My first treatment is scheduled for three hours; the chemicals are administered more slowly the first time in case there is a reaction. And I'm having my teeth cleaned right before, since dental work is recommended against while having chemotherapy. I will be made very comfortable during the treatment - lounge chair, blankets, TV. Side effects are well managed these days, and I don't expect to have any serious problems with the treatment. Fatigue throughout is likely. And hair loss. Hopefully, that will be the worst of it. I'll let you know how it goes. Meanwhile, here's some very interesting news about resveratrol from Dr. Weil:
Resveratrol Against Cancer
Resveratrol, the antioxidant found in grape skins and red wine, has been studied in recent years for its potential effect on longevity, but new research suggests that it may also have an anti-cancer effect. When tested in conjunction with radiation, resveratrol prompted human pancreatic cancer cells to malfunction and die. In a laboratory study, researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York found that resveratrol seemed to work against the cancer cells by interfering with the activity of their mitochondria, the energy producing mechanism needed for cellular function. When combined with radiation, resveratrol stimulated production of destructive substances within the cancer cells that could make them easier to kill. Exactly what this means for human cancer treatment isn’t known. It’s too soon to say whether taking resveratrol supplements or drinking more wine (a questionable idea during cancer treatment) would do any good, the researchers said. (N.B.: Drinking and smoking have been directly linked to breast cancer. - Marcia) Next on the agenda: find out whether resveratrol acts on tumors in the body the same way it does on cells the test tube. The study was published in the March, 2008 issue of Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology.
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