Preparing for Radiation: Step 4 – DMSO

This might not be a blog post you'll see on every cancer support site – but if we’re going to talk about healing, we need to talk about what actually helped – even if it’s not conventional. And for Kevin, one of those things was DMSO.

DMSO: 99% pharmaceutical grade

At a time when we were preparing for radiation and looking for any way to protect Kevin’s body from the collateral damage of radiation treatment, DMSO showed up as a surprising and deeply supportive option. So this post is about sharing what we learned, what worked for us, and definitely why we think more people should be talking about this.

What is DMSO?

DMSO stands for Dimethyl Sulfoxide, a by-product of wood pulp that was first synthesized in the 1800s and later gained attention in the 1960s as a medical solvent and potential therapeutic compound. It’s technically an industrial solvent, but also a compound with remarkable medicinal qualities that are hard to ignore once you start learning about it.

What makes DMSO unique is its ability to penetrate skin and cell membranes and carry other substances along with it directly into the bloodstream or tissue.

It’s also:

• a VERY potent anti-inflammatory

• a free radical scavenger

• known for its pain-relieving effects

• shown to support tissue repair and protect against oxidative stress

Though it's FDA-approved for certain conditions (like interstitial cystitis or topically for arthritis pain), DMSO is used around the world for many other off-label uses, especially in the alternative and integrative cancer care space.

Why we considered DMSO

When you're staring down the road of radiation, the question becomes: how do we minimize the damage while allowing the treatment to do what it’s meant to do?

That’s what led us to DMSO. Kevin was preparing for a very targeted and intense round of radiation, and we wanted to do everything possible to shield his healthy cells, reduce inflammation, and give his body the best chance at bouncing back. So the topic of DMSO was suggested to us through various contacts, and even experts in the medical field, so I put on my research cap on and looked into it very thoroughly... I read trustworthy research, I read whole books about it, joined various groups to ask about it, and did a round or two of testing on it. I also spoke with professionals who had used it for cancer treatment and was so pleasantly surprised at what I learned!

Our research showed that DMSO could help to reduce inflammation in tissue, and reduce side effects of treatments like chemo and radiation. It has also been shown to promote cellular healing and protect healthy cells from oxidative stress, two things that highly concerned us with Kevin's upcoming radiation treatments.

We weren’t expecting miracles, but we were hoping to give Kevin’s body an ally – something that worked with him, not against him.

How we used it

Kevin began using pharmaceutical-grade DMSO in the weeks leading up to radiation. We applied it topically in a dilution rate of 50/50 (so 50% DMSO that was 99% active DMSO to water) and 50% distilled water, directly to his neck and jawline where the radiation would be targeted. The skin (as well as on the hands) was always cleaned thoroughly beforehand, because one of the key things with DMSO is that it can carry other pathogens straight into the body.

Kevin also gargled with a 10% DMSO-to-water solution every morning (so 10% DMSO to 90% distilled water), starting 2 weeks before his radiation treatments.

We knew that DMSO would not interfere with the radiation treatment possibly diminishing its effectiveness, and actually only enhance it, so we proceeded. (note: all this research is documented in the research links, so have a look).

We also began adding DMSO to Kevin's distilled water, which he drank regularly and throughout the day and night. This was done at a rate of 5 drops of DMSO to 8oz of distilled water – a very diluted ratio, but effective nevertheless, since radiation does quite a number to the digestive system as well.

What you should know if you're considering DMSO

Here’s where things get practical. DMSO is powerful – and not to be used casually. If you’re thinking about using it, here are a few things to be aware of:

• Purity matters. Only use 99.99% pharmaceutical-grade DMSO. Anything less may contain industrial solvents or toxins.
  

• Clean skin is essential. Never apply DMSO to dirty skin. It will carry bacteria, chemicals, or anything else that is small enough molecular size directly into the bloodstream.
  

