Colorectal Cancer Non-Conventional Therapies-

Hi Nancy-

I am sorry to learn of your husband’s colon cancer diagnosis. It’s good to read that he is managing his chemotherapy with few side effects. Your husband’s young age is a double edged sword. You two have young kids but his age gives him strength to manage his cancer.

You sound frustrated with your oncologist. Keep in mind that conventional chemotherapy is not curative for colon cancer that is diagnosed to have spread (stage 4). You must think outside the conventional oncology box in my opinion.

I understand that conventional oncology advises against many non-conventional therapies such as antioxidant supplementation. You are between a rock and a hard place. The therapies offered by your oncologist are not going to cure your husband’s cancer yet your oncologist is not recommending those therapies that may help you and your husband manage his cancer.

Regarding your question “How do we find out about a Second opion ?” I am not clear what you are asking though I will assume that you are wondering about getting a second opinion.

I am not sure about how the Canadian health system handles payment for a second opinion. My hope is that you can contact another oncologist who is familiar with colon cancers and schedule and have another appt. to present your situation and ask any and all questions.

There are a number of studies that show that antioxidants such as curcumin can enhance the EFFICACY while reducing the toxicity of chemotherapies such as FolFox or cisplatin. If you are interested in learning more about these therapies then you must tell me what chemotherapies your husband is undergoing. I can then provide the names of antioxidants along with the studies for you to consider.

I don’t tell people what to do or not do. I can provide studies and research for you to decide on your own about issues and therapies.

Princess Margaret is a fine hospital as far as I know. Are there other oncologists who understand colon cancer in your area?

Please consider adding daily, moderate exercise to your husband’s routine (go for a brisk walk each morning). Many studies cite the importance of regular exercise for killing cancer.

Do you have any questions?

Hang in there,

David Emerson

Hi Gary-

Has your FIL undergone any conventional therapies such as chemo, radiation and/or surgery? Keep in mind that none of these conventional therapies are curative. Regardless all of the therapies you mention, frequent, moderate exercise, eating well, CBD/Hemp, and Avemar all seem to be helping to maintain your FIL quality of life.

As for long naps during the day don’t know enough to offer an opinion. My guess is that your FIL’s body is working really hard to fight his cancer. Really hard… My thinking about sleep is that if the desire to sleep is natural and not drug induced then it is our body telling us that it needs sleep. It is a therapy.

There are other non-conventional, non-toxic, evidence-based therapies if you would like to learn more. I can email the studies if you would like. Up to you…I guess I am advocating a sort of throw everything but the kitchen sink at your FIL’s cancer. Up to you.

David Emerson

Hi Ruth-

I am sorry to read of your mother’s colorectal cancer diagnosis. However I am happy to read that her prognosis is good and that you are recommending that she undergo supplementation during her 5-FU chemotherapy.

The article that you came in on “Colorectal cancer non-conventional therapy supplementation…” links evidence-based research citing how various supplements kill colorectal cancer cells, enhance the efficacy of 5-FU and/or reduce the collateral damage (side effects) of 5-FU.

Since none of the studies linked in the post list specific doses, I can’t relay, with any specificity, what you are asking. If the studies don’t give the info, I don’t know. Further, my intent on writing the blog post was to propose the idea that 5-F chemotherapy is only effective in 20% of cases reportedly and that 5-FU chemotherapy often causes collateral damage and that the patient with therefore need help.

Nutritional supplementation is that help. My suggestion then is to take the recommended dose on the supplement bottle. Probably 400mg daily but read the labels. I will say that the key to vitamin e, based on the research, is to take a broad spectrum vitamin E or “mixed Vitamin E Tocopherols (d-gamma, d-beta, d-delta) –

The brand and dose of CoQ10 that I take is Doctor’s Best-

The brand and dose of Vitamin E that I take is Now Vitamin E- full spectrum, natural-

Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck to you and your mom.

Take it easy,

David Emerson

Hi Joseph-
I am sorry to read of your wife’s colorectal cancer diagnosis. If your wife had a colostomy performed in addition to cancer in her lymph nodes I will operate under the assumption that she is at an advanced stage.

Yes, a common side effect of 5FU chemotherapy is heart damage. See the link below to possibly reverse the damage.

5-Fluorouracil cardiotoxicity: reversible left ventricular systolic dysfunction with early detection.

In short, you and your wife are between a rock and a hard place. Meaning the cancer is advanced enough to require toxic therapies aka chemo and or radiation. The only option that is evidence-based is to pursue “integrative” therapies. Meaning therapies that are designed to enhance the efficacy of chemo or radiation while reducing toxicity.

Mitigation of Chemotherapy Side Effects

I will excerpt key quotations of the linked info above- please click the link and read the LEF info carefully.

“Vitamin E has been shown to protect against cardio-myopathies induced by chemotherapy. Vitamin E has also been used in combination with vitamin A and CoQ10 to reduce the side effects of the chemotherapy drug Adriamycin (doxorubicin). Vitamin E is complementary to chemotherapy in that it boosts the effectiveness of these drugs. One study showed enhanced efficacy of both 5-FU and doxorubicin against human colon cancer cells, with vitamin E supplementation (Chinery et al. 1997).”

“CoQ10
CoQ10 is used with vitamin E to protect patients from chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathies. CoQ10 is nontoxic even at high dosages and has been shown to prevent liver damage from the drugs Mitomycin C and 5-FU. Adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathies have been prevented by concomitant supplementation with CoQ10.”

Let me know if you have any questions. Good Luck-

David Emerson