Guest guest Posted April 1, 2004 Report Share Posted April 1, 2004 Thu, 1 Apr 2004 08:02:21 -0500 HSI - Jenny Thompson April... No Fooling April... No Fooling Health Sciences Institute e-Alert April 1, 2004 ************************************************************** Dear Reader, The exact origin of April Fool's Day is a little hazy, but some believe it goes like this: When King Charles IX of France adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1582, New Year's day was changed from the first day of April to the first day of January. Previously, a celebration that began on the vernal equinox ended with the beginning of a new year, April 1st. Apparently this party was so enjoyable that many people refused to drop the custom and take up the new calendar. After awhile, these retro-folk were called fools and made fun of, and pranks were played at their expense on the day they continued to observe as the first of the year. But who were the fools here? That long party to usher in a new spring year sounds more logical and satisfying than starting off the year on a frigid night, just as winter gets underway. This got me to thinking about those who stubbornly embrace the new as the one true way, when plenty of evidence shows that the old ways shouldn't be simply tossed aside. Which brings us to today's April 1 topic: Dietary supplements and cancer drugs. Even if you embrace the new (chemotherapy and radiation treatments), is it necessary to completely toss aside the old (herbals and natural antioxidants)? How foolish would that be? ----------------------------- The twain meet ----------------------------- Last month I came across a study from the University of Houston reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Researchers surveyed 500 women about their use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs). Half of the women were patients diagnosed with breast cancer, and half were diagnosed with a gynecological cancer such as ovarian cancer. Just under half of the women were found to be taking some type of herbal treatment or dietary supplement. But among these subjects, only 53 percent had talked with their doctors about CAM use. The UH team concluded by noting that because CAM use is common among female cancer patients, more studies are needed to explore the therapeutic benefits of CAM therapies, as well as potential drug interactions with CAMs. In addition, the researchers called for more education about CAM products for both patients and healthcare providers. I'm in complete agreement with these conclusions; especially the emphasis placed on improving communication between patients and doctors about CAM use. But the positive attitude toward CAM in this study was somewhat undercut by comments made to Reuters Health by a member of the research team, Dr. Judith A. Smith of the University of Texas. Dr. Smith began by observing that some CAM therapies may decrease the effectiveness of chemotherapy. This idea is based on the long-standing belief that antioxidant vitamins may interfere with some chemotherapy drugs that work by creating oxidizing compounds that kill cancer cells. Dr. Smith's recommendation: Cancer patients should " refrain from using CAM therapy while receiving chemotherapy until all treatment is completed. " Where's the baby? He just sailed out the window along with Dr. Smith's bathwater. Because if all cancer patients follow Dr. Smith's advice, many of them will be turning away from treatments that could significantly increase the effectiveness of their therapy AND reduce the severity of the side effects chemo is so well known for. ----------------------------- All the tools ----------------------------- In spite of the fact that many types of chemotherapies produce free radicals, there is no clinical evidence to support the theory that the benefits of chemo are compromised by antioxidants. In fact, at least one study indicates the exact opposite. In a 2002 trail, Italian researchers enlisted 52 colon cancer patients who were receiving a chemotherapy called oxaliplatin. Through 12 cycles of treatment, half of the subjects were given a placebo, while the other half received the powerful antioxidant glutathione, administered intravenously at the time they received their chemo. At the end of the dozen treatments, researchers found that the subjects who received the placebo had a " statistically significant " amount of nerve damage compared to the group that received glutathione. Meanwhile, there was no indication that the presence of glutathione inhibited the chemotherapy from shrinking cancer tumors. In fact, subjects in the glutathione group were found to have slightly greater tumor shrinkage than the group that received placebo. Of course, this single trial doesn't begin to resolve the question of how the many different types of antioxidants might influence the effect of a wide variety of chemotherapies. But to simply toss out all CAM procedures across the board, as Dr. Smith would have cancer patients do, would be like a carpenter deciding not to use half of the tools in his toolbox. ----------------------------- Count the ways ----------------------------- In many previous e-Alerts I've discussed different aspects of treating cancer with CAM