Dear Dr. Roach: I wonder why you never talk about holistic measures to prevent illnesses, such as cancer. I just read an article by an oncologist who said there are certain anti-cancer supplements that work, including vitamin D, magnolia extract and artichoke extract, all of which have been shown in laboratory studies to kill a variety of cancer cells, including colon, breast and liver cancers, and leukemia. Artichoke extract also contains cynarin, which decreases inflammation. Other compounds that can reduce cancer growth are black cumin seed oil and bee propolis, which is rich in caffeic acid phenethyl ester, chrysin and cinnamic acid 鈥� compounds that affect cancer genes. Studies show that they reduce the growth of many cancers, including colon, prostate and kidney. 听
I鈥檝e also read about the powerful effects that simple seasonings have on cancer cells: black pepper, sage and oregano. My question to you is: Why isn鈥檛 this blasted all over the news media, and why don鈥檛 physicians who can access this information tell it to their patients?
V.A.
The therapies you mention are termed 鈥渃omplementary鈥� or 鈥渁lternative鈥� treatments, specifically 鈥渉erbal treatments.鈥� Holistic medicine, on the other hand, aims to treat the entire person 鈥� physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Holistic medicine ought to be a goal for all providers, since health consists of much more than mere absence of physical disease. While a physician can help with some of these aspects, it is difficult or impossible for one person to be expert in helping a person meet all goals of wellness, which is why collaborative care is so important.
With respect to the herbal treatments you mention, and others like them, it is my opinion that these have potential to help treat some kinds of cancer. However, I am quite convinced, after reading many studies, that none of them is completely effective at preventing or curing cancer. Compounds can be very effective at killing cancer cells in a laboratory, but that is very different from killing cancer cells in a person at a level that鈥檚 achievable without toxicity. That鈥檚 why they aren鈥檛 on the news media 鈥� they aren鈥檛 a cure, and haven鈥檛 been proven definitively helpful.听 听
Where I believe alternative therapies have the most potential in cancer is in combination with traditional therapies: helping people feel better through chemotherapy and radiation. Some herbals, like turmeric, have solid data showing benefit in combination with chemotherapy in treating some cancers. However, finding an oncologist who has expertise in alternative treatment might not be easy. Similarly, finding an alternative medicine provider who knows enough about cancer and chemotherapy to be of value to both the patient and the oncologist isn鈥檛 easy. There are some centres where both traditional and complementary therapies are used, and where the patient鈥檚 entire care team is aware of all the treatments a patient is getting.
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Dear Dr. Roach: I read your comments to I.T. with interest, as I had my gallbladder removed way back in 1968. I feel you left out a side-effect that follows the procedure for many patients: the 鈥渄ump鈥� syndrome, or diarrhea. This result has plagued me and several others for years. I found some relief by taking cholestyramine before eating.
J.C.
That鈥檚 a very good point, and one I did not highlight. 鈥淒umping syndrome鈥� refers to bile being delivered to the intestine suddenly, causing diarrhea. It isn鈥檛 common, fortunately, and I, too, have found that cholestyramine can be very effective, in addition to eating smaller, more-frequent meals.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to听 [email protected].
