Curcumin: Breast Cancer Treatment & Prevention

Curcumin:  Breast Cancer Treatment & Prevention

 

Cucumin is a spice extracted from turmeric root.  This commonly available spice may be a key to fighting cancer.

1.  Curcumin reduces number of lung metastases and makes the chemotherapy agent, Taxol, less toxic.

Taxol, as is true with many chemotherapeutic agents, provokes an inflammatory  response, which leads to drug resistance. When administered with the chemotherapy, curcumin inhibited Taxol's inflammatory response by blocking nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) which regulates inflammation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis (cell death).

2. Curcumin shuts down the production of NF-Kappa B, the "Smoke-Sensor"

It was determined that curcumin suppresses  tumor necrosis factor (TNF), from activating NF-kappa B.  By inhibiting TNF-induced NF-kappa B activation, curcumin reduced the expression of genes that regulate every stage of cancer development.

3.  Curcumin inhibits cancer cell growth rate

By inactivating NF-kappa B, genes involved in cell proliferation, such as COX-2, cyclin D1, and c-myc, are inhibited. This means that curcumin suppresses production of proteins needed for uncontrolled growth and proliferation, inflammation and inhibition of PGE-
2.

4.  Curcumin restores normal control of  Apoptosis (Cell Death)

Cancer may be a condition that damages he normal control mechanism involved in normal cell death. Curcumin helps to restore normal programmed cell death. The chemotherapy agent Taxol induced NF-kappa B activation, which leads to cell immortality, reducing the drug's ability to kill cancer cells.  In that drug resistance is a huge problem, curcumin can help to make chemotherapeutic agents more effective.

5.  Curcumin assists in controlling cancer cell metastasis

By inactivating NF-kappa B, genes promoting metastasis,  curcumin inhibits cancer metastasis.

 

Summary:

1. Curcumin has been demonstrated to be useful in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer.
2. Curcumin acts at the gene-activating level, and is involved in pathways that are common in inflammatory conditions.

 

NOTES TO MY PATIENTS:

1. Curcumin is useful  not only for breast cancer issues, but for prostate cancer, pancreatitis, and arthritis. 
2. I am preparing a newsletter looking at the use of Curcumin as it may pertain to prevention of heart disease.
3. Curcumin may reduce elevated CRP levels, something of intense interest to patients with heart disease, cholesterol and stroke concerns.
4. Dosage of Curcumin depends upon the strength and purity of the curcumin preparation.
5. The top of the line curcumin costs pennies more than the garbage that is generally available at the ‘health store.’ Using curcumin for the purposes above requires ‘solvent-free’ curcumin, and I am aware of only one reliable source.
6. Currently, I am recommending Curcumin (Vital Nutrients, Inc.) 500 mg twice daily.  Cost per month is around $24.  The cheaper brands cost a bit less, but you get a lot less.
7. You can get it from our website, if you wish. 

The link is http://stages-of-life.com/Store/search.aspx?q=curcumin

 

David S. Klein, MD, FACA, FACPM, FAAMIMS

Pain Center of Orlando, Inc. Suite #225 W. SR 434

Longwood, Florida  32750