Synchronistic things seem to happen to me - by chance or for a reason - almost every day.
For instance yesterday, my step-mother said that she'd had very a good response to a new supplement called L-theanine. She too, suffers from sleeplessness and is always on the lookout for something natural that works. She, like me, has been through the whole gambit of potions and lotions largely without success until now. She said - do your research - look it up and see if it is suitable for you.
I Googled L-theanine and what was the first thing to appear? "L-Theanine Chemotherapy and Side-Effects". A publication known as Cancer Letters and Toxicology Letters reported that l-theanine enhances the effects of doxorubicin - which is a common chemotherapeudic used in ovarian cancer treatment and other cancers. It appears to increase the amount of drug getting into the cancer cells without harming healthy ones. L-theanine is an amino acid derived from green tea - which, we know, has a multitude of other health benefits.
Several human studies have been performed using name-brand l-theanine products with positive results. Dr. Daniel Armstrong, Professor of Chemistry at Iowa State Universtity said that " the only material that proved to be pure L-theanine was the Suntheanine® brand, produced via biofermentation, which had more than 99.95 per cent L-theanine, our current detection limit."
Read more at Suite101: GABA, Insomnia, and L-Theanine: An Amino Acid Aids Sleep Without Side Effects or Next Day Fatigue | Suite101.com and http://laura-owens.suite101.com/ltheanine-improves-sleep-and-a65390#ixzz1eXOQjp40
So ladies - a two for one! Sleep and chemo enhancer.
Speaking of chemo, my latest foray is into the world of Topotecan. It's a brand new chemo drug for me with an onerous delivery schedule - 5 days of a 1/2 hour infusion followed by two weeks off. Today is day 3 of the first of the 5 day cycles and I can report to you that I know that I've had chemo - meaning that when you have experienced side effects in the past, you have a heightened sense of awareness of what to look for. I have nothing overt to comment on thus far...I'm just mildly "aware". The metronomic schedule is meant to be less toxic and have the drug remain in your system longer.
And finally - I bet you thought I'd forget - Happy Thanksgiving to all of my Sunflower Sisters south of the border! Our very own webmaster is participating in the Atlanta Half Marathon on Thanksgiving Day along with her husband and my brother-in-law. My southern sister and her daughter will be ambling along in either the 5K Turkey Trot, or the Mashed Potato Mile and Gravy Gallop! I kind of like the name of that last event and only hope that their noses don't land in it afterwards (family joke)!! Good luck to all!
N.B. our readership needs pictures!!
Showing posts with label doxorubicin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label doxorubicin. Show all posts
23 Nov 2011
10 Jun 2011
Secondary Oral Cancer
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/744366
This article reveals the stunning news that long-term use of chemotherapy drug doxorubicin (PLD) is linked to secondary oral cancer. PLD is very commonly and widely used in the management of ovarian cancer.
It is known by oncologists, not generally known by dentists, and virtually unknown by cancer patients that chemotherapy drugs exit the body through channels other than urine. In fact, the second most common route - up to 35% of the drugs - can dissipate through the salivary system - in other words through your saliva glands.
Do you wonder why foods suddenly taste differently when you're undergoing chemo? Do you wonder why your saliva turns to sludge?
You are instructed to drink copious amounts of liquids the day before, the days of and for ten days following chemotherapy. You understand the reason for this to be protecting your liver and kidneys as well as assisting the chemo in its exit. In addition to these directives, you need to pay attention to what it is that you're drinking and when.
Under our tab Coping With Chemo - section on Mouth Sores - I mention a few tricks that will help you activate your saliva glands. Your saliva glands become very sluggish from chemo so stimulating them with something acidic such as sour lemon drops is an excellent way of keeping your saliva flowing. Drinking an unsweetened juice such as cranberry accomplishes the same thing. (Caffeinated beverages such as coffee and black/green teas do not count in your daily totals as they are diuretics.) Following up with a neutralizing mouthwash or a simple baking soda solution is essential to prevent tooth decay. Drinking water throughout the night for the first five days after your chemo treatment is critical...if you find this task difficult, please imagine letting the drugs sit in your mouth overnight and think about the consequences.
While we're on the subject of how chemo leaves your body, you might also be reminded of some other favorite areas of departure - perspiration, nasal passages and importantly - tear ducts.
It's unfortunate that it takes an announcement of this gravity to highlite the very much overlooked subject of oral health and complication prevention while undergoing chemo. I have more than a passing knowledge of what oral cancer entails - having once been married to someone who died from complications of the disease. I'm not suggesting that lemon drops nor cranberry juice will prevent oral cancer but avoiding mouthsores - which are no doubt the start of what could develop into oral cancer - is very possible.
This article reveals the stunning news that long-term use of chemotherapy drug doxorubicin (PLD) is linked to secondary oral cancer. PLD is very commonly and widely used in the management of ovarian cancer.
It is known by oncologists, not generally known by dentists, and virtually unknown by cancer patients that chemotherapy drugs exit the body through channels other than urine. In fact, the second most common route - up to 35% of the drugs - can dissipate through the salivary system - in other words through your saliva glands.
Do you wonder why foods suddenly taste differently when you're undergoing chemo? Do you wonder why your saliva turns to sludge?
You are instructed to drink copious amounts of liquids the day before, the days of and for ten days following chemotherapy. You understand the reason for this to be protecting your liver and kidneys as well as assisting the chemo in its exit. In addition to these directives, you need to pay attention to what it is that you're drinking and when.
Under our tab Coping With Chemo - section on Mouth Sores - I mention a few tricks that will help you activate your saliva glands. Your saliva glands become very sluggish from chemo so stimulating them with something acidic such as sour lemon drops is an excellent way of keeping your saliva flowing. Drinking an unsweetened juice such as cranberry accomplishes the same thing. (Caffeinated beverages such as coffee and black/green teas do not count in your daily totals as they are diuretics.) Following up with a neutralizing mouthwash or a simple baking soda solution is essential to prevent tooth decay. Drinking water throughout the night for the first five days after your chemo treatment is critical...if you find this task difficult, please imagine letting the drugs sit in your mouth overnight and think about the consequences.
While we're on the subject of how chemo leaves your body, you might also be reminded of some other favorite areas of departure - perspiration, nasal passages and importantly - tear ducts.
It's unfortunate that it takes an announcement of this gravity to highlite the very much overlooked subject of oral health and complication prevention while undergoing chemo. I have more than a passing knowledge of what oral cancer entails - having once been married to someone who died from complications of the disease. I'm not suggesting that lemon drops nor cranberry juice will prevent oral cancer but avoiding mouthsores - which are no doubt the start of what could develop into oral cancer - is very possible.
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