Many of us use supplements as either complementary or alternative medicines (CAMS) to treat our prostate cancer as well as advanced prostate cancer. If we interview a selection of men and ask what supplements they take there are a number of items we take that are fairly universal among us. They include pomegranate extract, green tea, curcummin, reservatrol, muscadine, silibinin and of course combination therapy of some of these items.
The question we need to ask is if they work? In reality we don’t know. The molecular mechanisms underlying their use and even their overall effectiveness remain poorly understood despite their common usage.
Samuel Klempner, MD a Research and Clinical Fellow of Hematology-Oncology at
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA wrote a brief discussion of this issue that should interest any of us who uses CAM. An abstract of his analysis is available here.
Doctor Klempner concludes that in many cases it is impossible to maintain serum levels of these CAM supplements that are commensurate the levels that are required to achieve the reputed mechanism of action.
Joel T. Nowak, M.A., M.S.W.
Hi,
I find taking these CAMs gives us hope, which is what we need the most.
If these doctors had our cancer, maybe they would be joining us.
I am taking 8g per day of Curcumin and will monitor its affect on my cancer over the next year.
Worst results is that I lost some money; benefit is that it gives me a sense of control over my cancer.
Mike
Just FYI
I have recently entered a clinical study (Phase II) of the safety and efficacy of Muscadine Plus (MPX) through my Oncologist Dr. Channing Paller at Johns Hopkins. This is a new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of two levels dosing of MPX capsules on rising PSA levels in men following initial therapy for prostate cancer.
Good luck and keep us posted – Joel