Colon Cancer

 

   

Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:

Vitamin B Complex [1, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help in preventing some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Please note, this acts as a PREVENTATIVE treatment, and not necessarily symptomatic relief. Supplements should only be taken if they contain no more than 100% of the recommended daily value

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Vitamin B may be linked to a lower risk for colon cancer)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Venus Flytrap Extract (Carnivora, Dionaea Muscipula) [1, 32, 33, 34]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Early laboratory studies show that Venus Flytrap Extract may have some effect against colon cancer in animals. However more research is needed in humans.)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Turmeric [1, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Early laboratory studies show that turmeric may be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. However, clinical trials on humans are needed)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Selenium Supplement [1, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. IMPORTANT: Selenium is toxic in high doses. Massive overdoses can cause kidney failure, breathing difficulty and death. Selenium should only be taken at healthy levels which the body is able to tolerate.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Observational studies have shown that taking adequate daily amounts of selenium can help prevent colon cancer. However, these are very unreliable studies, and more research is needed.)

Grade of Evidence: Very low quality of evidence

Mistletoe (Iscador, Viscum Album) [1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. WARNING: The mistletoe plant should NOT be eaten because it is poisonous. May cause seizures, coma and death. It should only be taken as a purified mistletoe extract, and only in recommended doses.

Recommendation: No recommendation (Studies on the effect of Mistletoe on Colon Cancer have yielded mixed, conflicting results. More research is needed.)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Kampo [1, 10, 11]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Initial studies indicate a possible slowing of cancer growth in colon cancer when using Kampo. However, more studies are needed, and the side effects of the treatment are relatively unknown.)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Green Tea [1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Laboratory studies have shown promise with regards to the prevention of colon cancer with green tea, but very few reliable clinical trials have been done. More research is needed.)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Folic Acid [1, 2, 3, 4]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: Weakly against (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that folic acid helps to prevent colon cancer. With regards to treating an existing cancer, there is a risk that folic acid supplements may actually be harmful.)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Calcium Gluconate:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a preventative or supportive management, not as a treatment.

Recommendation: Strongly in favor (Calcium supplements have been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of colon cancer)

Grade of Evidence: Moderate quality of evidence

Calcium Supplements:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a preventative or supportive management, not as a treatment.

Recommendation: Strongly in favor  (Calcium supplements have been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of colon cancer)

Grade of Evidence: Moderate quality of evidence

Ayurvedic medicine (Ayurveda):

Recommendation: No recommendation (there is insufficient evidence that Ayurveda helps treat colon cancer in any way)

Grade of Evidence: Very low quality of evidence

Vitamin C [45, 46, 47]:

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that vitamin c may be able to help treat colon cancer. Some studies have concluded that the benefits of vitamin c in patients with colon cancer are negligible. More studies are needed)

Grade of Evidence: Very low quality of evidence

* www.gradeworkinggroup.org

 

Summary References

Treatments:

1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009

2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002092.htm

3. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/folicacid.html

4. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/folic-acid

5. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/green-tea

6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16968850

7.  http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_4326770

8. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-green_tea.html

9. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/greentea/index.htm

10. Shibata, Yoshiharu and Jean Wu. "Kampo Treatment for Climacteric Disorders: A Handbook for Practitioners." Paradigm Publications, 1997

11. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/kampo

12. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/mistletoe

13. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/mistletoe/ataglance.htm

14. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002883.htm

15. http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mistle40.html

16. http://www.bmj.com/content/333/7582/1293.full?ijkey=56e55886cc53e0c478801e74001edc3bea1c322e&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha

17. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/selenium?sitearea=ETO

18. http://www.cancer.gov/Templates/doc.aspx?viewid=ED8AD8E8-6AE5-458D-8091-393F4CB73F0D

19. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-selenium.html

20. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9290116

21. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9829869

22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10335455

23. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2136228

24. http://www.springerlink.com/content/v0r644v4ju5153k2/

25. http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/101/5/283

26. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/turmeric

27. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-turmeric.html

28. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/turmeric/index.htm

29. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1668932.stm

30. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/10/28/curry-kills-cancer-cells-and-other-health-benefits-of-the-nations-favourite-dish-115875-21779950/

31. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=turmeric

32. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/venus-flytrap

33. Parimala, R. & P. Sachdanandam 1993. Effect of plumbagin on some glucose metabolizing enzymes studied in rats in experimental hepatoma. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 12(1): 59–63.

34. http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/318/2/484

35. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/vitamin-b-complex

36. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-folate.html

37. Butterworth RF. Thiamin. In: Shils ME, Shike M, Ross AC, Caballero B, Cousins RJ, editors. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 10th ed. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006.

38. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18220605

39. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6935482.stm

40. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19061687

41. Gropper, S. S, Smith, J. L., Groff, J. L. (2009). Advanced nutrition and human metabolism. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage learning.

42. Otten, J. J., Hellwig, J. P., Meyers, L. D. (2008). Dietary reference intakes: The essential guide to nutrient requirements. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press

43. http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/vitamin-b1.htm

44. Higdon, Jane (2003). "Biotin". An evidence-based approach to vitamins and minerals. Thieme. ISBN 9781588901248.

45. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11205484

46. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0054448/

47. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3509163/