Managing Side Effects of Chemotherapy and Radiation

A whole health approach to managing chemotherapy and radiation side effects

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Patients with cancer undergo numerous conventional treatments: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and/or immunotherapy. These conventional treatments can cause many side effects, only some of which can be treated with medications. Others take time to resolve after the treatment is complete, but some do not resolve at all. The following summarizes the evidence-based integrative therapies and supplements available to prevent and treat the side effects of conventional treatments and symptoms of cancer.

Note: Dietary supplements are intended to supplement the diet. They are not medicines and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure disease. In some cases, dietary supplements may have unwanted effects, especially if taken before surgery or with other dietary supplements or medicines, or if you have certain health conditions. Also, supplements are not regulated with the same degree of oversight as medications. Products vary greatly in terms of accuracy of labels, presence of contaminants, and the validity of claims on the label. Work with your health care provider to determine how best to achieve optimal health.

Fatigue

Fatigue is experienced by almost every patient undergoing cancer treatment. There are numerous contributing causes including anemia, nutritional deficiencies, endocrine dysfunction, cardiopulmonary dysfunction, mood disturbance, pain, sleep disturbance, deconditioning, treatment-related effects, and the underlying malignancy. The following therapeutic approaches are supported by recent studies:

  • Aerobic exercise1-4
  • Meditation and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)5,6
  • Clinical hypnosis, Guided Imagery6-8
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy6,7
  • Energy therapies—healing touch, therapeutic touch1,9
  • Acupuncture5,10-12 (For more information, go to Passport to Whole Health Chapter 18 on Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture.)
  • Relaxation techniques1
  • Massage13
  • Yoga14-17
  • Qigong and tai chi 18,19
  • L-carnitine up to 3 grams per day20

Pain

Cancer pain can be described as nociceptive or neuropathic. Nociceptive pain results from damage to tissue, while neuropathic pain is caused primarily by nerve injury. Unfortunately, despite the availability of various pain therapies, cancer pain is estimated to be moderate to severe in 50% of patients.21 Potentially beneficial interventions include:

  • Clinical hypnosis—especially preprocedural, and in particular for breast biopsy and during percutaneous tumor treatment; Guided Imagery6,7,22,23
  • Music therapy11,24-27
  • Acupuncture10,22 (For more information, see the Passport to Whole Health Chapter 18 on Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture.)
  • Massage13,22
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)6
  • Relaxation techniques6
  • Meditation6
  • Energy therapies—healing touch, therapeutic touch, Reiki9,27

Check out the Integrative Health overview “Chronic Pain” for a more detailed approach to pain management.

Depression, Anxiety, and Mental Health

Cancer is a difficult diagnosis to receive and the treatment can be prolonged. Many patients experience depression, anxiety, mental stress, and anguish at the time of diagnosis or during various stages of the treatment. Coping can be very difficult, and at times, medications are necessary.

Potentially beneficial approaches to consider specifically for people with cancer include:

  • Counseling, therapy, and support groups 27
  • Meditation and MBSR1,22,27-34
  • Music therapy1,22,24,25,27
  • Massage1,22,27,35
  • Yoga1,16,27,36
  • Energy therapies22
  • Relaxation techniques—progressive muscle relaxation, Guided Imagery1,27
  • Clinical hypnosis8
  • Qigong and tai chi19

The “Depression” and “Anxiety” overviews have additional information on approaches for these conditions.

Insomnia

Quality of sleep is a major indicator of well-being. Sleep disturbances and lack of quality sleep occur in 30% to 75% of patients with cancer. Consider the following in cancer patients, as these show promise in the research:

  • CBT1,6
  • Meditation and MBSR22
  • Yoga15-17,22,27
  • Qigong and tai chi19
  • Clinical hypnosis, Guided Imagery6
  • Relaxation techniques6
  • Melatonin 1-20 mg nightly as needed; start low and gradually increase dose as tolerated37

For more information, see the “Recharge” overview.

Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is a potentially debilitating side effect caused by a number of chemotherapeutic agents, especially the platinum-based drugs and taxanes. Therapies that have shown potential benefit for neuropathy include the following:

  • Exercise38
  • Acupuncture38-40 (For more information, go to the Passport to Whole Health Chapter 18 on Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture.)
  • L-glutamine: 10 gm three times a day for the first 7 days of chemotherapy20 or 10 gm 1-2 times a day for prevention and maintenance
  • Vitamin E: 300 mg twice a day during and continued for 3 months after platinum- or taxane-based chemotherapy20

Oral Mucositis

Mucositis is a common side effect of chemotherapy, local radiation, and bone marrow transplant, and is often the dose-limiting side effect for treatment. Mucositis involves inflammation and ulceration of the mucosal lining in the oral cavity, which causes pain, discomfort, and difficulty eating and swallowing, increasing the risk for hospitalization.

