Wednesday, February 04, 2009

The LA Times today mentions a study by USC researchers that found green tea to block the effects of a specific kind of chemo agent used on multiple myeloma and a couple of other cancers--not breast cancer, though. Green tea is an antioxidant (perhaps it would be more precise to say it contains antioxidants) that are effective at preventing breast cancer, and it may even aid in the treatment of breast cancer. Although some very conservative oncologists, such as the local practice near where I live, don't want their patients using green tea or other antioxidants during chemo, I found a substantial amount of research showing that green tea actually aided the effects of chemo. It may help chemotherapy target cancer cells better, while protecting non-cancer cells and thus easing the damaging effects on the body. (Note that I am linking to a layperson-friendly page, not to one of the studies, but a quick Google search will get you the real research.)

I'm very happy to say that I was treated at USC, which--this study notwithstanding--seems more open to green tea; I wasn't treated at the local practice.

Just wanted to share!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Y

Gordon said...

Yes, in England we rate green tea, particularly from Japan. It enhances effectiveness of radiotherapy as well as being a warming drink in this freezing weather!

A link to a Canadian report on its effectiveness follows:


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14688468?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus