One of the most difficult tasks I had to confront during my tenure in Alaska was facing arrogant, closed-minded oncologists. They were absolutely intent on poisoning their patients with chemotherapy.
They also instilled terrible fear and trepidation in their patients. Many of them threatened to walk away from the case if the patients saw me for nutritional protection. I saw my role as protecting them from the chemicals poured into their bodies. They scorned me for trying to help.
Through the years, more and more studies show that antioxidants protect from the ravages of chemo and assist in the benefits (yes, there are benefits if used correctly). Ive told you in the past about vitamin C and others. But one of the best and cheapest supplements I used to protect my patients from the poison was selenium. And now there is evidence that confirms what Ive seen for years.
Researchers in Egypt studied 30 patients with Hodgkin’s disease (lymphoma). They randomized the patients to receive chemo alone or chemo with selenium (as sodium selenite).
Those given selenium received 0.2 mg per kilogram of weight per day. That is 14 mg for an average-sized man like me (about 70 times the daily dose found in most multiple vitamins). Patients receiving selenium had significantly higher levels of neutrophils. These are white blood cells not directly connected with the cancer. Neutrophils protect you against bacteria. The patients consequently had a much lower infection rate.
The selenium group also had a better ejection fraction from their hearts. One known side effect of chemo is it damages (often permanently) the pumping ability of your heart. The selenium prevented that toxic effect.
I know many alternative-minded cancer patients opt for conventional chemotherapy. That is all their insurance and Medicare will cover. Your oncologist might be similarly close-minded. But you can still protect yourself. Selenium is a great place to start. But do not stop there. I also recommend vitamin C, vitamin E, CoQ10, NAC, glutathione precursors (undenatured whey protein), and green tea. These might save your heart, immune system, and bone marrow from unnecessary destruction.
Please see your integrative physician for advice on personal dosing. I do not recommend undergoing conventional chemotherapy or radiation without significant antioxidant protection, either by IV, mouth, or both.