CancerCompass message board discussion started by rolemommie3 on 10/30/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,17536,0.htm Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I wanted to know if anyone took complementary medicines when they were undergoing chemotherapy ( ex. chinese herbal meedicnes, acupuncture, diet changes etc). Does anyone recommend any during the chemotherapy?? rolemommie3 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 10/30/2007 rolemommie3 wrote:I wanted to know if anyone took complementary medicines when they were undergoing chemotherapy ( ex. chinese herbal meedicnes, acupuncture, diet changes etc). Does anyone recommend any during the chemotherapy??I didn't know that much about it when I was going through my Hodgkins treatments (back in 1988 & 1995), but after that I got involved with supplements to help me deal with all the long term problems I had as a result of my treatments (both radiation and ABDV chemo). I have found that megadoses of Vitamin C help with my immune system and GI issues (at least 2 grams per day). I take an iron supplement to help with my hemoglobin. I take selenium to help with my thyroid problems (I am on thyroid medication, the selenium just helps a little). I take vitamin D (at least 2 grams per day) to help with energy, etc. I also take Omega3 oil and red yeast rice for my cholesterol. When I was undergoing chemo - Taxotere - for breast cancer in 2004 (secondary cancer result from the radiation), I continued taking all of my supplements. At one point I ran out of iron and didn't get to the store for a couple of weeks - my hemoglobin dropped and they wanted to put me on procrit, I declined, got my iron supplement going again, and at the next visit, my hemoglobin was back to normal. I also couldn't take neupogen, but I think the vitamin C helped keep my white counts up a little - they were very low, but not as bad as they would have been. My doctors weren't very supportive about my supplements, but I insisted that I needed them and that was the end of the discussion.    cooljazzcatmom Sat, 19 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thanks for the input. The chemo regimen has been very difficult.I have had a hard time with hte nausea and vommitting and have been placed on numerous different meds. Cannot wait for this experienceto be over. Good luck rolemommie3 Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT