Help re: Turmeric

Ausykaren

I have been taking turmeric thinking it may help to prevent recurrence and now I’m reading that it should be avoided if you are taking aromatase inhibitors because it acts like estrogen.

MelissaDallas

From Memorial Sloan Kettering’s herbal. Don’t know about which pathways AIs use.

• You are taking warfarin or other blood thinners: Turmeric may increase your risk of bleeding.
• You are taking chemotherapy drugs such as camptothecin, mechlorethamine, doxorubicin, or cyclophosphamide: Turmeric inhibits the action of these drugs against breast cancer cells in lab experiments. Clinical relevance is not known.
• You are taking tacrolimus, an immunosuppressant: Curcumin supplements increase plasma levels of tacrolimus and may increase side effects. Clinical relevance is not known.
• You are taking drugs metabolized by the CYP3A4 enzyme: Curcumin inhibits cytochrome 3A4 enzyme, altering the metabolism of certain prescription drugs. Clinical relevance is not known.
• You are taking drugs metabolized by the CYP1A2 enzyme: Curcumin inhibits cytochrome 1A2 enzyme, altering the metabolism of certain prescription drugs. Clinical relevance is not known.
• You are taking drugs metabolized by the CYP2A6 enzyme: Curcumin enhances cytochrome 2A6 enzyme, altering the metabolism of certain prescription drugs. Clinical relevance is not known.
• You are taking drugs metabolized by the CYP2D6 enzyme: Curcumin inhibits cytochrome 2D6 activity and has the potential to interact with CYP2D6 substrates. Clinical relevance is not known.
• You are taking drugs transported by P-Glycoprotein: Curcumin affects intestinal P-glycoprotein levels and function, thereby increasing the concentrations of prescription drugs such as celiprolol, midazolam and verapamil. Clinical relevance is not known.

https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/turmeric

Anonymous

I was taking turmeric capsules as an anti inflammatoryand my oncologist told me to stop as they have estrogenic properties . Turmeric as a spice in food is fine to eat , from what she said .

Spookiesmom

blue22

A lot of the research on Turmeric was found to be fraudulent.

I think it is fine to eat it in food, but I wouldn't get your hopes up that it is a cure-all. Also, there is no way to know your capsules are actually what they advertise to be...

from Wikipedia

Bharat B. Aggarwal is an Indian-American biochemist. His research has been in the areas of cytokines, the role of inflammation in cancer, and the anti-cancer effects of spices and herbs, particularly curcumin (a chemical constituent of the spice turmeric). He was a professor in the Department of Clinical Immunology, Bioimmunotherapy, and Experimental Therapeutics at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.^[1]

In 2012, MD Anderson launched a review of Aggarwal's research after the federal government notified them of allegations of fraud by academic whistleblowers in as many as 65 of Aggarwal's published papers, with the allegations involving images that had been reused and manipulated to represent different results.^[2][3][4] He retired at the end of 2015; his departure was not made public until February 2016.^[1][5]

As of 2020, 29 papers published by Aggarwal have been retracted, ten others have received an expression of concern, and 17 others have been corrected.^[6][7]

Aseye

I am also taking turmeric supplements to avoid recurrence I'm on tamoxifen

MinusTwo

Aseye - as the others have discussed at great length, turmeric will not help you avoid a recurrence.

LillyIsHere

Turmeric - https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/turmeric

Cancer prevention

Infections

Inflammation

Kidney stones

Stomach and intestinal gas

MelissaDallas

Lilyishere, that is “Purported” Uses. Big distinction as to real data, which the article pretty much said is still lacking.

Mountainlover

I am on Femara and both my GP and the PT at my cancer center recommended turmeric to cope with the SE (pains). I will discuss with the MO when I see him in a month. If he advises against I will report here but I'd be surprised, as he is in the same team as the PT.

SpecialK

Something to consider with turmeric supplements for those on Tamoxifen is that they use the same pathway to metabolize, potentially lessening the effect of the Tamoxifen. There are a number of other things that also do this - often mentioned, some anti-depressants and Benadryl are the most commonly referred to. It might not be a bad idea for those who want to try turmeric while taking Tamoxifen to have tests done to determine whether you are a poor, intermediate, extensive or ultra rapid metabolizer. Here are some links for the test and the possible interference with tumeric:

https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-individualized-medicine/patient-care/pharmacogenomics/drug-gene-testing/cyp2d6-tamoxifen

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6468355/