Can we undo or heal radiotherapy damage?

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Lily55
Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
edited June 2014 in Alternative Medicine


i am stressing about this as ALL my pain, soreness and discomfort, and truncal oedema dates from radiotherapy, i so wish i had not allowed myself to be scared in to it and i now worry i made ít more likely i will get a recurrence or different cancer. Apart from good diet and exercise is there anything more i can do and do we ever heal from it, i am thinking not as we can only have it in one placeonce

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  • Bounce
    Bounce Member Posts: 574
    edited October 2013


    Hi Lily55


    Can you please tell us a bit more about what type of cancer you had and what treatments you had when.


    Maybe some of the ladies who have been through this stage will be able to offer some encouragement.


    Sorry you are having a tough time.


    Try to believe that you made the best decision in having radiation and don't stress yourself out. Concentrate on finding the right help for each issue. Negative thoughts and fear make it harder for the body to heal.


    Best wishes

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  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited October 2013


    thank you Bounce, i had stage 3A lobular and 7 nodes affected, visibly so pre op as had a lump. Had mrmx may 2012, refused chemo, had sono photosynamic therapy, then had radiotherapy aug and sep, 5 weeks, i was comfortable before then, although had phantom pain, and some tightness, after rads the problems started.


    I dont actively stress but its a lurking stress...

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  • Bounce
    Bounce Member Posts: 574
    edited October 2013


    Hi Lily55


    I was terrified of having radiation but after reading the statistics I realize it will help prevent a recurrence more than it will hurt. As you say gentle exercise and good diet are probably the best help for most of the troubles we feel after treatment - be it chemo, surgery or rads. Also rest and finding something to do every now and then that we really enjoy doing.


    In order to help my body heal naturally during and after rads I am going to try adding some veggie juice to my daily diet. Not a lot - just a bit. Especially dark leafy greens like spinach and parsley (lots of chlorophyll).


    I don't know if you see a LE therapist or not - I think a lot of your physical discomfort might be eased by a good LE therapist.


    Doctors have been using radiation therapy for decades already and there are enough studies to prove it helps keep cancer away.


    I don't know your reasons for refusing chemo but I gather you are not fond of modern medicine, right?


    Once you have done a treatment try not to look for the darker possibilities but only the light.


    I hope some more ladies find this thread and help with advice.


    Wishing you well

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  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited October 2013


    Hi Bounce - I am not in favour of big pharma and I do not think chemo is anywhere near as effective as it is made out to be, but I am definitely not agasint modern medicine I think it has a lot to offer but needs to realise we are all individuals and thus should have individual treatment protocls as people instead of a protocol for a specific cancer......if you see what i mean.

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  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited October 2013
    Hello Lily

    I think you'll like these reports:

    Benefits of radiation after mastectomy

    http://esciencenews.com/articles/2010/06/02/radiation.after.mastectomy.improves.breast.cancer.survival

    Benefits of radiation after lumpectomy

    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/health/research/20cancer.html?_r=0

    By the way, I had truncal edema after a mastectomy in February 2012. Came and went. Swelling seemed to build up and then dissipate every couple of months. The periods between the swelling got longer and longer until it was completely gone by September 2012.

    I am so pleased I had radiation and hope you will too in the fullness of time!

    Best wishes

    Alice
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  • vespersparrow
    vespersparrow Member Posts: 62
    edited October 2013


    Hi Lily, I completely understand and I share your concerns about radiation. While it does reduce local recurrences it doesn't seem to help much with overall survival, and some studies have even shown that it can transform run-of-the-mill breast cancer cells into lethal cancer stem cells. It is, after all, a powerful mutagen. While you can't of course undo your choices, I believe you are wise to try to cleanse the radiation from your system asap and heal your tissues. Have you looked into adding zeolite or chlorella to your diet to absorb toxins and help move them out of your body? I personally have been using clays (zeolite) since the Fukushima disaster made me start mistrusting any sea products, but you decide. If you get clay make sure you get one that is tested free of heavy metals etc. so no new problems.


    I'll post if I think of something else, good luck!

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  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited October 2013


    thank you, its overall survival i am concerned about but also how to make the local area better, as its like a rock still.....

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  • vespersparrow
    vespersparrow Member Posts: 62
    edited October 2013


    Oh, you poor dear. Have you tried castor oil packs on the area?


    Some women paint iodine on their breasts (with castor or coconut oil to prevent irritation) to clear up fibrocystic disease and detox their breasts. I've done it myself and it really did clear out the lumps and also help soften the scar tissue from my surgeries. I don't know if it helps with that kind of radiation damage, but you could check on the BreastCancerChoices website or their message board to see if anyone knows. They also have a protocol for taking it internally which I follow, and it does seem safe as long as you take all of the recommended co-supplements to prevent any thyroid or organ damage. PM me if you have trouble finding those sites. I'm sorry you are going through this, healing from treatment shouldn't be harder than treating the disease but sometimes it is!

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  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited October 2013


    yes used castor oil, seven cream, rosehip oil, moroccan oil, weekly physio, allergic to iodine so nit that.....

