Popular Herbal Supplements May Adversely Affect Chemotherapy Treatment

Northwestern Memorial Hospital ^ | July 13, 2011 | Unknown

[decimon]

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Chicago -

Doctors urge cancer patients to discuss supplements with their doctors before beginning treatment

Acai berry, cumin, herbal tea, turmeric and long-term use of garlic – all herbal supplements commonly believed to be beneficial to your health – may negatively impact chemotherapy treatment according to a new report presented at the recent American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago. Researchers from Northwestern Memorial hospital say there is growing evidence that these popular supplements may intensify or weaken the effect of chemotherapy drugs and in some cases, may cause a toxic, even lethal reaction.

“With the growth of the Internet, patients have better access to information about alternative products and often turn to dietary and herbal supplements to treat their illness because they think they’re natural and safe,” said June M. McKoy, MD, geriatrician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and lead investigator on the ASCO presentation. “What people don’t realize is that supplements are more than just vitamins and can counteract medical therapies if not taken appropriately”.

McKoy, who is also director of geriatric oncology at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, says more research is needed to understand which supplements interact with chemotherapy drugs and the extent of those interactions and encourages patients to openly communicate with their physicians about the use of supplements.

[rarestia]

I once used cumin in a breakfast casserole I made. My brother got his piece, looked at me and said, “Dude, did you wipe your armpits on this or something?”

Yeah, cumin’s a pretty pungent herb, but I love the taste and smell.

[goodwithagun]

Mostly pill form, but I do eat a lot of yogurt. I order a brand called NSI from vitacost.com. They have the best prices and usually free shipping, and NSI is good with having independent companies test their products for purity. I either make my own plain yogurt or I buy plain, whole milk Greek yogurt. I add fresh fruit if I want flavor, but I usually just eat it plain. Anything else with added fake sugar and artificial flavors is contra-indicative to what probiotics do. I give my son a chewable probiotic that he calls his cracker for some reason. Maybe it's all coincidence, but I like not going to the doctor so we're sticking to our regime.

[US Navy Vet]

A LIGHT dusting of Cumin Powder make Chili taste WONDERFUL!

[rarestia]

Cumin and cocoa powder! I used to scoff at cocoa in chili, but once I haggled the recipe for a local award winner’s chili, I realized how it can totally change the dynamic.

Cumin, for me, goes on almost anything. I’ve been known to put it on pizza too!

[US Navy Vet]

I have heard of Cinnimun(sp?) in Chili but never cocoa...interesting.

[TEXOKIE]

Exactly.

[TEXOKIE]

Dried and unrefrigerated probiotics are better than nothing, but ideal is the refrigerable capsule supplements in the cooler section in your health food store.

If we purchase the unrefrigerable kind we refrigerate upon opening although not called for on label. Remember in most cases these are supposed to be live bacteria...the “good kind!” Treat them carefully!

[rarestia]

Cinnamon is good too, but it’s very easy to overspice with it. Too much cinnamon, and you’ve got a very “hot” chili since cinnamon can “burn” in large doses.

[momtothree]

Thanks! I will definitely look into it since I would prefer a pill. I use other vitamins and supplements and would just prefer to drop another one into my little pill shot-glass. (probably my laziness showing through!) LOL

[Rennes Templar]

People who survive with chemo do so in spite of it, not because of it.

[vrwc1]

My wife had fast-growing mediastinal lymphoma that would have killed her quickly. Thank God for chemo...it killed the tumor and saved her life. She is alive today because of the chemo.

[handmade]

she is alive today because of the chemo

Now how can that possibly be? Those posters who know all about everything say it can not happen.

On the flip side, a good friend is finishing her third bout with cancer, beaten back like the first two (12 years from first to this) different type and place of cancer each time— by chemo with radiation the first time.

Surgery the second, the third involved both surgery and chemo, which is just finishing now. Her scans show she is cancer free at this point.

And yes she does exercise and she does eat in a healthy manner.

With the unregulated herbals etc there is no way to know what is in the supplements unless they clearly state USP on the label. I do not see herbals where I shop with USP on the label.

I have another friend who became a widow because of her husband’s obstinate ways regarding treatment.lack of.
The bottom line - do what is right for the individual. Nobody can make that decision for others.

[neverdem]

Any doc need to do a complete history including all the drugs, including over the counter drugs, and any and all supplements including vitamins and minerals.

There are enough adverse reactions from drug and food interactions, e.g. various drugs and grapefruit/grapefruit juice, coumadin, a blood thinner, and foods high in vitamin K, etc.

There’s a saying in medicine to the effect that having a good history is ninety percent of making the diagnosis.