Complementary therapies for AC-T Chemo?

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dono7392
dono7392 Member Posts: 28
edited December 2019 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I start AC-T chemo in 10 days and would appreciate any input on alternative therapies to help alleviate side effects of chemo. I have already heard a few tips — suck on ice at infusion to prevent mouth sores, Vit B and acupuncture to prevent neuropathy, etc. Thanks in advance!

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited December 2019

    dono: Here's a good thread to start.

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topics...

    Then go find the November Chemo thread and read what all the women are currently doing.

    BTW - It's better to post just one thread and stick with is to people can follow along. When you get a minutes, go to 'my profile' and fill in your diagnosis.

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited December 2019

    I took a different chemo, so you milage may vary.... but here are some complimentary things I did...

    -- fasting 3 days or fasting mimicking diet 5 days (many posts on this) - done so that chemo day is the middle of the fast. For me this reduced my SEs a lot. Look up Dr Valter Longo, USC.

    --heat! Put a lot of high heat on your lump if it is easy to feel. Cancer cells sicken and die at 108 for one hour. Healthy cells do not. A realllllly hot hot tub is 105... so just a bit hotter!

    -- supplements. I took a shitton, recommended by an Integrative Oncologist.

    --High dose C IVs - did these during chemo

    --ice in mouth AND on hands and feet (and head/scalp can be iced too).

    Good luck-- not as horrible as I was worried it would be....

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  • mightlybird01
    mightlybird01 Member Posts: 217
    edited December 2019

    I finished AC+T 6 weeks ago, and really had only very minor side effects (twice I had a bad mouth sore, but that was pretty much it). I took no supplements (exception being towards the end when I took Mg Citrate for constipation) but eliminated all refined sugar from my diet (sugar is inflammatory, and that is not something you need on top of the drugs). I truly believe that the reason why I felt quite well all through chemo is due to the amount of exercise I was able to keep up. I walked every day at least 5km, and kept up running my little farm, which takes about 1h each day. Exercise, or simply movement, helps the body to metabolize the drugs and quickly eliminate them from the body. Walking is one of the best exercises you can do during this time. If possible do 10,000 steps each day. But any step is better than no step. Half way through chemo I bought a fitbit and really tried to stick to my 10,000 steps each day at least. Many days I did more. Only on the day of infusion, I did simply not have enough time to get my walking in.

    Good luck. I hope it goes well for you.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited December 2019

    dono - here is the November chemo thread. You can read through this then search for & join the December thread for contemporaneous support.

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topics...

    If you've already had surgery, be careful with the heat. LE is always a risk.

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  • dono7392
    dono7392 Member Posts: 28
    edited December 2019

    Thanks for the tips! Santa barbarian: did your oncologist allow the supplements? Mine says no to all, including IV Vit C and basically all others except probiotics. I’m frustrated

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited December 2019

    I had a small tussle about it, but I had received the recs from a very qualified Integrative MO so I told my home MO I was doing them.

    You can find a more flexible MO if you can't get your MO on board. But try getting him/her on board.

    I said to mine, "I am an informed patient, you have told me your reservations and lack of double blind data, and the other MO with a lot of experience giving these supplements has told me his patients' experiences.... so I have considered the risks and benefits, and I am comfortable going forward. I want to be honest with you so you will know what I am taking/doing."

    By the end he said "I think all the other stuff you did made a big difference to your outcome."

    YES to exercise. I was told to do interval training on day of chemo! And walking, and pilates or yoga -- 3-6 hours per week. Not that many bald ladies on the stadium steps in my town.... I ran into another MO when working out and he was flabbergasted.

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  • dono7392
    dono7392 Member Posts: 28
    edited December 2019

    I just figured to how to use this site -- and I see the complementary therapies forum. mightlybird01: I'm so impressed by what your accomplished on chemo. Santabarbarian: I see you posted that you worked with Dr. Block -- I am going to talk with him on Friday! I hope my treatment goes as well as yours!

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