Lots of Heartburn after Avastin/Taxol chemo..please help!

Mwee said:

Hi/ sorry
that you're having this! My suggestion is that you call your doctor's office and let them know how you are feeling. They should be able to advise you on how to treat this and also might want to adjust the strength of your next infusion.
((((HUGS)))) Maria

Mwee said:

Don't know
what is causing it. I had to start taking Nexium about 9 months ago because I started getting HORRIBLE heartburn. It works like a charm. I also had my chemo adjusted a few times because of this side effect or another. Let me know how it's going!
(((HUGS))) Maria

Tethys41 said:

L-glutamine
You could try taking L-glutamine. It is a powder that helps repair the lining of the GI tract that is damaged by the Taxol. Taxol targets all fast-growing cells, so in addition to attacking the cancer cells, it attacks hair and the lining of your digestive system. L-glutamine helps repair these tissues.

Tethys41 said:

Good results
I used it and didn't suffer from heart burn. It really should not interfere with chemo, but if you want to be extra cautious, don't use it for 48 hours before and after chemo. It is regularly recommended by naturopaths to deal with this side effect of chemo.

Tethys41 said:

Brand
I don't know that any one brand is better than another. I think they are all about the same. When it has been recommended to me, I've just been told to pick some up at the health food store. I still take it and I put it into a smoothie. You could try it in juice, but I don't remember how well it dissolves.

Tethys41 said:

While on Chemo
I took fewer supplements while on chemo than I do now.
Check your multivitamin and make sure it DOES NOT contain iron. If it does, get some without iron when you run out.
To your list you could add:
Green Tea extract (somtimes I have trouble finding this. You don't want something that is charged with caffeine, which some of these extracts are. You would want the capsules). Or you could just drink green tea or Tulsi tea. I wish I liked the latter, but I don't care for it. I've found a green tea (brand Brassica) that contains an extract from broccoli, which is a great addition.
Curcumin 2 GRAMS daily (the kind with Bioperine is better absorbed - Doctor's Best is the brand I use). If you have gall bladder issues, you should not take this.
Melatonin 20 mg at bedtime
Vitamin D 5,000 IU daily (the emulsified type is better absorbed. It's liquid in a small bottle and you only take a few drops per day. Not the liquid in the large bottle)
Resveratrol 200mg twice daily (ease up to this dosage, it can cause stomach upset) Liposomal or lipospheric vitamin C - This is expensive, but is better absorbed than pills. It tastes pretty bad.

DO NOT TAKE THE FOLLING 48 hours before or after chemo: CoQ-10, Curcumin, Green Tea, Resveratrol. The others will either not affect the chemo, or will help it do its work.

Also, add as many cruciferious vegetables to your diet as you can (5 times per week or more), if you can stomach them.
Cinnamon on your food will also keep your blood sugar regulated, which is one of the key issues in not feeding the cancer.
Eat lots of dark skinned, organic berries.
Avoid sugar, anything not organic, and eat only organic, hormone-free, anti-biotic free, grass-fed and GRASS-FINISHED meats.
Exercise
keep stress to a minimum.

That was more than you asked for, but I hope this helps.

Tethys41 said:

Curcumin
BTW, if you are taking blood thinners, you should probably avoid the curcumin.

LaundryQueen said:

Heartburn
I think heartburn after getting a chemo treatment is not unusual. I had to take something to stop the extra stomach acid only while I was getting treatment & a week after. When chemo was done, I didn't need the medicine anymore.

I hope you get relief soon!

LaundryQueen said:

Over the counter acid blocker
sham: I just took Prilosec OTC. I got off it about a week after chemo then back on it the day before chemo. Usually, people who have heartburn have to stay on the acid-blocking drugs but I did fine only using it to manage the chemo side effect.

Ugh! I hate headaches! I get 'em when I am not drinking enough water.