Supportive Care for Cancer Treatment in West Hollywood, CA
The immune system is the body's defense against illness and infection caused by bacteria, fungi or viruses. Through a series of reactions, commonly labeled as the "immune response," the immune system identifies and attacks invading organisms in order to prevent the manifestation of disease.
Both cancer and cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can weaken the immune system considerably by lowering the amount of neutrophils - a type of white blood cell that is the immune system's first line of defense from infection.
During your cancer treatment it is essential to maintain and promote a healthy immune system to optimize your healing capabilities. While there are several ways you can build up your immune response, your healthcare provider will help you determine which complimentary therapies will be most effective based on your unique needs.
Complement your cancer treatment with effective immune support in West Hollywood. Call (424) 365-1800 or contact Vitality Integrative Medicine online.
Healthy Diet
A nutritious diet packed with antioxidant-rich food that your body can tolerate during chemotherapy can improve immune function, decrease your risk of infection and help improve your depleted energy levels. Your healthcare provider will create a nutrition plan for you to keep you strong, while reducing sugars, carbs and unhealthy fats. Some popular diets often recommended during cancer treatment include:
- Ketogenic diet
- Calorie restriction diet
- Amino acid restriction diet
- Mediterranean diet
Dietary Supplements
Often, cancer treatment can deplete your vital nutritional levels beyond the capacity that a healthy diet can correct. Your healthcare provider may recommend several dietary supplements to take in conjunction with these therapies in order to strengthen the immune system and to help ease the side effects of both chemotherapy and radiation. Some of these supplements include:
- Vitamin D3
- Resveratrol
- Mushroom-based products
- Curcumin
- Lycopene
- Melatonin
- Green tea extract (EGCG)
- Multivitamin
- Fish oil
It is important to only take supplements recommended to you by your healthcare provider and to choose supplements from reputable manufacturers that can provide therapeutic and safe dosing.
IV Therapy
Micronutrient therapies delivered intravenously can quickly meet your body's nutritional demands by allowing the nutrients to bypass the digestive process that food and orally-administered dietary supplements go through in order to directly impact the health of your cells. IV therapy sessions last up to an hour and can aid in the treatment process by maximizing the potential of chemotherapy while maintaining your overall wellness. The most popular IV nutritional therapies during cancer treatment are:
- Myer's cocktail: A mixture of B vitamins, magnesium, calcium and vitamin C can provide the body with baseline nutrition lost during chemotherapy treatment
- Ascorbic Acid: High-dose vitamin C clinically demonstrated the ability to improve quality of life for cancer patients, maintain balanced inflammation and even poison cancer cells
- Antioxidants: Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and glutathione are two potent antioxidants often used to boost the immune system
Additional Support
In addition to supporting your body nutritionally with a healthy diet, vitamins and IV therapy, your healthcare practitioner may also recommend other lifestyle changes that can positively affect your immune system, mood and energy levels, such as:
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
- pH manipulation therapy
- Healthy sleep habits
- Stress reduction techniques like meditation, massage therapy and reflexology
- Light daily physical activity
Regardless of the supportive therapies your healthcare provider recommends, it is always important to think of your body as a whole. Instead of focusing solely on aggressively targeting cancer, it is beneficial to identify and heal any other concern you may have in order to be at your strongest, both physically and mentally.
Request more information about complementary cancer therapies today. Call (424) 365-1800 or contact Vitality Integrative Medicine online.
Vitality Integrative Medicine
Address
4849 Van Nuys BlvdSuite 104
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
(424) 365-1800
www.vitalityintegrative.com
Hours
Mon:
8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tue:
8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wed:
8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thu:
8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Fri:
8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sat:
8:00 am - 12:00 pm