Complementary Alternative Cancer Therapies-3

See also: viagra online pharmacy | cialis online pharmacy | 


Natural Strategies for Alleviating Cancer Symptoms
A range of complementary strategies are known to improve symptoms experienced by cancer patients.

Anxiety, Depression, and Stress. The use of aromatherapy and massage is effective in alleviating depression, anxiety, and stress in cancer patients and has a positive effect on quality of life (Cassileth BR et al 2004; Soden K et al 2004). Undergoing 30-minute massage sessions three times a week for five weeks reduces hostility and anger in cancer patients (Hernandez-Reif M et al 2004). In addition to massage, progressive muscle relaxation alleviates depression and anxiety in cancer patients (Hernandez-Reif M et al 2005).

The use of acupuncture, hypnosis, and exercise reduces stress and anxiety (Samuels N 2002; Stalpers LJ et al 2005; Thorsen L et al 2005).

Laughter and humor are also known to improve mood and combat depression in cancer patients (Bennett MP et al 2003; Christie W et al 2005; Takahashi K et al 2001). This improvement in mood is accompanied by quantifiable improvements in immune system and hormonal factors that influence overall well-being (Berk LS et al 2001; Christie W et al 2005; Takahashi K et al 2001).

Emotional support from a spouse reduces depression and improves quality of life in cancer patients (Ohara-Hirano Y et al 2004). Dietary supplementation with the amino acid L-carnitine in cancer patients has been effective in treating depression (Cruciani RA et al 2004).

Nausea and Vomiting. Acupuncture and finger acupressure are effective in overcoming treatment-induced nausea and vomiting (Collins KB et al 2004; Klein J et al 2004; Shin YH et al 2004). Electro-acupoint stimulation and hypnotherapy also reduce the frequency and intensity of nausea in cancer patients (Gan TJ et al 2004; Deng G et al 2004).

Poor Appetite/Cachexia. Advanced cancer is often accompanied by a condition of muscle wasting referred to as cachexia or catabolic wasting (Barber MD 2001; Brown TT et al 2003). Metabolic imbalances caused by the disease, which include the over-production of inflammatory factors, lead to the loss of appetite and the excessive breakdown of fat and muscle (Barber MD et al 2001). This wasting condition is associated with diminished quality of life and shorter survival (Barber MD 2001; Brown TT et al 2003).

Dietary supplementation with fish oils (omega-3 fatty acids) counteracts the inflammatory factors and reverses the weight loss associated with cachexia (Barber MD 2001; Brown TT et al 2003; Fearon KC et al 2003). Stabilization of this condition with fish oil supplements also leads to enhanced quality of life (Bruera E et al 2003; Burns CP et al 2004; Fearon KC et al 2003). For more information, refer to the chapter on Catabolic Wasting.

Lymphedema. Lymphedema, a condition characterized by excessive swelling and retention of water under the skin, often afflicts cancer patients, particularly after radiation therapy and surgery (Ashikaga T et al 2002; McNeely ML et al 2004).

Natural strategies known to be somewhat helpful in alleviating this condition include compression bandaging, which reduces the size of the swollen area, and manual massage of the draining lymph nodes, which may alleviate mild cases of lymphedema (McNeely ML et al 2004; Mortimer PS 1997). The use of selenium may improve the benefits of physical therapies such as massage and compression (Bruns F et al 2003).

Sexual Dysfunction. Cancer patients, in particular those with prostate cancer, often experience sexual dysfunction, or impotency, usually as a complication of their treatment (Burnett AL 2005; Jayne DG et al 2005; Turner SL et al 1999). Sexual dysfunction is also associated with surgery for bladder and colorectal cancer, and with chemotherapy agents that damage the ovaries (Jayne DG et al 2005; Molina JR et al 2005).

Sexual dysfunction in prostate cancer patients can be successfully managed by the use of Viagra® (Incrocci L et al 2003a; Incrocci L et al 2003b). However, some alternative therapies are also effective in managing sexual dysfunction.

Clinical studies have shown that oral supplements of L-glutamine and yohimbine, a plant extract, can improve erectile dysfunction (Lebret T et al 2002). Another dietary supplement known as ArginMax™, which contains a combination of ginseng, ginkgo, L-arginine, multivitamins, and minerals, improves erectile dysfunction (Ito T et al 1998, 2001). A nutritional supplement known as Kyo-Green® has also been shown to improve sexual dysfunction (Lau BH et al 2003).

Hair Loss. A mushroom extract, originally concocted for use as an immune system booster, improves alopecia (hair loss), a condition associated with the use of conventional cancer treatments (Ahn WS et al 2004). Animal studies have also shown that supplementing with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine can also protect against hair loss during conventional cancer treatments (D'Agostini F et al 1998).

Fatigue. In addition to relieving stress, dietary supplementation with the amino acid L-carnitine reduces fatigue, which can be a symptom of the cancer or a side effect of conventional treatment (Cruciani RA et al 2004). The use of L-carnitine during chemotherapy with doxorubicin has been proposed as an adjuvant therapy since 1985 (de Leonardis V et al 1985).

Acupuncture has also demonstrated effectiveness in alleviating cancer fatigue (Cohen AJ et al 2005). Cancer-related fatigue responds to a combined regimen of massage, foot soaking, and reflexology (Kohara H et al 2004). In addition, breathing exercises, conducted with the help of a healthcare provider, improves fatigue in patients recovering from stem cell transplantation (Kim SD et al 2005).

