Glutamine good for stomach/intestines during chemo?

Mom is on a new type of chemo (clinical trial of Novartis Patupoline which is a new type of taxane like Taxol but stronger) after doing good but failing first line chemo with Carboplatnim.

Anyways she is really having trouble this time around with throwing up alot even a week after chemo.  She gets IV zofran and such but not working all that great.

I think Gulatamine (L-Gluatmine) would be good.  I read somewhere else that breast cancer patients use it when they get Taxol to offset the nerve damage with pretty good results.  I know Glutamine is good for rebuilding the intestinal lining...but was wondering what everyone thought about this?  One of her oncologists said "absolutley [yes]" a while back when she was on carbo, but she didn't use it that much and now has this problem.

[gah_70]

I don't know Glutamine's benefits for rebuilding the stomach/intestinal lining.  However, my Oncologist recommended it for helping with the pain/neuropathy from Taxol treatments.  I was instructed to mix 10 g of the powder into whatever I wanted (I used orange juice)4 times a day for about 5 days after each treatment.  It did not take the pain away totally, but I do think it helped.  I finished chemo 14 months ago, and do not have any lingering side effects of the neuropathy.  I can't say for sure it is because of Glutamine, because many who don't take it also have no lingering side effects.  I think it helped with the muscles rebuilding so that I didn't experience the pain as long as I would have otherwise.  

Best wishes to you and your mom!

Gail  

[freshair]

I was doing glutamine on the first chemo cause I was advised to do it by the nutritionist at the hospital. Maybe it helped. I don't know cause my second time on doing the same chemo I didn't take glutamine and I was fine. I don't know if it will help with her throwing up. When you can't keep anything down I always say a whey protein shake. I'm reading about the Dr. Johanna Budwig diet now. I'm going to order a book from Amazon. There's something in her book on what to eat when things are not good. She's the one on cottage cheese and flax oil. I also read that glutamine is good for the intestines. I should start taking it again. Thank you for the reminder and best wishes to your mom.
Helen

[A Rebel Spirit]

I don't know anything about the glutamine. But I had many problems with nausea/vomiting during my first line of chemo. Zofran didn't work for me either. I finally tried Emend and it worked great. Tell your Mom to ask her dr for it. I didn't vomit a single time on Emend.

[RAS50]

Helen- I also just ordered Dr. Budwig's books (also the cookbook).  I just started a few days ago eating 4 tblspoons flaxseed oil/ 8 tblspoons cottage cheese every day (I divide it up and eat 1/2 in morning/ evening).  Not very great tasting but not horrible.  When you get the books, let's compare notes!  Thanks  Rachael