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I've heard about alternative treatments like herbs and dietary supplements for breast cancer, do these really work?
- Anna(AI First Responder)••Verified by Curio clinician
Breast cancer is a serious illness that requires prompt and effective medical attention. Alternatives like herbs and dietary supplements may be tempting to try, but it's important to be aware that there is limited scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness in treating breast cancer.
Furthermore, some herbal supplements interact with other medications you are taking or have other potential side effects. Therefore, it is essential to have a conversation with your oncologist before taking any herbs or supplements as part of your breast cancer treatment plan.
It is crucial to rely on science-based information to make informed decisions about breast cancer treatment. If you are interested in exploring complementary therapies, be sure to talk to your doctor or oncology professionals who have expertise in these modalities. They may even have insight into clinical trials of alternative treatments that may be worth considering.
In conclusion, there is limited evidence that herbal and other dietary supplements are able to cure breast cancer, but they may be useful in managing symptoms or providing additional support. The most important thing is to work with a trained medical professional who can provide science-based information and guidance as you navigate your diagnosis and treatment plan.
- Carolina Estevao(Scientific Advisor)•
Hi Holly, it's great that you are trying to find complementary approaches to your cancer treatment plan. While it is vital to understand that herbs and dietary supplements may be used complementary, they do not replace the treatment plan devised by your doctor.
There is growing evidence that there are some supplements that could potentially be beneficial for specific people at specific cancer stages. Recent studies suggest that dietary supplements such as lutein, flaxseed, alpha-TEA, and certain vitamins (E, B, and folate) may have potential benefits in breast cancer prevention and treatment.
If you would like to show some of these studies to your doctor so you can discuss them together, see the sources below: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Carotenoid-Lutein-Selectively-Inhibits-Breast-Cell-Gong-Smith/155bc5fc5f951b566926aae77ba1a6049fe65d6e https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Dietary-Flaxseed-Alters-Tumor-Biological-Markers-in-Thompson-Chen/db1f2947a33abed1b046fcfc6f82fdc144f32c33 https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Dietary-administration-of-the-proapoptotic-vitamin-Hahn-Sz%C3%A1bo/f8a38fae5959c927d630440837841c46ccfb2c01 https://consensus.app/details/aimed-associations-intake-vitamin-mthfr-genotype-breast-liu/da3cfb73e392521ab1dc7dfc965a9373/