Chemotherapy
Cancer treatment using powerful drugs. Taking ANY supplements MUST be discussed with the treating oncologist due to risk of interactions or reduced treatment efficacy. Certain antioxidants may be contraindicated.
- What may help
- 4
- What to avoid
- 37
What may help (4)
- Wearable ECG Monitoring Practices HighClinical
Many medications, including some chemotherapy drugs and antipsychotics, can have cardiotoxic effects, such as prolonging the QT interval or inducing arrhythmias. Wearable ECG allows for continuous and timely detection of these potentially dangerous changes, enabling clinicians to adjust medication dosages or switch therapies, thereby preventing life-threatening cardiac events and enhancing patient safety.
- Integral Yoga Practices MediumClinical
During chemotherapy, Integral Yoga can significantly alleviate common side effects such as fatigue, nausea, anxiety, and pain. It empowers patients with coping strategies and improves their overall well-being, providing moderate symptom relief.
- L-Carnitine Supplements MediumClinical
L-Carnitine can help alleviate some side effects of chemotherapy, particularly fatigue and neuropathic pain, by supporting cellular energy and nerve health during treatment.
- Ginger Supplements HighTheoretical
Ginger serves as a valuable complementary therapy to help manage and reduce the severity of nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy treatments.
What to avoid (37)
- Calisthenics Practices Very highClinical
Active chemotherapy can cause extreme fatigue, anemia, cardiotoxicity, and immunosuppression, making strenuous calisthenics dangerous and contraindicated. Exercise should be low-intensity and medically supervised if permitted.
- Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) Supplements Very highClinical
This supplement can interact with chemotherapy drugs. Do not use if you are undergoing chemotherapy without explicit approval from your treating oncologist, as it may reduce treatment effectiveness or cause adverse reactions.
- Swimming Practices Very highClinical
Avoid swimming during chemotherapy due to severe fatigue, nausea, and a high risk of infection from a weakened immune system.
- Time-Restricted Eating 16/8 Practices Very highClinical
Chemotherapy patients need consistent nutrition to manage side effects and support recovery. Fasting can worsen nausea, fatigue, and malnutrition, potentially interfering with treatment effectiveness.
- Belly Dance Practices HighClinical
Chemotherapy can cause severe fatigue, anemia, and other organ toxicity, making physical activity potentially unsafe. Always consult your oncologist.
- Cupping Therapy Practices HighClinical
Cupping is highly risky during chemotherapy due to increased susceptibility to infections and bleeding, as well as potential skin fragility. Consult your oncologist.
- Cycling Practices HighClinical
Active chemotherapy can cause severe fatigue, immunosuppression, cardiac toxicity, and neuropathy, making cycling potentially dangerous due to infection risk, cardiac strain, and impaired physical ability. Consult your oncologist.
- DHEA Supplements HighClinical
DHEA may interfere with the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments or increase side effects. Strictly avoid unless approved by your oncologist.
- Drug Use Habits HighClinical
Drug use can interfere with the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs, worsen severe side effects, or increase overall toxicity and immunosuppression, making it highly unsafe during cancer treatment.
- Ethanol (alcohol) Supplements HighClinical
Alcohol can interact with chemotherapy drugs, reducing their effectiveness, worsening side effects, and further damaging the liver.
- Hot Stone Massage Practices HighClinical
Active chemotherapy or radiation can cause extreme skin sensitivity, fragility, and compromise the immune system, making hot stone massage risky due to potential burns, irritation, or infection.
- Iyengar Yoga Practices HighClinical
During active chemotherapy, the associated fatigue, nausea, immunosuppression, and potential bone fragility make strenuous Iyengar Yoga unsafe. Consult your oncologist for safe activity guidelines.
- Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) Supplements HighClinical
NMN should not be taken during chemotherapy without your oncologist's explicit approval. It could potentially interfere with the effectiveness of your cancer treatment.
- Self-Cupping Massage (Silicone) Practices HighClinical
Chemotherapy can make your skin fragile and increase bleeding risk. Avoid cupping during active treatment to prevent skin damage and complications.
- Serrapeptase Supplements HighClinical
Do not combine Serrapeptase with chemotherapy without explicit approval from your treating oncologist, as it may interfere with treatment effectiveness.
