Alternative Treatment

Abigail, taspine can be found in SangredeDrago (DragonBlood) and some Chinese herbs.  Good video:

http://www.videosurf.com/video/amazon-herbs-research-with-rain-forest-curanderos-81142466?vlt=

Immunomodulatory activity and chemical characterisation of sangre de drago (dragon's blood) from Croton lechleri.
Risco E, Ghia F, Vila R, Iglesias J, Alvarez E, Canigueral S.
Unitat de Farmacologia i Farmacognosia, Facultat de Farmacia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Planta Med. 2003 Sep;69(9):785-94.
PMID: 14598201 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

South American plants II: taspine isolation and anti-infl ammatory activity.
Perdue GP, Blomster RN, Blake DA, Farnsworth NR.
J Pharm Sci. 1979 Jan;68(1):124-6
PMID: 758452 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Taspine is the cicatrizant principle in Sangre de Grado extracted from Croton lechleri.
Vaisberg AJ, Milla M, Planas MC, Cordova JL, de Agusti ER, Ferreyra R, Mustiga MC, Carlin L, Hammond GB.
Planta Med. 1989 Apr;55(2):140-3.
PMID: 2748730 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Evaluation of the mutagenic, antimutagenic and antiproliferative potential of Croton lechleri (Muell. Arg.) latex.
Rossi D, Bruni R, Bianchi N, Chiarabelli C, Gambari R, Medici A, Lista A, Paganetto G.
CATgroup--Centro Analisi Territoriali, Copparo, Ferrara, Italy.
Phytomedicine. 2003 Mar;10(2-3):139-44.
PMID: 12725567 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Isolation of a dihydrobenzofuran lignan from South American dragon's blood (Croton spp.) as an inhibitor of cell proliferation.
Pieters L, de Bruyne T, Claeys M, Vlietinck A, Calomme M, vanden Berghe D.
University of Antwerp, Belgium.
J Nat Prod. 1993 Jun;56(6):899-906.
PMID: 8350090 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Review of sangre de drago (Croton lechleri)--a South American tree sap in the treatment of diarrhea, infl ammation, insect bites, viral infections, and wounds: traditional uses to clinical research.
Jones K. Armana Reseach, Inc., Halfmoon Bay, British Columbia, Canada. armana@dccnet.com
J Altern Complement Med. 2003 Dec;9(6):877-96
Publication Types: Review, Review, Tutorial
PMID: 14736360 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Studies on the anti-tumour, anti-bacterial, and wound-healing properties of dragon's blood.
Chen ZP, Cai Y, Phillipson JD.
Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of London, U.K.
Planta Med. 1994 Dec;60(6):541-5.

South American plants II: taspine isolation and anti-infl ammatory activity.
Perdue GP, Blomster RN, Blake DA, Farnsworth NR.
J Pharm Sci. 1979 Jan;68(1):124-6.
PMID: 758452 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 

I put up a few links for Scutellaria Barbata recently, a few pages back.  It's the most promising herb I've looked at so far, but not easy to find.  It's not to be confused with American Skullcap which is a different plant.  I have around 50 links I've collected over a period of time.

Among many anti-cancer properties, it also contains Apiginen as found in celery and parsley, and Wogonin which seems to be a key flavonoid.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bionovo Announces Findings of Bezielle^TM Anticancer Properties and Active Principles

Studies are published in the Journal of the Public Library of Science One

EMERYVILLE, Calif., Feb. 7, 2012

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oldenlandia and Scutellaria  -  Antitoxin and Anticancer Herbs 

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Cancer-Fighting Mint Plant 

celery also has a lot of sodium, but as I eat very little salt it's not a problem that way.  nice bit of juice.  those tan pears, the hard ones give off a lot of juice too

Joy, I don't know about that skullcap stuff. Leaving aside the issue of phytoestrogens, since some of us feel it will help us and some of us are afraid of them, the data even seems to contradict itself. On one site I read these 2 things:Possible Side Effects

Be sure to consult your doctor if you intend to take this supplement, as with all supplements there may be moderate to severe side effects if taken with certain medicines, including birth control medicines. It should not be taken if you are pregnant or nursing. Large doses should only be taken consecutively with a doctor's approval. Pueraria Mirifica should not be used by women younger than 20 or those who have severe diseases, cancers or cysts of the breasts, uterus or ovaries. Spotting and early or delayed menstrual cycles are considered to be normal with the use of this herb. Allergic reactions may also occur in those allergic to kudzu.

