Antioxidants
By Johanna Altgelt & Michael McCulloch
There is a growing body of evidence that suggests combining certain
chemotherapy treatments with certain antioxidants at specific dosages
can help improve drug effectiveness or reduce the severity of side effects.
In this evidence-based review article, we searched through thousands
of peer-reviewed, published studies and discuss how antioxidants may
enhance or, in some cases, inhibit the therapeutic action of specific
chemotherapy drugs used in the treatment of breast cancer.
Breast Cancer: Advances in
Diagnosis & Treatment
By Gwendolyn Stritter, MD
There has been significant progress in the diagnosis and treatment for
breast cancer this past year. In this article, guest author Gwendolyn
Stritter, MD, discusses some of the latest research and observes how
there is increasingly "more information about which herbs, supplements,
and other alternative/complementary approaches can minimize treatment
side effects and possibly even reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence."
Antioxidants & Chemotherapy
for Advanced Prostate Cancer
The Latest Research on Specific Interactions
While it is true that there are some antioxidants that can hinder chemotherapy's
effects, recent research suggests that there are some antioxidants that,
when combined with chemotherapy, can increase the effectiveness of treatment
by upwards of 30%. In this article, we seek to provide some clarity on
this topic by providing useful guidelines that patients and health care
providers can use to make better, more informed treatment decisions.
Although this article specifically focuses on advanced metastatic prostate
cancer, future articles will focus on the use of antioxidants and chemotherapy
in the treatment of other cancers.
Your Mind & Cancer Treatment
(Part 2)
The Latest Research on Chemotherapy-related Cognitive Decline
In 2005, we addressed the issue of chemotherapy-related cognitive
decline, sometimes called "chemo brain" or "chemo fog." Since
then, there have been some important new studies that provide more evidence
of this problem, which we discuss and summarize in this new article.
Making the Best of a
Hospital Experience
By Sandra Boeschen
When a visit to a hospital is necessary, knowing what to expect, who
to contact, and how to ask questions can be immensely beneficial. In
this article,
author Sandra Boeschen writes how "with a little preparation, an
inpatient or outpatient visit can be the healing event you need."
Talking to Your Children
About Your Cancer Diagnosis & Treatment
By Michael Haas, MA, MFT
This article discusses how to talk to
children about cancer diagnosis and treatment. The author, Michael Haas,
MA, MFT, writes how "explaining cancer to a child is difficult and
requires thoughtfulness, compassion, and some understanding of how children
of different ages deal with trauma."
Interactive Guided Imagery
as a Way to Access Patient Strengths During Cancer Treatment
By Martin L Rossman, MD, DipLAc (NCCAOM)
This article, by Martin Rossman, MD, DipLAc, discusses the use
of guided imagery – a range of techniques from simple visualization
to direct imagery-based suggestion – by people with cancer. He
presents three brief cases that show "how guided imagery can help
people with cancer access an 'inner support system' at a time when it
is most needed."
Sexual
Health & Cancer Treatment:
Understanding the Problem & Finding
Solutions
In this article, we discuss the impact cancer treatment can have on
sexual functioning. By addressing this important topic, it is our hope
that this article will facilitate a constructive discussion between patients
and their partners and health care providers.
Your
Mind and Cancer Treatment (Part 1)
Understanding and Addressing Cognitive Decline
Often called "chemobrain," patients going through various
cancer treatments can sometimes experience cognitive dysfunction, such
as slowed thinking, memory problems, and poor coordination. In the first
of two new articles in our Becoming Your Own Advocate series, we address
the issue of cognitive dysfunction by discussing its causes and offering
various solutions that can help prevent or minimize its effects.
Information
That Could Save Your Life
By
Marie Savard, MD
Guest contributor Marie Savard, MD, wants "each of us to take medical
matters literally into our own hands" by compiling and maintaining
a complete set of our own medical records. In the second new article
in our Becoming Your Own Advocate series, Dr. Savard describes why a
complete set of records is important and offers tips for how to go about
finding and requesting copies.
Integrative
Cancer Pain Management
By
Gwendolyn M Stritter, MD
The article addresses
the issue of cancer pain management. Gwendolyn Stritter, MD, a pain specialist
in the San Francisco Bay Area, outlines her approach to successful pain
management and discusses the benefits of an integrative strategy that
combines both pharmacological and non-pharmacological technique
How
to Sleep Well:
Understanding the Importance of Rest and Optimal Health
How
to Define Your Needs:
Getting Support from Family and Friends
How
to Find New Treatment Choices:
Locating Clinical Trials and New Drugs
in Development When Standard Treatment Is Not An Option
Patient Assistance Plans:
Pharmaceutical Companies Helping Patients
Get Their Medicines
How
to Tell Your Physician You're Using Complementary & Alternative
Medicine:
Why It's Important For Them to be Informed
How
to Communicate Effectively with Your Doctor:
Working Toward Informed
and Shared Decision Making
How to Evaluate a Clinical Study:
Guidelines to Help Understand Published
Research
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