Re: Cancer and steroids

[Guest guest]

Dear Sunita,

Corticosteroids can be used for several reasons. A common one is in

conjunction with chemotherapy drugs as the rapid breakdown and death of

cells can lead to an inflammatory reaction. Steroids reduce this and so

may reduce any negative reactions. However, of course, they cause their

own problems of overheating people, insomnia, anxiety etc. This, I find,

is where herbs are really helpful because they reduce the negative

aspects of the chemotherapy and thereby reduce the need for the steroids

- either people can take a reduced dosage or even avoid them altogether.

From a holistic point of view, all these treatments - chemo, steroids -

further suppress an immune system which is already compromised. Which is

why the cancer arose in the first place. An interesting paradox - one

which conventional medicine never addresses.

In the case of brain tumours, steroids reduce swelling around the tumour

which can reduce symptoms such as headaches, visual disturbances, and

very importantly, clouding of consciousness. The effect won't be long

lasting but may give the patient enough improvement for them to sort out

their affairs and to be mentally clearer in this final stage of their lives.

Regards

Gascoigne

Email: mailto:drgascoigne@...

Web: http://www.drgascoigne.com

herbaldiva wrote:

>

> Greetings all,

>

> I have a 59 year old stage 4 breast cancer patient with metastases to

> lungs and brain. She is no longer responding to chemotherpy and so she

> is using herbs, nutrients, etc to support her. She is on steroids and I

> am not sure if immune modulating/supportive herbs would interfere with

> the drug.

>

> Also, what is the rationale for using steroids in cancer patients?

>

> Any guidance would be much appreciated

> Sunita

>

>

[Guest guest]

Many thanks for this reply, a paradox indeed! As she has not had chemo for a

while, it would seem the steroids are being used for reducing the swelling of

the brain tumour,

 

You are absolutely right she is very anxious, has a very bad headache, cant

sleep and is hot. Would it be too heroic to reduce the dosage of her stroids and

use herbs instead? are there any herbs that come to mind?

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Sunita,

Not sure how relevant this is to your patient, but a very common

reason for the use of steroids (usually dexamethasone) in advanced

cancer is to try and increase the appetite (and improve mood).

cheers,

Nick

>

> Many thanks for this reply, a paradox indeed! As she has not had

chemo for a while, it would seem the steroids are being used for

reducing the swelling of the brain tumour,

>  

> You are absolutely right she is very anxious, has a very bad

headache, cant sleep and is hot. Would it be too heroic to reduce the

dosage of her stroids and use herbs instead? are there any herbs that

come to mind?

>  

>  

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

When my mother had a brain tumour, Dexamethasone rediced the swelling, her

headaches and almost all of her symptoms for 5 years. (She weas not open to

doing any herbs). She died at 84 of recurrent breast cancer. Unless you are

extremely aggressive with herbs inclufing a lot of Boswellia (to increase

transport across the BBB) you may nopt have a lot of success.

J Fidler, MCPP, (RH) AHG

Herbalist

Subject: Re: Cancer and steroids

To: ukherbal-list

Date: Friday, November 21, 2008, 1:20 PM

Many thanks for this reply, a paradox indeed! As she has not had chemo for a

while, it would seem the steroids are being used for reducing the swelling of

the brain tumour,

 

You are absolutely right she is very anxious, has a very bad headache, cant

sleep and is hot. Would it be too heroic to reduce the dosage of her stroids and

use herbs instead? are there any herbs that come to mind?