Mailbag! Weird Cancer Treatment Side Effect SOLVED
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted July 19, 2021
I’m a cancer survivor, and I had to undergo the usual radiation and chemo treatments. I noticed that some days my equilibrium is off. Could this be a holdover from the treatments? What would you recommend to make it go away?
–Tina from Concord, NH
******
Tina,
Unfortunately, loss of equilibrium is a lot more common than you might think. It can be either a result of treatment or from the cancer itself.
People lose their sense of balance if the cancer is located in certain parts of the brain, but this is a less frequent cause.
More often, mainstream cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery disturb the balance center in your brain called the vestibular system.
The vestibular system is located in the inner ear and responsible for both balance and spatial orientation (knowing where you and your body are in relationship to the world around you). This network of nerves communicates with a part of your brain called the cerebellum.
And as it turns out, chemo drugs can cause damage to BOTH parts of this network.
Not only that, chemo drugs can also harm nerves throughout the body, which can cause numbness and tingling in the toes and hands. This loss of feeling then causes balance issues.
The good news is that many of these problems can be temporary, and they will improve when you stop the drugs. And thankfully, there is a lot you can do to help yourself out.
Dr. Scott’s Cancer Neuropathy Aids:
- Rest. As you’ve probably noticed, your symptoms are worse when you’re stressed or haven’t gotten enough sleep. Make sure to take it easy… you’ve been though a lot!
- Anemia. This can also be a cause of your loss of balance. Anemia is fairly common in women, especially if you’ve undergone chemo. Have your blood tested and see if you need to be taking iron.
- B vitamins. B vitamins are essential for nerves to function properly. I suggest a B-complex that contains many different types.
- Ginkgo. This herb is well known to help increase micro-circulation (the growth of small blood vessels in your brain). It can help bring blood, nutrients, and oxygen to your vestibular system.
- Fish oil. These fatty nutrients are needed for nerve cells to work properly.
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
P.S. Have a health concern that’s worrying you? Click here to submit your questions and get featured in the weekly mailbag!
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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