- Spermidine Supplements HighClinical
Avoid spermidine during chemotherapy. It may interact with your treatment and should only be considered under the strict guidance of your treating oncologist.
- Walking Meditation Practices HighClinical
Chemotherapy side effects, such as extreme fatigue, neuropathy, or bone fragility, can make walking unsafe or overly strenuous. Consult your oncologist.
- Astragalus Supplements MediumClinical
If you are undergoing chemotherapy, it is crucial to discuss astragalus with your oncologist, as it might interact with your treatment and affect its efficacy.
- Deep Tissue Massage Practices MediumClinical
Active chemotherapy often makes skin fragile and increases bruising risk; deep tissue massage can be too aggressive and may compromise your immune system.
- Heat Exposure (Sauna/Steam) Habits MediumClinical
Patients undergoing chemotherapy are often fatigued, nauseous, and may be immunocompromised or at risk of dehydration. Heat exposure can exacerbate these symptoms and is generally ill-advised without explicit medical clearance.
- Portion Control Practices MediumClinical
Chemotherapy impacts metabolism and often increases nutritional needs. Restrictive portion control can worsen treatment tolerance and hinder recovery from therapy.
- Red Yeast Rice Supplements MediumClinical
Taking Red Yeast Rice while on chemotherapy requires caution, as it might interact with your cancer treatment or affect your liver. Always discuss with your oncologist.
- Sulforaphane Supplements MediumClinical
Sulforaphane can interact with chemotherapy drugs or reduce their effectiveness. Always consult your oncologist before use if you are undergoing cancer treatment.
- Trypsin Supplements MediumClinical
If you are undergoing chemotherapy, consult your oncologist before taking trypsin, as it may interact with medications or treatments.
- Yoga Practice Habits MediumClinical
Chemotherapy often causes fatigue, nausea, and bone fragility, making strenuous yoga dangerous. Only very gentle, modified yoga under medical guidance is advisable during treatment. Consult your oncologist.
- Apigenin Supplements Very highTheoretical
Apigenin may interfere with the metabolism and effectiveness of certain chemotherapy drugs, potentially reducing their efficacy or increasing side effects. Always consult your oncologist.
- Colloidal Gold and Silver Supplements Very highTheoretical
This supplement is generally contraindicated during chemotherapy, as it may interfere with treatment effectiveness or cause unpredictable adverse effects.
- NSI-189 Supplements Very highTheoretical
NSI-189 is an experimental substance with unknown interactions; it could interfere with your chemotherapy treatment or increase side effects. Strictly avoid during chemotherapy.
- Piperine Supplements Very highTheoretical
Piperine can drastically alter how your body processes chemotherapy drugs, potentially reducing their effectiveness or increasing toxic side effects.
- Naturopathy Practices HighTheoretical
Taking any supplements during chemotherapy must be discussed with the treating oncologist due to the risk of interactions or reduced treatment efficacy.
- Piracetam Supplements HighTheoretical
Do not use piracetam during chemotherapy without your doctor's explicit approval, as it may interfere with the effectiveness of your treatment.
- Quercetin Supplements HighTheoretical
If you are undergoing chemotherapy, especially with certain types of drugs, consult your oncologist before taking highly bioavailable forms of quercetin. It may interfere with treatment effectiveness.
- Schisandra Supplements HighTheoretical
Schisandra can interact with certain medications, including chemotherapy drugs, by affecting liver enzymes. Always consult your oncologist before use to avoid altering treatment effectiveness or side effects.
- St. John's Wort Supplements HighTheoretical
St. John's Wort can interfere with the effectiveness of certain chemotherapy drugs, making your cancer treatment less effective. Always consult your oncologist.
- Calcium D-Glucarate Supplements MediumTheoretical
Taking this supplement during chemotherapy may alter how your body processes medications. Discuss with your oncologist to ensure it doesn't interfere with your treatment plan.
- Coenzyme Q10 Supplements MediumTheoretical
If you are undergoing chemotherapy, discuss Coenzyme Q10 with your oncologist. Some antioxidants may theoretically interfere with certain cancer treatments.
- Pterostilbene Supplements MediumTheoretical
As an antioxidant, Pterostilbene could potentially interfere with certain types of chemotherapy that rely on oxidative stress to target cancer cells. Always discuss with your oncologist.