People with cancer suffer not only from their disease but often from the
treatment itself. We asked Serafina Corsello, MD, executive director of the
Corsello Centers, how patients could control such awful side effects. Dr.
Corsello is a director of the American College for the Advancement of Medicine
(ACAM) and of the Foundation for the Advancement of Innovative Medicine (FAIM).
She graduated from the Rome Medical School and came to the United States
in 1962. She has trained at Lutheran, King's County and St. Vincent's Hospital
of New York City.
Q. What can patients do who suffer nausea as a side effect of their
chemotherapy and radiation?
A. Such therapies generate free radicals, which are extremely damaging to
cellular membranes, not just of cancer cells but of normal tissues as well.
That is why we use large amounts of antioxidants.Since I was originally trained
as a psychiatrist, I naturally also believe that a good stress management
program can render the immune system more aggressive and protect healthy
immune cells.
Q. Are you saying the mind can do that?
A. Certainly! It may seem odd to some, but experiments have now shown that
the mind has the ability to influence behavior even at the cellular level.
Q. What about changing the diet?
A. Yes, our third line of defense is dietary. This is based on a selection
of foods that have a high antioxidant content, to fight free radicals. At
the same time, I help patients eliminate those foods to which they may be
allergic, since such long-term allergies diminish immune function as well.
Q. Do you also believe in supplements?
A. I administer various antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, beta-carotene,
selenium, zinc and other non-toxic nutrients. These can restrain or in some
cases eliminate the side effects of conventional therapy, while strengthening
the immune system.
Q. Please share your home remedies for nausea.
A. First, keep a slice of fresh ginger in your mouth during chemo or radiation.
Chew on it if nausea begins. Then put a large piece of ginger and 4-5 cloves
in a glass of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. Blend well, dilute and strain.
Drink this with meals.
Another effective remedy is arrowroot in water, juice or best of all
licorice tea. One heaping teaspoon of arrowroot per six ounces of fluid
for a burning or pain in the pit of the stomach. Better than Mylanta!