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  • vespersparrow
    vespersparrow Member Posts: 62
    edited October 2013


    hmmm, that's too bad, maybe you could find a naturopathic oncologist in your area who could help more. One thing I believe though is that healing comes from the inside-out, so creams are mostly a bandaid and won't be enough to really get well.


    Best of luck to you.


    edit because "smart" phone cut off message.

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  • HLB
    HLB Member Posts: 1,760
    edited October 2013


    I wuld try aloe vera juice for internal and external rad damage, and NAC. NAC is good to take daily anyway.

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited October 2013


    HBL, what is NAC?

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  • HLB
    HLB Member Posts: 1,760
    edited October 2013


    N-Acetylcystein. it helps the body to make glutathione. its used before scans to protect the kidneys from contrast. a holisic dr recommended it and read up on it and it does so many good things! there is an inhaled version used in hospitals called Mucomyst that is used for respiratory issues. I take a capsule of 600 mg that I get from Swanson. it helps to detox from heavy metals t oo. it makes glutathione which is our most powerful antioxidant.

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited October 2013


    OK, thanks, HBL.

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  • vespersparrow
    vespersparrow Member Posts: 62
    edited October 2013


    HLB, thanks for the info. Do you prefer to take it morning or evening? Can NAC promote insomnia if taken too late?

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  • HLB
    HLB Member Posts: 1,760
    edited October 2013


    I take everything in the evening before bed. I hAve never had insomnia.

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  • Bounce
    Bounce Member Posts: 574
    edited October 2013


    NAC can also have side effects!

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  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited October 2013


    I took an NAC today, now you tell me, what kind of side effects?? I do use it pre tests using any kind of dye.....

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  • HLB
    HLB Member Posts: 1,760
    edited October 2013


    what are the side effects? I havent had any. thought it was just an amino acid.

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited October 2013


    Lily, read the wiki entry on the stuff, it gives a pretty good sense of the possible downsides (and advantages). If it were me, I would run it by a doc.

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  • Lily55
    Lily55 Member Posts: 3,534
    edited October 2013


    I was prescribed it for use before tests using dye as I only have one kidney and that is not 100% and I would not take it every day, six days in a row would be maximum time - 3 before tests and 3 after, sometimes 6 doses in 12 hour gaps so only 3 days......I would not recommend it for ongoing use

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  • HLB
    HLB Member Posts: 1,760
    edited October 2013


    the only thing could find was a mouse study that caused pulmonary hypertention at outrageously high doses.I take it every day. too many good benefits.

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  • Enerva
    Enerva Member Posts: 3,162
    edited October 2013


    OMG so much info lol Hi i am new to this site but having also discomfort with the skin were i had rad :( i did chemo then surgery then rad. i finished Rad thus past June and my feeling is that instead of improving my right side skin became harder and tighter every day. Some one told me to massage with cocoa oil which i ll give it a try this week. I wonder what to do as per supplements in order to help the skin, i thought that vitamin E, D3, b6 could help but my PS just looked at me and said not to bother. PS says she will try to repair the damage when she takes my TE out in Dec. I am taking the vitamins but i am a bit afraid of taking others supplements. Thanks for all this info i ll read a bit about the antioxidant.


    Thanks and feel free to pm to exchange emails

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  • HLB
    HLB Member Posts: 1,760
    edited October 2013
    Hi Enerva, a friend of mine had rads and damaged skin and what they did was tried to stretch that side even more than the other with the TE. That way they could discard some of the damaged skin. She also had alloderm. I remember her using a cream with alpha lipoic acid in it and she really thought it helped.
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  • Enerva
    Enerva Member Posts: 3,162
    edited October 2013


    Thanks HLB i see my PS this Friday and i will ask her about it. i am so happy to finally sign the papers for the surgery coming up :). i really hate the TE. i ll search for the cream. Thanks for telling me about it. Have a great week.

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  • HLB
    HLB Member Posts: 1,760
    edited October 2013
    Yes I remember how HARD those TEs were. You could punch them!
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  • Hortense
    Hortense Member Posts: 982
    edited October 2013


    Enerva - My skin got almost like cardboard months after radiation was done. I was alarmed and asked about it. I was told to moisturize the radiated area twice a day with a rich cream and I have to say it made a huge difference. Now, a year later, I still use moisturizer once a day, usually at night, or I can see subtle changes. I use an all natural cream called Say Yes to Carrots which comes in a round tub and I think is called a butter. I get it at Target and also Rite Aid stores.

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  • honeybair
    honeybair Member Posts: 746
    edited October 2013


    Does anyone know if it is safe to resume taking vitamins and other supplements while undergoing radiation. I can never remember to ask the doctors. I gave them up beginning last January when I began chemo. So many of you have such helpful information to share and I know someone will know.

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  • Enerva
    Enerva Member Posts: 3,162
    edited October 2013

    Hi, in my case i was told not to take any vitamins during the 5 weeks of my rad treatment. That i was allow to just eat food that are rich in vitamins but not to take it as an additional supplement cuz it could interfere with the way rad works. The last day of my rad the Dr. told me i was then able to take anything i wanted :) Hope that helps.  

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  • honeybair
    honeybair Member Posts: 746
    edited October 2013


    Thank you, Enerva. I appreciate your response to my question.

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