HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Other things you can do when dealing with brain mets

agness · 01-14-2016, 04:55 AM

-- Boswellia Serreta --

This member of the frankincense family has been found to reduce cerebral edema without affecting blood glucose levels negatively (dexamethasone is promotive of cancer by causing blood sugar elevation, in the hospital they check your blood glucose and give insulin when patients are on high-dose Dexa). It's not to say that Dexa isnt a useful drug, in fact it saved my life last July from my HER2 brain tumor, but it does have some very serious side effects and should be used as little as possible.

Actually, my friend just had SRS to multiple HER2+ lesions and evidently down in San Francisco they aren't using Dexa any more. That sounds extreme to me, even as I don't much like the drug. I think if it helps in the short-term, especially if the patient is in ketosis, then short stints can be beneficial.

Another friend's wife had a primary brain tumor and he has been wonderful to share resources with me. This is where the recommendation for taking Boswellia Serreta came from. I talked to my naturopathic onc who agreed that a mix blend of herbs was best aand that I should be paying over $25 for good quality supplements. He wasn't clear on the dosing, the brain tumor folks are more accurate but you still need to find your baseline. He did say that you counts take Boswellia with Dexa -- which is pretty cool actually, when needed.

There is also reason to believe that Boswellia may have anti-tumor characteristics, including the ability to treat some brain mets depending on the mutation. Brain Mets gals have also noted that Boswellia Serreta, commonly taken to treat arthritis, can also treat joint pain from anti-hormone therapy such as with aromatase inhibitors.

From what I have seen, Boswellia isn't well known yet by radiation oncologists or neuro-oncologists. Some have a peripheral understanding of it but it is far from mainstream. Having a naturopathic onc has been very helpful in this regard, I can say I reviewed it with him -- which I do. I also have pre-arthritis in my shoulders from chemo. It doesn't hurt but was seen in bone scans. Taking Boswellia fir this condition seems reasonable.

http://www.treatingglioblastoma.com/...llic_acids.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boswellia_serrata

Boswelia in breast cancer brain metastasis
http://www.rainbow.coop/library/lipo...in-metastases/

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...ncr.25945/full

Boswelya Plus - I currently take 4 caplets a day
http://ayush.3dcartstores.com/BOS-WELYA-PLUS_p_265.html

Basic Dosing Info:
1000-3000 mg a day
half life of 6 hours
replaces or supplements dexmethasone
reduces brain swelling
not promoting of brain glycogen

01-14-2016, 04:55 AM	#10
agness Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 285	Re: Other things you can do when dealing with brain mets -- Boswellia Serreta -- This member of the frankincense family has been found to reduce cerebral edema without affecting blood glucose levels negatively (dexamethasone is promotive of cancer by causing blood sugar elevation, in the hospital they check your blood glucose and give insulin when patients are on high-dose Dexa). It's not to say that Dexa isnt a useful drug, in fact it saved my life last July from my HER2 brain tumor, but it does have some very serious side effects and should be used as little as possible. Actually, my friend just had SRS to multiple HER2+ lesions and evidently down in San Francisco they aren't using Dexa any more. That sounds extreme to me, even as I don't much like the drug. I think if it helps in the short-term, especially if the patient is in ketosis, then short stints can be beneficial. Another friend's wife had a primary brain tumor and he has been wonderful to share resources with me. This is where the recommendation for taking Boswellia Serreta came from. I talked to my naturopathic onc who agreed that a mix blend of herbs was best aand that I should be paying over $25 for good quality supplements. He wasn't clear on the dosing, the brain tumor folks are more accurate but you still need to find your baseline. He did say that you counts take Boswellia with Dexa -- which is pretty cool actually, when needed. There is also reason to believe that Boswellia may have anti-tumor characteristics, including the ability to treat some brain mets depending on the mutation. Brain Mets gals have also noted that Boswellia Serreta, commonly taken to treat arthritis, can also treat joint pain from anti-hormone therapy such as with aromatase inhibitors. From what I have seen, Boswellia isn't well known yet by radiation oncologists or neuro-oncologists. Some have a peripheral understanding of it but it is far from mainstream. Having a naturopathic onc has been very helpful in this regard, I can say I reviewed it with him -- which I do. I also have pre-arthritis in my shoulders from chemo. It doesn't hurt but was seen in bone scans. Taking Boswellia fir this condition seems reasonable. http://www.treatingglioblastoma.com/...llic_acids.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boswellia_serrata Boswelia in breast cancer brain metastasis http://www.rainbow.coop/library/lipo...in-metastases/ http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...ncr.25945/full Boswelya Plus - I currently take 4 caplets a day http://ayush.3dcartstores.com/BOS-WELYA-PLUS_p_265.html Basic Dosing Info: 1000-3000 mg a day half life of 6 hours replaces or supplements dexmethasone reduces brain swelling not promoting of brain glycogen Last edited by agness; 01-14-2016 at 04:59 AM.. Reason: Typo