Breast Cancer

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Acupuncture – Reduced hot flashes in women with breast cancer

In 2016 the Journal of Clinical Oncology published a study in which 190 breast cancer patients received either self-care instructions (including hormonal therapy) alone or combined with acupuncture to treat climacteric syndrome (hot flashes). The 85 women in the acupuncture/self-care group saw a significantly greater reduction in hot flashes and higher quality of life scores compared to the 105 women in the self-care-only group.

In 2015 The American Journal of Chinese Medicine published a study which found that acupuncture was effective in reducing postoperative anxiety, tension and pain in 20 patients who had undergone breast reconstruction or mastectomy.

In 2013 Breast published a meta-analysis of 13 studies which found that high intake of cruciferous vegetables was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer.
In 2012 Annals of Oncology published a meta-analysis of select studies which found that cruciferous vegetable consumption at least once a week was linked to significantly reduced risk for many types of common cancer including oral, esophagus, colorectal, breast and kidney.

In 2013 the Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents published a study which found that curcumin slowed tumor growth in both early and advances stages of mammary cancer when administered to mice bred to have mammary cancer.
In 2005 Anticancer Research published an in vitro study which found that curcumin induces breast cancer cell death and thus may have potential in the treatment of cancer.

In 2007 Nutrition and Cancer published a study in which 60 breast cancer patients on chemotherapy were given either 60 cc wheatgrass juice daily or assigned to a control group during the first 3 cycles of chemotherapy. Results showed that wheatgrass juice mitigated chemotherapy-related toxicity without diminishing its efficacy. Side effects were minor and included nausea in 6 patients.

In 2013 Breast Cancer Research and Treatment published a study which included women with stages I-III breast cancer in which the women took 7.5 grams of CLA per day before surgery. Results showed that 12 days of treatment with CLA lead to a reduction in the S14 gene – a gene over-expressed in mammary tumors.
In 2005 Experimental and Molecular Pathology published an in vitro study which showed that CLA posses properties which may inhibit the growth and spread of breast cancer cells.
In 2004 The Journal of Nutrition published an in vitro study in which CLA showed dose-dependent inhibition of breast cancer cell growth through its potent anti-estrogenic properties.
In 2016 Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica published an animal study which showed that treatment with CLA reduced chemically induced mammary tumors in female rats.
In 2007 Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications published an in vitro study which demonstrated that components present in CLA supplements triggered mammary cancer cell death.

In 2012 the Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research published a double-blind clinical trial in which 80 women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy were given 1 gram of ginger or a placebo daily for 6 days, beginning 3 days before the start of chemotherapy. Ginger, accompanied by the routine antiemetic treatment, reduced chemotherapy-induced vomiting significantly more than a placebo.

In 2014 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine published a study in which 36 female breast cancer patients ingested one of two chlorella preparations or a multivitamin daily for one month. Fifty percent of the chlorella group saw improved quality of life, improved dry skin and reduced fatigue.

In 2015 Molecular and Clinical Oncology published a study in which breast cancer patients experiencing menopausal symptoms were treated with either honey or a honey-pollen mixture. Sixty-eight percent of the honey group (28/41) and 70 percent of the honey-pollen group (22/31) had improvements in menopausal symptoms compared to 25 percent in a placebo group.