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Types of cancers that are not generally responsive to radiation therapy include: |
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Lung cancers other than small-cell |
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Bladder and prostate cancer |
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Connective tissue sarcomas |
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Some of the most common short-term side effects of radiation therapy include: |
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Sunburnlike redness to the skin |
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Hair loss in the treated area |
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Damage to the salivary glands causing dry mouth and dry eyes, sometimes doing permanent damage |
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Bone marrow suppression and immune weakness |
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Osteoporosis, following prolonged use |
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Toxic chemotherapy as well as other conventional therapies can compromise quality of life or even lead to life-threatening complications. I see this every day as I work with people who have cancer. Because I approach each cancer patient and the cancer itself as unique entities, it is difficult for me to generalize about treatment decisions. However, there are two general rules I can offer when making decisions about chemotherapy. |
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1. Generally, if you have an aggressive cancer that responds well to a particular cytotoxic drug, chemotherapy supported by a natural protocol to reduce side effects might be the best option. On the other hand, in the case of slow-growing cancers, natural therapies alone might be preferable. |
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