Natural Strategies for Counteracting Adverse Effects from Conventional Cancer Treatment

Nutritional supplements known to counteract some of the negative side effects of conventional treatments are summarized in Table 2. In addition to these nutrients, physical and psychological therapies—including acupuncture, breathing exercises, massage and aromatherapy—can also improve these negative side effects (Fellowes D et al 2004; Kim SD et al 2005; Samuels N 2002). For more information, refer to the chapters on Cancer Surgery, Cancer Chemotherapy, and Cancer Radiation Therapy.


Clinical Trials

Numerous ongoing clinical studies are assessing the merits of different CAM therapies for cancer. Cancer patients can opt to participate in these studies or simply monitor their outcomes. The specific details and findings of these studies are subject to constant change and therefore are not provided here. Up-to-date information on ongoing clinical trials can be obtained from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the following address:

NCCAM
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892
Email: info@nccam.nih.gov.
Website: http://nccam.nih.gov/clinicaltrials/

For More Information
Cancer patients who suffer from the aforementioned manifestations may wish to read the following chapters and design a program that addresses the full range of their cancer concerns:

1)Cancer Chemotherapy

2)Cancer Radiation Therapy

3)Cancer Surgery

4)Cancer Vaccines and Immunotherapies

5)Catabolic Wasting
Anemia, Leukopenia, and Thrombocytopenia
Immune System Enhancement.


Life Extension Foundation Recommendations
Cancer patients should consult their physicians before using any complementary alternative therapies while undergoing conventional medical treatment.

Different doses of the same nutritional supplement may be required for different applications of complementary alternative cancer therapies, such as preventing cancer, inhibiting tumor spread, enhancing/suppressing the immune system, alleviating cancer symptoms, and counteracting the side effects of conventional treatment. Cancer patients who wish to adopt a CAM approach should refer to the appropriate chapter or consult an integrative practitioner for definitive advice on appropriate doses of the nutritional supplements discussed in this chapter.

Safety Caveats
Patients should consult physicians who are qualified integrative practitioners experienced in the field of nutritional oncology.

green tea diet pills

See also: online pharmacy | 


fat reduction workouts to lose weight green tea diet pills

Counterknowledge

“The reason unorthodox medicines, supplements and therapies so often match the placebo effect is simple: they are placebos. If a man takes a pill containing powdered rhino horn for erectile dysfunction (a traditional African remedy) and ends up with a rhino-sized erection, it is his brain that has done the work, not the ingredients. If, however, he gets the same result after taking order cialis, that is almost certainly because the drug sildenafil citrate has increased the blood flow into his penis. cialis works, and Pfizer, who make it, can justifiably say so. The rhino pill manufacturers can only truthfully say that their product may possibly have a beneficial effect – but not as a result of anything that the product contains. And the same goes for the manufacturers of thousands of herbal remedies and food supplements.”
(Damian Thompson in ‘Counterknowledge,’ p. 93 Landmark)

BMS and Pharmasset to combine BMS-790052 and PSI-7997 HCV DAA candidates for proof-of-concept study...

Pharmasset and BMS initiate first cross-company study combining two QD oral, direct-acting antivirals together both with and without ribavirin.





Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pharmasset are to carry out a proof-of-concept study evaluating their respective investigational drug candidates BMS-790052 and PSI-7977 as oral combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C (HCV). BMS-790052 is BMS’ NS5A replication complex order cialis. Pharmasset’s PSI-7977 is a nucleotide polymerase cialis.



The proof-of-concept study will evaluate whether the once-daily oral therapy with the drug duo, either with or without concomitant ribavirin therapy, can lead to a sustained viral response 24 weeks post-treatment in patients chronically infected with HCV genotypes 1, 2, and 3. The trial is expected to start during the first half of 2011. The partners claim it will be the first cross-company study combining two oral, direct-acting antivirals.



At the start of November BMS reported positive data from an open-label Phase IIa trial evaluating a combination of BMS-790052 with its own NS3 protease inhibitor BMS-650032 in HCV genotype 1 patients who had previously not responded to standard HCV therapy with interferon and ribavirin (pegIFNα/RBV). The study showed that when given alongside pegIFNα/RBV treatment, a combination of BMS-790052/BMS-650032 led to 9/10 patients achieving complete early virologic response (cEVR, defined as undetectable viral load) by week 12.



Pharmasset’s PSI-7977, meanwhile, is a uracil nucleotide analog inhibitor of the NS5B polymerase. The drug is currently undergoing Phase IIb evaluation. In December 2010 Pharmasset announced the start of a Phase IIb interferon-sparing trial evaluating PSI-7977 in combination with ribavirin (RBV), and with either 0, 4, 8, or 12 weeks of pegIFNα, as therapy in treatment-naïve patients infected with HCV genotype 2 or 3.



Just last week the firm separately reported positive data from another Phase IIb study, which showed that combining PSI-7977 with pegIFNα/RBV therapy resulted in potent viral suppression in patients with HCV genotype 2 or 3, over 12 weeks. Pharmasset says it plans to initiate a separate Phase IIb combination study during 2011, to evaluate PSI-7977 in combination with pegIFNα/RBV over 24 weeks. PSI-7977 is separately being evaluated in a 14-day Phase I trial as combination therapy with the firm’s guanine nucleotide analog, PSI-938.