Remedies containing garlic, ginger, and turmeric can negatively affect blood clotting and stop skin lesions from healing.
Breast cancer patients using herbal remedies may do more harm than good and delay recovery, according to a leading breast cancer surgeon.
Professor María João Cardoso said remedies such as garlic, ginger, turmeric and ginseng have a negative effect on blood clotting and can interfere with the healing of skin lesions when breast cancer spreads.
Professor Cardoso, head of breast surgery at Portugal’s Champalimaud Cancer Center, said there was no evidence that herbal remedies or tropical creams effectively treated skin wounds.
They can end up “doing more harm than good,” she told the Advanced Breast Cancer Conference in Lisbon.
She says, “Many patients don’t check with their doctors and don’t tell them that they are using complementary therapies.
“Many of these treatments, especially herbal products and topical creams, can have negative effects on cancer treatment.
“Many compounds are complex, and some components can delay healing and interfere with the effectiveness of ongoing systemic treatments.”
One in five breast cancer cases metastasizes to the skin.
The resulting lesions are difficult to treat and can cause physical discomfort and pain.
Professor Cardoso added: “Laboratory studies have shown that certain products can reduce the blood clotting process required for wound healing.
“If a patient has a bleeding wound, these compounds can have a strong negative effect on scarring and the effectiveness of the wound dressing.”
Professor Cardoso said prescribed topical treatments were successful in healing or controlling the wound in only half of the cases.
She added that activities such as yoga, acupuncture and Reiki can help patients manage stress.
Cancer Research UK also claims that complementary therapies can interfere with the effectiveness of generic treatments.
The charity’s website says it has “concerns” that taking antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E may actually protect cancer cells from damage caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It states that there is.
It adds: “Tell your doctor about any complementary therapies you are considering using, especially if you are in the middle of cancer treatment, before you start taking any complementary therapies.”