Tips for Mucositis41

Mucositis is painful inflammation and ulceration of the lining of the digestive tract. To help with it, consider the following:

  • Consume soft, moist, mild foods like fruit purees, soups, cooked cereals, pasta, and starchy vegetables.
  • Try cold foods and drink through a straw.
  • Maintain good oral hygiene and rinse the mouth frequently.
  • Swish and swallow aloe vera juice a few times a day, and try drinking slippery elm or marshmallow root tea, for symptom relief. Topical application of 20 mL of pure honey 15 minutes before, 15 minutes after, and 6 hours after radiation therapy.1
  • Sucking on ice chips 5 minutes before, during, and after 5-FU infusion.41

Other supplements to consider:

  • L-glutamine can be used to prevent or treat oral mucositis20
  • Oral: 5-10 gm 2-3 times a day
  • Swish and swallow: 16-24 gm of L-glutamine used four times a day or more
  • Vitamin E has shown mixed results20
  • Swish a vitamin E oil containing 400 mg/mL around the oral cavity twice a day
  • Zinc can be taken 25-50 mg three times a day during radiation to prevent or treat oral mucositis20
  • Traumeel, a homeopathic remedy used as a mouthwash for chemotherapy patients, can be considered20
  • Proteolytic enzymes containing papain, trypsin, and chymotrypsin taken three times a day from 3 days before until 5 days after radiation20

Xerostomia

Xerostomia is dry mouth caused by salivary gland damage due to head and neck radiation therapy. Decreased salivation can lead to dental caries, tooth decay, periodontal disease, inflammation, and ulceration, causing difficulty eating, swallowing, and speaking. Patients experience taste sensation changes, increased thirst, and tongue pain. Acute radiation-induced xerostomia is associated with an inflammatory reaction. Delayed radiation-induced xerostomia can occur up to one year after treatment from fibrosis of the salivary gland and is typically permanent.1

Tips for Xerostomia41

  1. Add sauces and oils to increase the moisture content of food. Consume blended and pureed foods, soups, and stews to ease swallowing. Thick, creamy, nutrient-rich liquids are recommended.
  2. Keep the mouth moist by sucking on ice chips, ice pops, or hard candy. Drink liquids with meals.
  3. Add citric acid-containing foods to the diet to stimulate saliva production, including oranges and lemons. (Not recommended if one has mucositis as well.)
  4. Avoid foods rough in texture or eaten at extreme temperatures as this could worsen injury. Avoid very dry foods.
  5. To minimize the risk of oral infection, cleanse the palate by swishing with a saline solution (1 qt water with ¾ tsp salt and 1 tsp to 1 tbsp baking soda) before and after eating. Practice good oral hygiene.
  6. Acupuncture may stimulate salivary production.1,42,43 (For more information, see the Acupuncture tool

Lymphedema

Lymphedema is swelling that occurs in a limb. With breast cancer, it may occur postoperatively if lymph nodes are removed during surgery. It can occur months to years after treatment and is a chronic condition which can be managed but not cured. Numerous modalities can prevent lymphedema from occurring or reduce its progression.

  • Massage and manual lymphatic drainage for treatment4,27,35 (For more information, go to the Massage Practice Tool in Passport to Whole Health Chapter 16.)
  • Upper body exercise may help to prevent it44,45
  • Selenium selenite: 1,000 mcg daily loading dose for first week, 300 mcg for the next 2 weeks, and then a maintenance dose of 100 mcg for 3 months20

Diarrhea

Inflammation of the mucous membranes in the mouth is often associated with disruption of the gut mucosa, leading to gastrointestinal toxicity, such as leaky gut or diarrhea. The degree of mucositis is directly correlated with the severity of intestinal permeability. Lactose intolerance also increases during chemotherapy.20 Probiotics may prevent or reduce chemotherapy and radiation induced diarrhea and rarely cause severe adverse effects.46,47

Tips for Diarrhea41

  1. Sip clear liquids throughout the day to prevent dehydration.
  2. Eat small, frequent meals and snacks throughout the day.
  3. Avoid greasy, fried, or spicy foods, caffeine, and chewing gum. Avoid commercial fruit juices.
  4. Reduce fiber intake temporarily.
  5. Consume bland foods as part of the “BRAT” diet.
  6. Increase intake of potassium-containing foods.
  7. Consider L-glutamine 5-10 gm orally 2-3 times daily. Results are mixed.20
  8. Probiotics 1-3 times daily, containing Lactobacillus. VSL#3, a proprietary blend of eight bacterial strains, is also effective.1,20

Dermatitis

Approximately 80% of patients treated with radiation therapy experience some form of skin irritation, ranging from hyperpigmentation to ulceration. These conditions may lead to pain, discomfort, itching, burning, or even permanent scarring. Calendula cream might be helpful.1 Aloe vera gel and hyaluronic acid are not recommended due to lack of effect.27

Resource Links

What we know about integrative health care has come to us thanks to the efforts, experiences, and collective wisdom of people from many cultures and backgrounds. We wish to acknowledge all the healers, researchers, patients, and peoples who have informed the content of this tool.

Author(s)

This tool was adapted for the Osher Center for Integrative Health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from the original by Srivani Sridhar, MD.

Originally Created: 2014, Updated: 2020

Modified for the UW Integrative Health: 2021

References

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Keywords:
Cancer care, chemotherapy, radiation, fatigue, insomnia, cancer pain, oral mucositis, Xerostomia, Lymphedema tool 
Doc ID:
150559
Owned by:
Sara A. in Osher Center for Integrative Health
Created:
2025-05-12
Updated:
2026-08-05
Sites:
Osher Center for Integrative Health
Clean URL:
https://kb.wisc.edu/osher/chemotherapy-radiation-tool