10/11/2018 / By Ralph Flores
Chemotherapy has been used as both first-line and second-line therapy in cancer treatments, especially in conventional medicine. However, the treatment is also known for its adverse effects to the body, which can range from extreme fatigue to an increased risk of infection. In recent studies, scientists have shown that adding probiotics to the mix can protect the body against the adverse side effects following the treatment.
In cancer treatment, chemotherapy refers to a procedure that uses a medication (or a combination of medications) to treat cancer. The therapy is systemic, which means it affects cells throughout the body. In particular, it targets rapidly growing cancer cells, but it can also affect healthy cells that grow rapidly, like those found in the gastrointestinal tract and in the bloodstream.
The side effects of chemotherapy are different, depending on the type and severity of the treatment. These include:
Chemotherapy can also increase the risk for other cancers to develop, with complications from treatment being the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in America.
Fortunately, researchers have found that improving a patient’s intestinal health is a vital component in ensuring survival during chemotherapy — with some looking at probiotics to prevent potential damage to the gut microbiota during chemotherapy. One such study in Oncotarget found that a dietary supplement with probiotics and digestive enzymes improved gut recovery following chemotherapy and antibiotics. To note, studies have shown the antibiotics can disrupt cell regeneration, making chemotherapy even more toxic to the body. A significant adverse event that comes with antibiotics is gut dysbiosis, which worsens existing conditions such as inflammation, obesity, and even cancer. This bad combination of deadly chemotherapy and antibiotics is nothing short of a death sentence for patients looking for an effective treatment for cancer. (Related: Fighting colorectal cancer with gut health: Certain probiotic bacteria, combined with broccoli, found to prevent and reduce tumors.)
Getting into the habit of eating probiotic foods shouldn’t start when a person’s already battling chronic diseases such as cancer: Probiotics can improve digestion, reduce depression, and even prevent certain diseases — making them an ideal addition to any diet. Here are some probiotic foods that have great health benefits. (h/t Healthline.com)
Learn more about cancer-busting foods at CancerSolutions.news.
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Tagged Under: bacteria, cancer, chemo, disease prevention, disease treatments, food is medicine, gut bacteria, gut health, natural remedies, Oncology, priority, probiotics, research, tumors