By Dr. Jessica Schrand, NMD and Cancer Therapy Specialist at Live Well Wellness Center

Cancer treatment is one of the most difficult, exhausting experiences an individual and their family can go through. Conventional cancer therapies like chemotherapy and radiation can be great for killing cancer, but they can also leave you with a lot of unwanted side effects like extreme fatigue and nausea to hair loss and pain. However, there are ways to ease side effects and strengthen the body’s resilience throughout the process, while also strengthening the immune system’s fight against cancer.

Evidence-informed natural and supportive therapies can help reduce side effects from conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy. They can also help ease lingering symptoms once the body is in remission, and can be incorporated to reduce the risk of recurrence. 

Cancer care works best when integrative and conventional treatments are used together.  Each has its strengths, and when combined, they often become more effective than either approach alone. For example, when we can reduce side effects or strengthen the body during chemotherapy, patients are often able to tolerate treatment better. In turn, this helps make the therapy itself more effective. 

Often times integrative care is not to replace conventional treatment, but to support the body through every phase of therapy and help it work more effectively with fewer side effects. 

Types of Integrative Treatments

Every patient’s journey is unique, so their treatment plan should be too. Therapies are tailored based on multiple factors, including the type of cancer, underlying infections or imbalances identified through testing, and the specific chemotherapy or radiation protocols being used. 

A patient’s day-to-day symptoms, side effects, and overall resilience throughout treatment are also taken into account. 

IV therapies are commonly provided to cancer patients. These often include high doses of Vitamin C, Curcumin, and Quercetin.

High-dose Vitamin C IVs (50-100 grams) are used to potentiate chemotherapy, support the immune system, and decrease common side effects such as nausea. 

IV Curcumin is used to modulate inflammation, support liver detoxification, and potentially inhibit cancer cell growth. It’s also used to treat inflammation-related side effects from chemotherapy, such as neuropathy, fatigue, and pain.

IV Quercetin is used because it’s a strong antioxidant, a potent anti-inflammatory, and an immune system modulator. It has shown potential to sensitize certain cancer cells to cancer medications while protecting normal cells from treatment-related damage. 

Chronic inflammation is a key factor that integrative therapies target. Inflammation releases chemical signals that can stimulate tumor growth, help cancer cells evade the immune system, and even reduce the effectiveness of certain treatments. Managing inflammation is essential for both treatment tolerance and long-term recovery. 

A variety of oral medications and supplements can also be used to prevent cancer recurrence, reduce inflammation, minimize treatment side effects, and maintain a strong immune system throughout treatment. 

CoQ10 is often used to improve mitochondrial health during and post-treatment to help with fatigue, recovery, and cellular energy.

Omega-3 fatty acids, like fish oil or algae oil, can help reduce inflammation and maintain weight and muscle during treatment. 

Vitamin D supports immune function, bone health, and can play a role in reducing recurrence risk. 

Oral Curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound that can help cells and modulate immune activity. 

LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone)  is a compounded medication commonly used and can enhance and modulate immune function, induce cancer cell apoptosis, and decrease inflammation.

While several other medications and supplements can be utilized, it’s dependent on the individual patient. It’s pivotal that you talk to your doctor before taking anything. 

Diet and lifestyle modifications 

Nutrition and lifestyle play a crucial role in supporting recovery and treatment outcomes. Working on decreasing metabolic diseases like insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia can have major benefits for cancer care. While specific diets are talked about during treatment, an anti-inflammatory diet that is low in refined carbohydrates and sugars, and high in protein and healthy fats, is ideal to keep blood sugar regulated and improve metabolic health.

Helping a patient keep their muscles working, even if that means very small movements, can also help promote the immune system to fight cancer more effectively.

Once in remission, one of the goals is to restore mitochondrial function, which is significantly depleted during chemo and radiation. This can be done through diet and lifestyle changes, and through IV therapies and nutritional supplementations tailored to improving mitochondrial energy. 

It’s important to make sure that nutrition markers are in optimal ranges and that adrenal and thyroid status are optimal. Improving mitochondrial function to help with energy and endurance, and decreasing residual inflammation that may be causing long-lasting side effects, are pivotal. 

It is also critical to help patients stay in remission. Discussing risk factors, diet and lifestyle factors, chronic infections, inflammation, and environment to decrease the risk of recurrence. 

Going through cancer treatment is difficult, but with the right therapies and lifestyle coaching, you can get back to feeling normal again and maintain that feeling long-term.