Cancer treatment is intended to save your life — but for many patients, the side effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy can feel like the hardest part of the journey. Fatigue that doesn’t lift between cycles, nausea that interferes with eating, neuropathy in the hands and feet, oral mucositis, weakened immunity, and the cognitive fog often called ‘chemo brain’ — these are real, daily challenges that can affect quality of life long after each hospital appointment ends.
NHS oncology teams do an excellent job of managing the most serious treatment-related toxicities. But many patients want something more — a way to support their body and feel more like themselves through what is one of the most demanding experiences of their lives. This is where IV infusion therapy, delivered as part of an integrative oncology programme, can make a meaningful difference.
At Wellbeing Medical Group, we provide intravenous infusion therapies designed specifically for cancer patients undergoing conventional treatment. Every protocol is reviewed and prescribed by Dr Saskia Kloppenburg Vieth, our GMC-registered consultant in integrative oncology, and delivered alongside your NHS care — never in place of it. This guide explains how IV therapy fits into supportive cancer care, which infusions are most commonly used for which side effects, and what to expect if you decide to explore it.
Why IV Therapy Matters During Cancer Treatment
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are designed to disrupt rapidly dividing cells. They do that effectively — but the same mechanisms also affect healthy tissue, which is why side effects happen. The gastrointestinal lining, immune cells, hair follicles, and the cells responsible for energy production all take collateral damage during treatment.
Two things follow from this. First, the body’s nutritional reserves are depleted faster than they can be replenished through diet alone, particularly when nausea or appetite loss is making eating difficult. Second, the absorption pathways that would normally top those reserves up — your stomach and small intestine — are often compromised by treatment. Even patients who eat well and take supplements struggle to maintain levels of vitamin C, magnesium, B vitamins, and other nutrients essential for tissue repair and immune function.
Intravenous infusion bypasses this problem entirely. Delivered directly into the bloodstream, an IV drip can achieve plasma concentrations of nutrients that simply cannot be reached orally — sometimes 70 times higher than the maximum oral dose. For a patient whose system is already under pressure from treatment, that difference matters.
This is the foundation of our approach to cancer treatment side effects support: targeted IV protocols, timed around your chemotherapy or radiotherapy schedule, designed to help you tolerate treatment better and recover faster between cycles. It is not a replacement for your hospital care. It is a way of giving your body more of what it needs to keep going.
Which Infusions Help With Which Side Effects
Different IV protocols target different aspects of treatment-related strain. The right combination for any patient depends on their cancer type, their hospital treatment plan, and the specific side effects they are experiencing.
High-Dose Vitamin C IV — fatigue, infection risk, pain
High-dose vitamin C IV therapy is one of the most widely used infusions in integrative oncology. At the doses we deliver — typically 25 to 75 grams per session — vitamin C behaves very differently from the oral form. It supports the activity of T-cells and natural killer cells, which is particularly relevant during chemotherapy when immune defences are compromised. Multiple clinical studies have found that patients receiving high-dose vitamin C alongside their treatment report less fatigue, less pain and a better overall sense of wellbeing.
For patients in palliative care, or those whose conventional treatment has ended, the evidence on quality of life is particularly encouraging. We are not claiming vitamin C is a cure for cancer — it is not, and we would never present it that way. But the impact it can have on how you feel day to day is real and well documented.
Mistletoe Therapy — fatigue, sleep, treatment tolerance
Mistletoe therapy is one of the most extensively studied complementary cancer therapies in Europe, where it has been used in integrative oncology for over a century. A meta-analysis of 26 controlled trials found that patients receiving mistletoe alongside conventional treatment reported meaningful improvements in overall wellbeing — less fatigue, better appetite, improved sleep and a greater sense of coping with treatment.
We use Helixor, an established European mistletoe preparation, delivered either by IV infusion at our Tower Bridge clinic or by subcutaneous injection that our nursing team can administer at your home. There is no evidence that mistletoe interferes with conventional cancer treatment, and it has a strong safety profile when prescribed and supervised by experienced clinicians.
