Cancer Support and Caregivers Who Are Trail Blazers!

JustJo · 01-17-2012, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DapperButch

Clay,

With all due respect, the above is not true for everyone. Many people have a hell of a lot more than flu like symptoms and many people do not have bone pain. It depends on the chemo drug and it depends on the person.

Additionally, please be careful making suggestions as to which vitamins or supplements a person should take. I went over a list of supplements with my oncologist and she picked and chose which ones were ok to take while I was on chemotherapy. For example, green tea is an excellent antioxidant, and I take it in large doses...NOW. It would have resulted in toxicity if I had taken it while I was doing my chemotherapy. The drugs used in chemotherapy are different depending upon the type of cancer and depending upon the person. Vitamins and supplements are drugs. Just like any other drug, we need to make sure that our drugs work in harmony.

I am not trying to bust your chops here, I just want to point out that we really need to be hesitant giving out medical advice to people, especially when it comes to medications people can get over the counter.

I have to step in and agree with Dapper. I know your advice is coming from good intentions Clay, but many people did that with my mother....and she was spending a fortune on supplements that were actually hurting her.

Yes, we have made changes in her care...but every single step was okayed by her doctor...even something as mild as adding Pedialyte to battle her dehydration.

Drugs, chemo, over the counter medications, supplements, even food....can have negative interactions....and no two people are alike. I'm a huge advocate of researching and learning all you can...online and from people who have/are living it....but ultimately I am a bigger advocate of checking EVERYTHING with your doctor first.

Also, I'm not a huge fan of WebMD and have found some downright incorrect information on that site. Personally, I prefer the American Cancer Society or The Mayo Clinic sites.