Look, let’s be honest. Nobody wants to go through chemo - it’s not fun and it can have some crummy side effects that often make you feel like you’ve been through the ringer.
But here’s the good news. While a cornerstone of cancer treatment, chemo doesn’t have to be as bad as you think. Wanna shrink those tumors and destroy those cancer cells without some of the nasty problems that come with the treatment?
Turns out, you may be in luck. Emerging research suggests that late-night treatments may offer unique advantages in fighting cancer.
Let’s explore four science-backed benefits of late-night cancer treatments and the medical science that explains them.
1. Chronobiology
In a nutshell, chronobiology is a fancy term for the biological rhythms and how they impact your body’s many processes. When it comes to chemotherapy, our bodies may metabolize the drug differently depending on the time of day. This is due to biological changes based on our sleep-wake cycles. Turns out, critical processes for slowing cancer and fighting cancer occur more prominently depending on the time of day. For instance, DNA repair and cell proliferation are often time-dependent.
Late-night cancer treatments work by targeting cells when they are susceptible to the effects of chemotherapy. For instance, research indicates that cells can repair DNA damage better late at night, which is why late-night chemo may be more effective.
2. Chronotoxicity
Just like chemo may be more effective at certain times, it may also be less damaging at certain times. As you probably know, chemo often comes with strong side effects like nausea, weakness, and loss of hair. Fortunately, chronotoxicity helps explain how late-night treatments may mitigate these issues. In fact, late-night cancer treatments may offer multiple therapeutic effects while also minimizing adverse reactions. Turns out, chemo is often less harmful to tissues and organs when given at night, making the risk of vomiting and fatigue far lower.
It’s been shown that certain circadian rhythms help you clear high concentrations of drugs, allowing you to enjoy anti-cancer benefits while avoiding the ugly pains of side effects. This is one strategy oncologists use repeatedly to get the most out of treatments while having patients feeling as good as possible.
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3. Drug Metabolism and Clearance
Like chronotoxicity, drug metabolism and clearance are also very important factors allowing patients to feel their best while getting the most from their chemotreatments. Late-night cancer treatments have been shown to lead to higher drug concentrations in tumor tissues, while also promoting extended presence in those tissues. In the end, you get more of what you need for a longer time.
As it turns out, your liver enzyme activity is typically lowest at night, which means chemo becomes more bioavailable. Moreover, your body is also less likely to undergo interaction effects with other medications. Basically, your risk of toxicity is lower, increasing the safety and efficacy of the treatment. A win-win!
4. Tumor Microenvironment
Often when we think of cancer, we think of tumors. We think of something growing out of control, spreading throughout the body in the worst-case scenario, and becoming a problem that can no longer be treated.
But again, this is the worst-case scenario, and it doesn't have to be. With late-night chemotherapy, you can effectively target tumors when they're at their weakest. See, the environment of the tumor is complex. It's affected by many factors, like available oxygen, available nutrients, and the ability of immune cells to penetrate and do their thing.
Fortunately, late-night treatments can play a critical role in changing this environment. Research indicates that tumor oxygen levels go down during the nighttime, which means that they're more vulnerable to radiation and chemo. Even the circadian rhythms of tumor cells are modified at night, making them more vulnerable to chemo-induced death.
Overall, there are many ways that late-night chemo can be more beneficial than using the treatment at any other time of day. By harnessing science-backed aspects such as chronobiology, chronotoxicity, drug metabolism, and the microenvironment of tumors, you can make the most of your treatment approach.
Optimizing your health during this tough time does not have to be impossible or even overly difficult. You can still get the most from your chemotherapy, minimizing those nasty and life-disrupting side effects chemo users know too well.
Ready to advance your care to the next level? Hoping to enjoy the power of smart timing as you battle the Big C?
The time is now. Ask your doc about late-night chemo, and be well on your way!
