Newsletter for June, 2003
For those of you that are interested, this information is not meant to
diagnose,
treat, or cure any disease or illness. For more disclaimer gibberish
check this out.
In this months issue of the Bowtech News we’ll be looking
into a drug
that has been full of controversy…….Tamoxifen.
We’ll also be looking at an alternative to this
controversial drug…….
Indole-3-Carbinol.
And as usual a couple of famous quotes.
Nolvadex/Tamoxifen
This drug is considered to be an anti-cancer drug. It may be
used to treat
breast cancer. It has been used in some cases in which cancer has
spread
to other areas of the body. Its most effective use is with cancers that
thrive
on the presence of estrogen. It is also considered an estrogen blocker.
Estrogen blockers or antiestrogens work by blocking estrogen
in breast
tissue, and while estrogen may not cause the cancer, it may stimulate
its
growth.
Tamoxifen was initially developed to treat breast cancer in
its advanced
stages and has been in use for more than 20 years. Tamoxifen is now
being
used to treat breast cancer as well as other types of cancer, such as DCIS
(ductal carcinoma in situ), following surgery and radiation.
Tamoxifen is also being prescribed by some doctors as a
preventative
measure for women with a high risk of breast cancer. In a 5 year
study of more
than 1,500 "high risk" women, tamoxifen cut the number
of cases by almost
45%. My question to this is, does this mean that
just because these
women were "high risk" that they
would have had breast cancer had
they not been involved in this study or taken
tamoxifen?
Some things that anyone taking this drug should know:
Have regular gynecological exams
Report abnormal vaginal bleeding to your doctor or
healthcare practitioner
Report changes in your menstrual periods, change in
vaginal discharge, pelvic pain or pressure to your doctor or healthcare
practitioner immediately.
Side Effects are claimed to be
usually mild and rarely is the use of this drug
discontinued due to these side
effects.
Common Effects:
Hot flashes, nausea, vomiting
Less Common:
Bone pain, diarrhea, menstrual irregularities, skin rash, tumor
pain, vaginal
bleeding, and vaginal discharge.
Rare:
Blood clots, depression, distaste for food, dizziness, hair thinning or partial
loss, headache, light-headedness, liver disorders, swelling of arms or legs,
vaginal
itching or dryness, visual problems. (See
warnings below)
Contraindications:
Do not take if you are sensitive or have had allergic
reaction to this drug.
Do not take if you are on the prescription drug coumadin
or have had problems with clots in your veins or lungs.
Warnings:
Tamoxifen increases the risk of endometrial cancer 2-4 times.
Increases the risk of developing endometriosis, uterine
fibroids,
uterine polyps, and ovarian cysts.
Can cause liver damage.
May raise cholesterol levels and other fats in the blood for
some
women.
May raise calcium in the blood to abnormally high levels;
symptoms
can include muscle pain and weakness, loss of appetite, and when severe…kidney
failure.
Avoid if pregnant or nursing as this drug could harm your
unborn
child.
Food and Drug Interactions:
Blood thinning drugs such as coumadin
Bromocriptine (Parlodel)
Cancer drugs such as Cytoxan
Phenobarbital
Other Notes:
Cataracts and cataract surgery can occur more often with
nolvadex.
In clinical
trials it has been shown that cancer of the
uterus, stroke, and blood clots
can occur 2-4 times
more frequently with nolvadex than with placebo.
These
effects occurred in less than 1% of the women,
but in the 1,500 women study
mentioned earlier, this could
have been as many as 15 women, and some of these
strokes, blood clots, and uterine cancers were fatal.
For more information about Nolvadex/Tamoxifen
go
to www.medscape.com and search Tamoxifen.
In a related article check out this report:
Tamoxifen: Cancer
causing Drug Approved for Healthy Women
Indole–3-Carbinol
(I3C)
Cato the Elder, a Roman statesman that lived from 234–149 BC
first
recognized the possible anti-cancer activity of substances such as
I3C. He
said, "If a cancerous ulcer appears upon the breast, apply a
crushed
cabbage leaf and it will make it well."
The Life Extension Foundation has called this substance
"The thinking
persons substitute for tamoxifen."
Indole-3-Carbinol, or I3C is a phytochemical that is found in
cruciferous
vegetables such as broccoli, green cabbage, cauliflower, Brussel
sprouts,
turnips, kale, watercress, and mustard seed. Research on I3C dates back
into the
1960’s, where it was being looked at for its actions with chemical
carcinogens. Since the 60’s, research with I3C has shown its capabilities in
regard to preventing and maybe even treating hormone related cancers.
Recent
studies have shown that this vegetable extract:
Increases the conversion of estradiol to
"weaker" (20HE)*
estrogen, and this has been shown to reduce
breast cancer incidence.
Works in estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cells.
Stops human cancer cells from growing (54-61%) and
provokes the cells to apoptosis (self destruction).
Inhibits MCF7 human breast cancer cells better than
tamoxifen under laboratory conditions.
Protects against the environmental toxin, dioxin.
Restores p21 tumor suppressor gene.
Provides antioxidant protection.
*20HE is considered to be a more favorable form
of estrogen.
It is less active than estradiol, so when
it occupies the estrogen receptor, it
effectively
blocks estradiol’s strong "grow" signal.
In a 2 month study, 25 women were given I3C. Levels
of strong
estrogen declined as the weaker estrogen
increased. More importantly,
16alpha-hydroxyestrone
(an estrogen metabolite associated with breast and
endometrial cancer) fell.
I3C also helps to prevent cancer by blocking carcinogens.
Aflatoxin is a
cancer causing agent that comes from the mold on peanuts, corn,
and
other grains. Studies have been done on I3C and aflatoxin that show that
I3C
in the diet block aflatoxins effect in the liver, and stop it from causing
cancer.
It is important that if you take I3C, not to be mislead into
taking one of its
derivatives such as DIM (diindolylmethane). DIM is one of the
plant
chemicals that I3C converts to in the stomach. DIM is only one of dozens
of derivatives to come from I3C and the benefits of I3C come from a
combination
of I3C derivatives, not any single factor.
Contraindications:
Those who are hypersensitive to I3C or to any component of an
indole-3-carbinol – containing product.
Precautions:
Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid I3C
supplements.
Those with cancer should seek their doctor’s advice before
deciding to
supplement with I3C on their own.
Interactions:
Drugs: Antacids, H2 Blockers, Proton-pump inhibitors.
Tamoxifen: Indole-3-Carbinol may be synergistic with tamoxifen
in
protecting against breast cancer, but make sure you acquaint yourself
with as
much information as you can about tamoxifen before submitting
to taking this
drug. Make an informed decision.
References:
PDR for Nutritional Supplements 1st
Edition: Medical Economics
Company, Inc; Montvale, NJ: 2001
The PDR Pocket Guide to Prescription Drugs 5th
Edition: Pocket Books Division of Simon &
Schuster, Inc.; New York, NY: 2002
Life Extension Magazine, October 1999: Life
Extension Media, LLC; Ft Lauderdale, FL: 1999
Life Extension Magazine, July 2003: Life
Extension Media, LLC; Ft. Lauderdale, FL: 2003
Quotes of the Month:
If there were in the world today any large number of people
who desired
their own happiness more than they desired the unhappiness of
others,
we could have paradise in a few years.
Bertrand Russell
The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the
man who
reads nothing but newspapers.
Thomas Jefferson
