by aajonus vonderplanitz, phd nutrition
Finally, a UCLA study (Breast Cancer Research and Treatment September 29, 2006) showed that chemotherapy changes blood flow and metabolism in the brain. Positron emission tomography scanned brains of 21 women who had undergone breast cancer surgery 5-10 years earlier. Sixteen of the 21 had been treated with chemotherapy. Thirteen control subjects without breast cancer or chemotherapy were scanned. Scans were performed during short-term memory exercises, and while they rested. Since the study only focused on women who had had chemotherapy at a maximum of 10 years earlier, the study does not reveal that chemotherapy lingers for many decades after treatment, as in my case. Rapid jumps in activity in the frontal cortexes and cerebellums of the chemotherapy patients indicated that they worked harder than the control patients to recall the same information. Also revealed in the study, women who underwent hormonal therapy as well as chemotherapy showed changes to their basal ganglia, where brain function bridges thought and action.
If considering chemotherapy, consider that science has not proved chemotherapy any more effective than doing nothing for cancer. Also, consider that the long-term effects from “trying” chemotherapy reduce the quality of life mentally, physically, emotionally and possibly spiritually.
Alternative therapies for cancer can be found in my books and in the article following about mice spermatogonial stem cells.