Other Infusions in the WMG Protocol
Curcumin IV is used for its anti-inflammatory action, particularly in patients dealing with ongoing systemic inflammation following chemotherapy. Helleborus may be included in protocols for specific case profiles where the clinical picture warrants it. Body-strengthening infusions — combinations of amino acids, B vitamins, magnesium and selenium — can be added before or between chemotherapy cycles to support recovery and reduce the depth of the energy slump that often follows treatment.
The exact combination is decided after Dr Saskia reviews your diagnosis, your current hospital treatment plan, and your full clinical history. No two patients receive identical protocols, because no two patients present in identical ways.
Working Alongside Your NHS Treatment
This point is worth repeating because it sits at the heart of how we work. IV infusion therapy at Wellbeing Medical Group is delivered alongside your NHS care, not instead of it. We will never ask you to stop or delay any conventional treatment, and we will not recommend anything that puts your hospital care at risk.
Where possible, we time infusions to fit around your chemotherapy schedule — typically a few days after a cycle, when the most acute side effects begin to lift but the body is still recovering. We are happy to liaise directly with your NHS oncology team if that helps coordinate care, and we always encourage patients to keep their hospital clinicians informed about every therapy they are receiving.
For patients who cannot easily travel to London, we deliver IV infusions and other complementary therapies at home through our cancer care at home service. Our nursing team is trained specifically in cancer-patient care and can administer most protocols in your own setting, anywhere in the UK.
What to Expect From Your First Session
Before any infusion is prescribed, you will have a complimentary consultation with our medical team. This is when Dr Saskia or another member of the clinical team reviews your diagnosis, your hospital treatment plan and your medical history. There is no obligation to proceed.
If IV therapy is appropriate for you, we design a protocol tailored to your case — explaining clearly what is recommended, why, and what it will cost. A typical session lasts 60 to 90 minutes. You sit in a comfortable treatment chair while a registered nurse places the IV line and the infusion runs at the prescribed rate. Most patients read, work or simply rest. There is no aftercare beyond hydration and monitoring for any unusual symptoms — which are rare.
Speak to Dr Saskia and the team about whether IV infusion therapy could support you through your current treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IV infusion therapy safe to have during chemotherapy?
Yes. IV infusion therapy at Wellbeing Medical Group is delivered under the supervision of Dr Saskia Kloppenburg Vieth, a GMC-registered integrative oncologist. Every protocol is reviewed against your current chemotherapy regimen for any potential interactions. The infusions we use — vitamin C, mistletoe, curcumin and others — have well-documented safety profiles when prescribed and administered properly. We will tell you clearly if any element of an infusion is not appropriate for your case.
Will my NHS oncologist support my decision to have IV therapy?
Most NHS oncologists are comfortable with patients receiving complementary therapies that are well evidenced and properly supervised. We always encourage you to discuss it with them, and we are happy to write to your hospital team directly if it helps. The integrative model we use is established in major UK and European centres, including the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, where Dr Saskia continues to work part-time.
How often will I need infusions?
This depends on your treatment plan and what you are looking to achieve. Some patients have weekly infusions during active chemotherapy; others prefer fortnightly or monthly sessions. Most protocols run as a planned series rather than single one-off appointments — the benefits build with consistent treatment, not from a single session in isolation.
Can I have IV therapy at home?
Yes. Through our cancer care at home service, we deliver most IV infusions across the UK. Our nursing team comes to you, brings everything needed for the session, and provides the same standard of care as our London clinic.
How much does IV infusion therapy cost?
Pricing depends on the specific infusion and the number of sessions in your protocol. The initial consultation is complimentary, and we will give you a clear, written cost breakdown before you commit to anything. There is no obligation to proceed at any stage.
Speak to Our Team
Cancer treatment is hard enough without feeling depleted by it. If you or someone you love is going through chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy and is looking for a way to manage the side effects more effectively, we would welcome the chance to talk. Book a free consultation with Dr Saskia and the team, and we will help you understand whether IV infusion therapy as part of supportive cancer care is right for your case.
