Posted on: Saturday, February 19, 2005

PRESCRIPTIONS
Herbs may reduce severity of chemo

By Amy Tousman

Q. Is there any way to stop the damage to healthy cells caused by chemotherapy?

A. Cancer chemotherapy, often called "chemo," involves the administration of toxic chemicals to cancer cells. These chemicals don't directly kill the cancer cells, but instead impair their ability to reproduce. Although chemo targets cancer cells, some healthy cells such as red blood cells, hair follicles and cells of the stomach lining also can be poisoned. This destruction can cause side effects such as hair loss, nausea, poor appetite and fatigue. Kidney and heart damage also are possible.

Some chemotherapy drugs harm cancer cells by generating large amounts of free radicals.

Free radicals also can harm healthy cells. Antioxidant supplements such as vitamins A, C, E or selenium may reduce healthy-cell damage by inactivating these free radicals.

Unfortunately, this potentially could reduce the cancer-fighting effects of some chemo medications.

Most studies on antioxidant or herbal supplements and chemotherapies have been done in animals or test tubes. Human testing is the best way to learn how these substances affect chemotherapy, its side effects and long-term survival.

The mineral selenium has been studied in humans. When given four days before and after the administration of the chemo drug cisplatin, an increased immune cell count and decrease in toxic effects on the kidneys was observed.

The herbs astragulus, panax ginseng and ginger also may be beneficial.

In animals, astragalus reduced immune suppression caused by the chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide and inhibited the spread of cancer. Human studies are needed before recommending astragalus.

Panax ginseng strengthens immune response and may control cancer cell growth. A study of ginseng added to the chemo drug mitomycin resulted in increased tumor kill. Ginseng interferes with the effectiveness of tamoxifen and is not recommended for patients with estrogen-sensitive breast or uterine cancers.

In patients with tumors of the digestive system, a combination of ginseng and astragulus added to chemo reduced the chemo's toxic effect.

Ginger decreases the severity and duration of nausea after chemo. Leukemia patients who took ginger had less nausea than those given a fake treatment. Ginger can cause abnormal bleeding during chemo, so its use should be monitored by your oncologist.

Herbs and supplements should only be added to a chemotherapy regimen after consulting your oncologist.

Amy Tousman is a registered dietitian with the Health Education Center of Straub Clinic and Hospital. Hawai'i experts in traditional medicine, naturopathic medicine and diet take turns writing the Prescriptions column.

Send your questions to: Prescriptions, Island Life, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; fax 535-8170; e-mail islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com. This column is not intended to provide medical advice.