therapies. Here are just a few of the highlights: * In 2001 a Canadian team used an animal study to demonstrate how the herb echinacea may sharply increase the number of " natural killer " cells that help the immune system control leukemia. Researchers stated that the " survival advantage " of using echinacea could be " highly significant. " * Research conducted by a major drug company revealed that extracts of the Amazonian Graviola tree actually seek out, attack, and destroy cancer cells, without harming healthy cells. * In two different studies, ashwagandha (also known as Indian ginseng) was shown to make cancer tumors more sensitive to radiation therapy. And a 1994 animal study demonstrated how ashwagandha may help prevent two harsh side effects of chemotherapy: the weakening of bone marrow and the abnormal decrease of white blood cells. * An animal study at the University of Rochester Medical Center showed that curcumin (a spice that gives curry its color) may significantly reduce the inflammation and scarring that are common with radiation therapy. * In the 1970s, doctors found that 547 breast-cancer patients who used mistletoe after tumor removal had significantly increased 5- and 10-year survival rates when compared with patients receiving only conventional treatment. Needless to say, all cancer patients should discuss supplement intake with their doctors - both to prevent adverse interactions and to make the most of the clear benefits. But don't be fooled into thinking that the healthy effects of dietary supplements are somehow a detriment to cancer therapies. Not today or any day. ************************************************************** ... and another thing After I sent you the e-Alert " Private Parts " (3/10/04) about the FDA plan to develop a registry for users of the dangerous acne drug Accutane, I received a few e-mails from HSI members offering other solutions to the acne problem. A member named Robert writes: " A mixture of Silver Colloid and Aloe Vera has proven a total correction for zits among all young folks and older folks who have used it. Used as a shaving lotion instead of soap solved a young man's problem. Has kept my skin free of blemishes for 20+ years. Zero side effects. Quick positive results. " And a member named Peter offers this, even easier acne therapy: " Chamomile tea (with a little fruit juice to take the flavour away) will drastically reduce acne over just a few days. One strong mug at bed time. " Going a less natural route, a member named Dennis detailed this first-hand experience: " A friend of my wife told her that she gave 1 Advil to her children to control acne, so we tired it with our oldest son, and it worked. We gave him 1 Advil a day, every day during the acne years, and as long as he took it every day, the acne stayed away. We decided to try it, because he was taking a prescribed drug that made him sick. I don't know if it works on severe cases of acne, but it does work on the average type of acne that teenagers get. " Dennis says that the daily Advil also worked well for their younger son, and that neither of the boys suffered any adverse side effects. Nevertheless, I would be wary of a daily intake of any ibuprofen product, especially in light of a recent Australian study that demonstrated how nearly 25 percent of more than 12,000 study subjects had a medical condition that might be complicated by ibuprofen. The study cautioned that people with asthma, heart disease, liver disorders and gastric ulcers may experience adverse side effects from ibuprofen use. Researchers also noted that a recent study published in the British Medical Journal showed that ibuprofen use for more than a week during pregnancy may significantly increase the risk of miscarriage. While I want to thank Dennis (and all our members) for sharing this advice, I should add that anyone who might want to try a daily ibuprofen to fight acne would be wise to check with their doctor before starting this regimen. To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute ************************************************************** Sources: " An assessment of the Utilization of Complementary and Alternative Medication in Women with Gynecologic or Breast Malignancies " Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol. 22, No. 4, February 2004, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov " Many Women use Alternative Medicine for Cancer " Merritt McKinney, Reuters Health, 3/12/04, reutershealth.com " Neuroprotective Effect of Reduced Glutathione on Oxaliplatin-Based Chemotherapy in Advanced Colorectal Cancer " Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol. 20, 2002, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov " Is it Safe to Use Antioxidant Supplements with Chemotherapy? " Matt Brignall, N.D., Healthnotes Newswire " Antidotes: To Radiation Regimen, Add Spice " Eric Nagourney, the New York Times, 10/22/02, nytimes.com " Protective Effect of Curcumin on Radiation Induced Skin Damage Involves Down-regulation of Chemokine Gene Expression " International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, Vol. 54, 2002, elsevier.com Copyright ©1997-2004 by www.hsibaltimore.com, L.L.C. 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