Pueraria Mirifica is said to reduce the chance of breast cancer. 

Dunesleeper, I know nothing about Pueraria Mirifica which sounds risky if it has such a strong estrogenic effect.  It's the Scutellaria Barbata  (TCM name Ban Zhi Lian) that looks promising as it's been used for so long in China and is now being studied as the most promising herb for cancer.  Dr George C Wong uses it in his BC mix and is studying it.  I don't like to call it Skullcap as it gets confused with the common American Skullcap which has different properties.

Celery is problematic as it soaks up water readily including any pollution.  I think it was the worst of the dirty dozen.  Parsley is an easy herb to grow in a pot or anywhere and doesn't die off as long as you don't pick too much, keep a few growing for a constant supply.  Mine got overgrown with weeds after all the rain we had this summer so I'll have to put some work into my garden.  But it's the many different flavonoids in Scutellaria B that are important so one day I'll try to get some and take it for a while.  Maybe with Oldenlandia once I've researched it more.

Biologically active flavonoids: apigenin, baicalein, baicalin, chrysin, scutellarein, and wogonin. 

Calantykel, that's a scary Livestrong article about celery.  I'd eat it if I was sure it was both organic and no fertilizers had been used containing cadmium.  The cadmium issue has put me off all veggies unless I grow them myself but I'm not too good at gardening and they only grow well for short periods in season.

I find the best essential oil I'm using topically fairly regularly is grape seed oil.

yes, I'm sending for parsley seeds from herloom seeds, I think that;s the name of the company:  great catalogue though odd size & many coated stock pages.......

How do you know about estrogen level, or receptors?

That you know before or after surgery?

Momine, the last thing I read said studies were showing that foods that are phytoestrogens have an anti-cancer effect. I don't think they were recommending them in supplement form. Unfortunately, I cannot find the article right now. If I find it I will post it.

You're right, Caryn.

I myself am exploring alternative tx  - which is why I am here.

If anyone *thinks* I might be doing something which could harm me, I would not mind an invitation to PM - but  I do stand corrected.  None of us are Drs.

Thank you for your post.

Dune, I have seen some articles like that too. Once you start delving into this topic, it gets very confusing. As best as I can conclude, it has not been studied well.

Himalaya, it should be in your pathology report from the surgery. If you don't have the report, ask your doc for a copy.

Himilaya,

The biopsy report should also contain your ER/PR status. As to the size of the tumor, the ultimate determination will be in the path report after surgery. My imaging put my IDC at 2cm, but post surgery path measured it at 4 cm. That didn't necessarily mean it grew, it's just that imaging was not able to visualize all of it. Good luck to you. Caryn

I'm quite sure phytoestrogenic foods are harmful.  I think the rt cyst began getting hard about 7 years ago.  in '08 as I recall, I began juicing fennel, dis that for a year, my breasts became very uncomfortable, then I got a laptom, finally, & first thing tried to find some information that would help.  Immediately discovered that fennel was estrogenic, & as the cysts appeared in 1964 right after I began using the first generation of "bieth controll" pills it for sure is estrogen which caused the cysts.  I continued using the pills, but american ones, for the next ten years.  cysts were mentioned as a "side effect", but not cancer. ( but perhaps I have a type that doesn't mestastisize which would mean they weren't exactly lying when cancer wasnt mentioned as an effect.  side effects are affects.  I stopped juicing fennel immediately & the discomfort immediately lessened, but in about march of '11, parts of that cyst became inflamed, & in august, just after I began homeopathy castor oil packs anothe inflamed place developed before my eyes.  I still use the packs in liew of much else to do

I googled lymph massage today, I think I was wrong in the direction I mentioned:  should go toward the torso.  the information there as well is confusing.

but did I say?  our supermarket opened after so many long months with none, last wednesday, I'll check it out tuesday.........good thing!!

I was checking  but nothing was with ER or other short termins.

I will get to know on tuesday , because monday is holiday.