• It smells. The odour is strong and unusual – for yourself and others near you. Some describe it as garlic or oyster-like. And yes, you might taste it in your mouth within minutes. When the body is in toxicity, such as Kevin's was, you could really smell it... but as he healed, the smell diminished. Thankfully, this particular scent only lasts about 15 minutes and then it's gone.
  

• Start slow. Everyone reacts differently. Do a patch test and see how your body responds. There is an almost immediate "itch" when applied topically on the skin as the DMSO enters deeper layers of the stratum corneum (the top-most layer of the skin), but it subsides within about 10-15 minutes. Stay with it.
  

• Don’t use with synthetic creams or scented products. These will also get pulled into the bloodstream.
  

• Avoid plastic. Use glass or stainless steel when handling DMSO – so no plastic gloves, no plastic spoons, no plastic spray bottles, etc. It will not 'burn' your skin so don't worry too much if it gets on your hands, just wash them after to avoid the itch and the stinky smell :)

It’s also a good idea to check in with a practitioner who is familiar with DMSO, especially if you're using it as part of a larger cancer protocol. Many alternative health practitioners are extremely familiar with it, so listen and ask questions before deciding if it's right for you or your loved ones.

What the research says

There’s been surprisingly strong research on DMSO over the decades, although much of it isn’t mainstream. Some of the notable findings include:

• DMSO has radioprotective effects, shielding healthy tissue from damage during radiation exposure [HERE].

• It reduces DNA strand breaks in cells exposed to oxidative stress. [HERE].

• It improves cellular repair and reduces pain perception. [HERE]

• It has synergistic potential with vitamin C therapy, B17 (amygdalin), and other integrative cancer treatments. [HERE] and [HERE].

Much of this research took place between the 1960s and 1980s and was either buried, forgotten, or deprioritized because DMSO couldn’t be patented and sold at high margins. But that doesn’t make the findings any less valuable.

Why people don’t talk about DMSO

DMSO doesn’t have a pharmaceutical rep promoting it. It’s not flashy or expensive, and yes, when used incorrectly, it can be potentially dangerous.

But the real reason it’s rarely discussed is because it doesn’t fit neatly into the conventional model. It can’t be controlled, branded, or sold as a regulated treatment the way chemo drugs are.

And yet... there are thousands of people using it, talking about it in forums, and sharing their experiences in alternative healing spaces.

That’s why we’re writing this post. Not to convince anyone to use it, but to show that it exists, it helped, and it deserves to be talked about.

It was part of a bigger healing picture

DMSO wasn’t a silver bullet; it wasn’t the only thing we did – but it became part of the broader care Kevin received that addressed body, mind, and spirit. Together, all of these treatments helped Kevin not just survive radiation, but recover from it faster, and with minimal damage. Is it right for you? Maybe not... But it's certainly worth the discussion; after all, isn't it worth considering all the alternatives, even if they are not backed by large pharmaceutical companies? I certainly think so.

If we are so open to accept toxic treatments like chemotherapy – which cause an unsurmountable amount of damage to the whole body, then why aren't we open to discussing using DMSO: a naturally-derived product with so many possibilities?

Where to start

Amanda Vollmer's book is A MUST HAVE. Buy it on Amazon.

If you'd like to learn more about DMSO, I highly suggest acquiring a copy of the book "Healing with DMSO" by Amandha Vollmer. It was suggested to me and I'm passing it on. You can buy this book online, and also get a copy for free through the Toronto Public Library (if you are a Toronto resident) – although I suggest buying it because it's AWESOME.

Note:

This blog post isn’t about persuading you to go find DMSO today. It’s about being open; it’s about remembering that there are healing tools out there that may not get the spotlight, but are worth learning more about.

We didn’t choose DMSO lightly... We researched it, read the studies, joined forums, asked questions, and monitored everything closely. It gave Kevin relief, it helped him prepare his body for what was coming, and it supported his recovery in ways we could feel and see.

If you’re walking through a cancer diagnosis or supporting someone who is, you deserve to know what’s out there. Be curious, be cautious, be open – you never know what might make all the difference. In our case, DMSO was one of those difference-makers.