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Breast cancer and menopause-like symptoms
Three years ago I had breast cancer and since then, I’ve suffered badly with menopausal symptoms because of the tamoxifen I take. I read somewhere that Intra had helped people with similar problems but am worried about taking it on a regular basis because it contains ginseng and I have been told this raises oestrogen levels. Is this true or would this product be safe for me? I’m 42 now.
Tamoxifen is prescribed to counter the effect of oestrogens on potential cancer cells in the body and, as you’ve discovered, the side-effects can mimic menopausal symptoms; including hot flushes, acne, aches and pains, mood swings, depression, an increased risk of osteoporosis and a dryness of both the skin and vagina. If you’re suffering from hot flushes, high temperatures, hot drinks, spicy foods, alcohol and stress can all make these worse.
According to Dr Etienne Callebout, a medical doctor, naturopath and cancer specialist, breast cancer is only caused by genetic factors in 5-10% of cases. That means 90-95% of sufferers should feel motivated to try and influence the outcome using diet and lifestyle.
Intra is one of those herbal elixirs which is widely marketed in this country but you should, warns Dr Callebout, be careful about what herbal remedies you take. He says that Siberian ginseng has been shown to reduce the pressure inside cancer tumours - which in turn, enables chemotherapy drugs to more easily penetrate cancer cells. There are several types of Ginseng and this is the only one he would recommend. Also, Niacin (vitamin B3) has a similar action and so may be a better option in this case.
If you are interested in supporting your system with natural remedies, Dr Callebout suggests you consult a qualified practitioner to tailor-make a treatment programme that takes account of your full medical history. You treatment is likely to include milk thistle to support the liver which is the body’s main detoxifying organ, plus supplements to boost the body’s levels of fish oils, calcium, magnesium and boron.
*Dr Callebout practices in London’s Harley Street. He can be contacted on 0171-0171-935 6593.