When it comes to breast cancer therapy, the treatment can be every bit as frightening as the disease itself – but it doesn’t have to be. A new study has discovered that a herb from Chinese medicine can reduce the life-threatening effects of chemotherapy, and support the patient’s immune system.
Cancer patients who were given the Chinese herbal remedy LCS101 – which is made up of 14 different herbs – lost fewer red and white blood cells during chemotherapy, and nobody reported any adverse reactions to the herbs.
LCS101 was tested on 65 breast cancer patients at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre who were given 6g capsules two weeks before chemotherapy started and during treatment.
The herbs also reduced damage to the white blood cells, which play an important role in preventing infection.
(Source: The Oncologist, 2011; 16: doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2011-0150).
